Comparative and Superlative Forms of Adjectives and Adverbs
Comparatives and superlatives let a student compare people, places and things instead of only describing them, which is one of the easiest ways to add opinion and range of language to speaking and writing. A comparative uses plus/moins/aussi before the adjective and que after it (more/less/as ... than/as), with the adjective still agreeing with the noun it describes, as in 'ma soeur est plus grande que moi'.
Before you start
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Method
- For a comparative with an adjective, use plus/moins/aussi before the adjective and que after it, making the adjective agree with the noun it describes as normal: 'ma soeur est plus grande que moi'.
- Learn the irregular comparative adjective bon becomes meilleur(e)(s) (better): never say 'plus bon'.
- Learn the irregular comparative adverb bien becomes mieux (better): 'elle chante mieux que moi', never 'plus bien'.
- For a superlative with an adjective that follows the noun, repeat the definite article: le/la/les plus (or moins) plus the adjective, then de for 'in/of': 'c'est l'élève la plus travailleuse de la classe'.
- For an adjective that normally goes before the noun (beau, bon, grand, petit, jeune, vieux, nouveau), the superlative can also go before the noun, with only one article: 'le plus grand bâtiment de la ville'.
- Learn the irregular superlative forms: le meilleur / la meilleure / les meilleur(e)s (best, adjective) and le mieux (best, adverb); mauvais has both a regular form, le plus mauvais, and an irregular one, le pire.
- Make sure the adjective still agrees in gender and number with the noun even inside a comparative or superlative structure: 'les plus grandes villes'.
- For an adverb, which never agrees, use only le for the superlative regardless of the subject's gender: 'c'est elle qui court le plus vite'.
Worked example
Complete this comparison correctly: 'Mon frère est ___ (taller) que moi, mais ma soeur est ___ (the tallest) de la famille.'
- For the first gap, choose a regular comparative structure: plus plus the adjective plus que.
- Make the adjective agree with 'mon frère' (masculine singular): grand stays grand.
- Complete the first gap: 'plus grand que moi'.
- For the second gap, choose a superlative structure: la plus plus the adjective plus de, since 'ma soeur' is feminine.
- Make the adjective agree with 'ma soeur' (feminine singular): grand becomes grande.
- Complete the second gap: 'la plus grande de la famille'.
Practice questions
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Q1Complete: 'Ce livre est ___ intéressant ___ l'autre.' (as ... as)Show answer
Answer: aussi intéressant que l'autre.
Q2Give the correct comparative of 'bon': 'Ce restaurant est ___ que le dernier.'Show answer
Answer: meilleur (never plus bon).
Q3Give the correct comparative of the adverb 'bien': 'Il joue ___ que son frère.'Show answer
Answer: mieux (never plus bien).
Q4Form the superlative: 'C'est le film ___ (the most exciting) de l'année.'Show answer
Answer: le plus passionnant de l'année.
Q5Correct the error: 'Elle est la plus jeune de la famille et elle est le plus intelligent.'Show answer
Answer: Elle est la plus jeune de la famille et elle est la plus intelligente.
Q6Translate into French: 'This town is less polluted than the capital.'Show answer
Answer: Cette ville est moins polluée que la capitale.
Q7Give the irregular superlative adjective for 'the worst' (mauvais): 'C'est le ___ jour de ma vie.'Show answer
Answer: pire (or le plus mauvais).
Q8Translate into French: 'They are the best students in the school.'Show answer
Answer: Ce sont les meilleurs élèves de l'école.
Exam-style questions
Written in the style of a GCSE French exam paper, with a full mark scheme.
Translate this passage into English: 'Ma ville est plus calme que la capitale, mais elle est moins intéressante pour les touristes. À mon avis, le meilleur quartier est le centre-ville, parce que c'est là que les magasins sont les moins chers.'
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Translate into French: 1. My school is bigger than my brother's school. 2. This is the most interesting museum in the city. 3. I sing worse than my sister, but she dances better than me.
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Complete each sentence with the correct comparative or superlative form: 1. Les maths sont ___ (more difficult than) le français pour moi. 2. C'est le ___ (best) jour de l'année. 3. Ma grand-mère cuisine ___ (better) que moi. 4. Cette région est ___ (the least polluted) du pays.
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See real GCSE French past-paper questions, with official mark schemes →
Free printable worksheet
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