Introduction
Comparisons are essential in describing and evaluating objects, people, or situations. In French, comparative structures help express whether something is greater, lesser, or equal to something else.
Comparative Structures
Basic Form
In French, comparative adjectives follow a specific structure:
- "plus... que": more... than
- "moins... que": less... than
Examples
1. Plus... que
- English: Sarah is taller than John.
- French: Sarah est plus grande que John.
2. Moins... que
- English: This book is less interesting than that one.
- French: Ce livre est moins intéressant que celui-là.
Common Comparisons
| English | French |
|---|---|
| She is more intelligent than her brother. | Elle est plus intelligente que son frère. |
| This car is less expensive than mine. | Cette voiture est moins chère que la mienne. |
Structure Breakdown
"Plus... que"
- Subject + "plus" + adjective + "que" + comparison
- Example: Il est plus rapide que moi. (He is faster than me.)
"Moins... que"
- Subject + "moins" + adjective + "que" + comparison
- Example: Elle est moins vieille que sa sœur. (She is less old than her sister.)
Key Vocabulary
| English | French |
|---|---|
| Tall | grand/grande |
| Short | petit/petite |
| Intelligent | intelligent/intelligente |
| Expensive | cher/chère |
| Fast | rapide |
| Interesting | intéressant/intéressante |
Practice Sentences
1. More Expensive
- My phone is more expensive than yours.
- Mon téléphone est plus cher que le tien.
2. Less Fast
- This train is less fast than the other one.
- Ce train est moins rapide que l'autre.
3. More Interesting
- History is more interesting than math.
- L'histoire est plus intéressante que les mathématiques.
Conclusion
Comparative structures in French are a powerful tool for making distinctions and highlighting differences. By using "plus... que" and "moins... que," you can easily convey comparisons in any context.