Comparisons (Edexcel GCSE French): Revision Notes
Comparisons
When aiming for high grades in French, you need to master complex grammatical structures like comparatives and superlatives. These allow you to make sophisticated comparisons and show relationships between different things.
Understanding these structures is essential for expressing nuanced ideas and achieving fluency in French. They appear frequently in both written and spoken French, making them crucial for exam success.
Comparative
The comparative is used when you want to compare two things or people. It helps you express that something is more, less, or equally of a certain quality compared to something else.
The comparative form is one of the most frequently tested grammar points in French exams. Mastering this structure will significantly improve your ability to express complex ideas and relationships between different subjects.
Formation
To create the comparative, you place plus (more) or moins (less) in front of the adjective, followed by que (than). Remember that adjectives must agree with the noun they describe.
| French | English |
|---|---|
| plus grand(e) | taller/bigger |
| plus petit(e) | smaller |
| moins grand(e) | less tall/big |
| moins petit(e) | less small |
| aussi grand(e) que | as tall/big as |
The fundamental pattern to master is: plus/moins + adjective + que for making comparisons between two items.
Critical Rule: Adjectives must always agree with the gender and number of the noun they describe. This agreement is essential and a common source of exam errors.
Examples in context
Worked Examples: Using Comparatives
- Nathan est plus grand que Tom. - Nathan is taller than Tom.
- Axelle est moins grande que sa sœur. - Axelle is smaller than her sister.
- Il est aussi grand que son père. - He is as tall as his father.
- Ma sœur est petite. Fathia est plus petite. - My sister is small. Fathia is smaller.
The pattern (adjective) + que = comparative + que is essential to remember for comparing two items.
Superlative
The superlative is used when comparing more than two things or people. It expresses the highest or lowest degree of a quality within a group.
This form allows you to identify the extreme example within a group, whether it's the most, least, best, or worst of its kind.
Formation
Form the superlative by adding the definite article le/la/les along with plus before the adjective. The article must agree with the gender and number of the noun.
| French | English |
|---|---|
| le plus grand | the biggest/tallest (masculine) |
| la plus grande | the biggest/tallest (feminine) |
| les plus grand(e)s | the biggest/tallest (plural) |
| le plus intéressant | the most interesting |
| la matière la plus ennuyeuse | the most boring subject |
Notice how the definite article (le/la/les) changes to match the gender and number of the noun being described. This agreement is just as important as the adjective agreement.
Examples in context
Worked Examples: Using Superlatives
- Ma maison est la plus grande. - My house is the biggest.
- Le livre le plus intéressant - The most interesting book
Exceptions to the rule
Some adjectives have irregular comparative and superlative forms that you must memorise. These exceptions are frequently tested in exams and cannot be formed using the regular patterns.
Memorise These Irregular Forms
These irregular adjectives are among the most commonly used in French and appear frequently in exams. There are no shortcuts - these must be learned by heart.
| Adjective | Comparative | Superlative |
|---|---|---|
| bon/bonne (good) | meilleur(e) (better) | le meilleur/la meilleure (the best) |
| mauvais(e) (bad) | pire (worse) | le/la pire (the worst) |
Examples with irregular forms
Worked Examples: Irregular Comparatives and Superlatives
- Le film est meilleur que le livre. - The film is better than the book.
- le meilleur restaurant - the best restaurant
Translation practice
Translation Practice: Comparatives and Superlatives
French to English:
- Cette voiture est plus rapide que l'autre.
- Il est le plus intelligent de sa classe.
English to French:
- She is taller than her brother.
- This is the most expensive dress.
Answers:
- This car is faster than the other one. / He is the most intelligent in his class.
- Elle est plus grande que son frère. / C'est la robe la plus chère.
Key Points to Remember:
- Comparative compares two things using plus/moins + adjective + que
- Superlative compares more than two things using le/la/les + plus + adjective
- Adjectives must agree with the gender and number of the noun they describe
- Bon and mauvais have irregular forms: meilleur/pire
- Always check your adjective agreements - this is a common exam error point