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Comparative Adverbs
(https://www.lawlessfrench.com/graphics/comparative-adverbs.png)
Adverbes comparatifs
Comparative adverbs are used to compare the relative superiority or inferiority of two or more
things. This superior lesson will keep you from getting an inferiority complex.
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1) Superiority indicates that something is "___er" (bigger, faster, stronger) or "more ___" (more
purple, more tired, more important). The French equivalent is plus ___.
2) Inferiority indicates that something is "less ___" (less hungry, less exciting, less complete). The
French equivalent is moins ___.
3) Equality indicates that two or more things are "as ___" (as happy, as thirsty, as interesting). The
French equivalents are aussi and autant.
The grammar involved in using comparative adverbs is slightly different depending on whether
youre comparing adjectives, adverbs, nouns, or verbs.
Comparing Adjectives
The simplest comparison is with adjectives (https://www.lawlessfrench.com/grammar/adjectives/):
just put plus, moins, or aussi in front of the adjective. The comparative itself is invariable, but, as
always, the adjective has to agree with its noun in gender and number.
In the above examples, the comparison is implied theres some antecedent that these comparatives
are referring back to. When there is no antecedent, you need que after the adjective, followed by the
other noun or pronoun youre comparing to.
Cet arbre est plus grand que lautre. This tree is taller than the other one.
Ta voiture est moins bruyante que la mienne. Your car is less noisy than mine.
Je suis plus curieux que courageux. Im more curious than (I am) brave.
Il est plus obsd que jamais. Hes more obsessed than ever.
The adjectives bon and mauvais have special comparative forms: meilleur and pire. More about
this in a future lesson.
Comparing Adverbs
Comparing adverbs (https://www.lawlessfrench.com/grammar/adverbs/) is much the same, but you
dont have to worry about agreement, since adverbs are invariable. Once again, there are three
types of comparisons.
Elle pleure moins souvent que sa sur. She cries less often than her sister.
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Tu cris plus vite que correctement. You write more quickly than (you do) correctly.
Elle tudie moins souvent quavant. She studies less often than before.
Comparing Nouns
When comparing the quantity of nouns (https://www.lawlessfrench.com/grammar/nouns/), the
comparative adverbs are somewhat different:
Superiority = plus de
Inferiority = moins de
Equality = autant de
Tu fais moins derreurs que moi. You make fewer errors than I (do).
Elle a crit autant de livres que son pre. Shes written as many books as her father.
Jai plus dides que de temps ou dnergie. I have more ideas than time or energy.
Comparing Verbs
When comparing verbs (https://www.lawlessfrench.com/tag/verbs/), the comparative adverbs are
slightly different again:
Nous mangeons autant que nos enfants. We eat as much as our children.
Note the word order: the comparative adverb goes after the verb
Anne chante autant quelle parle. Anne sings as much as she speaks.
Notes
https://www.lawlessfrench.com/grammar/comparative-adverbs/ Page 3 of 7
Comparative Adverbs - Lawless French 2015/Jul/29, 4:16 PM
En rsum
Related lessons
Adjectives (https://www.lawlessfrench.com/grammar/adjectives/)
Adverbs (https://www.lawlessfrench.com/grammar/adverbs/)
Nouns (https://www.lawlessfrench.com/grammar/nouns/)
Pronouns (https://www.lawlessfrench.com/tag/pronouns/)
Verbs (https://www.lawlessfrench.com/tag/verbs/)
1 of 6 Mon oncle est bavard; ma tante est ... lui. (My uncle NEXT
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