Learn how to compare things and express "Bigger, Better, and Best" in French! This chapter teaches you the formulas for comparisons, how to deal with irregulars, and how to identify superlatives cleanly.
When comparing two people or things in English, we often add "-er" to the word (e.g. *taller*) or use the word "more" (e.g. *more expensive*) followed by "than".
French is actually much simpler! It uses a single formula for all adjectives, placing a comparative marker in front of the adjective and the word que [kuh] (than / as) after it.
Let's introduce our first three anchor vocabulary words:
Think of a balance scale. On the left side of your scale, you place one of three weight modifiers:
• plus [ploo] : more (tells the scale to go UP).
• moins [mwan] : less (tells the scale to go DOWN).
• aussi [oh-see] : as / equal (keeps the scale balanced).
Then, you put your adjective (e.g. *grand*) in the middle, and lock the other side of the scale with **que** (than/as) to connect it to the second person/thing.
Let's review these structures in action:
Look away from the screen. What are the three comparative modifiers in French? Translate "He is shorter than you" to French.
1. How do you say "more... than" in French?
2. Translate: "as tall as" (using the adjective *grand*)
3. Reconstruct "He is shorter than Paul" (shorter is *moins grand*):
Question 1: Correct Answer: B. *plus... que* represents "more... than".
Question 2: Correct Answer: A. *aussi... que* represents equal comparisons (as... as). Thus: *aussi grand que*.
Question 3: Correct Answer: A. "Shorter" translates logically to "less tall than", which is *moins grand que*. Thus: *Il est moins grand que Paul* [eel ay mwan grahn kuh paul].
Just like in English, we do not say "more good" (we say *better*). French also has this irregular rule!
• Never say: plus bon.
• Always say: meilleur [may-yur] (better).
Let's review our adjective family:
Think: **Meilleur** sounds like the English word **"Mayor"** [may-yur] .
→ When voters choose a new **Mayor**, they believe they are electing the **better** candidate!
→ So, when you want to say "better" in French, think of voting for the **Mayor (Meilleur)**!
Because *meilleur* is an adjective, it must change its spelling to agree with the gender and number of the noun it describes:
• Masculine singular: meilleur [may-yur] .
• Feminine singular: meilleure [may-yur] .
• Masculine plural: meilleurs [may-yur] .
• Feminine plural: meilleures [may-yur] .
Note: They all sound exactly the same! The extra 'e' and 's' are silent markers for writing.
Let's look at examples:
Look away from the screen. Why can't you say "plus bon" in French? Recite the "Mayor" mnemonic and spelling endings for Meilleur.
1. How do you say "better" when describing a masculine noun like *le café*?
2. What spelling of "better" matches the feminine plural noun *les pizzas*?
3. Translate: "The coffee is better than the tea." (coffee = *le café*, tea = *le thé*)
Question 1: Correct Answer: B. "Better" is *meilleur*. *Plus bon* is incorrect.
Question 2: Correct Answer: A. *les pizzas* is feminine plural, requiring *meilleures* (adding 'e' for feminine, and 's' for plural).
Question 3: Correct Answer: A. Since *le café* is masculine, it matches *meilleur*. Thus: *Le café est meilleur que le thé* [luh kah-fay ay may-yur kuh luh tay].
What is the difference between **Meilleur** and **Mieux** [myuh] ? Both translate to **"better"** in English, which confuses many learners.
The rule is simple and logical:
• **Meilleur** describes a **noun** (person or thing). It is the comparative form of *good* (*bon*).
• **Mieux** describes an **action/verb** (how someone does something). It is the comparative form of *well* (*bien*).
Let's review our adverb family:
Think: **Mieux** sounds like a cat's **"Mew"** [myuh] .
→ Imagine a cat singing **"Mew"** as an **action**!
→ The cat sings **"Mew" (Mieux)** much **better** than a dog barks!
→ So, when you describe the action of singing, working, or cooking better, think: **Mew (Mieux)**!
Let's look at examples:
Look away from the screen. What is the difference between *meilleur* and *mieux*? Recite the "Mewing Cat" mnemonic.
1. If you are comparing how two people *cook* (an action), which word translates to "better"?
2. If you are comparing two *cars* (nouns), which word translates to "better"?
3. Translate: "I write better." (I write = *J'écris*)
Question 1: Correct Answer: B. Cooking is an action/verb, so the adverb *mieux* must be used.
Question 2: Correct Answer: A. Cars are nouns (feminine: *la voiture*). Adjectives describe nouns, so we use *meilleure*.
Question 3: Correct Answer: B. Writing is an action verb (*écrire*), so we must describe it with *mieux*. Thus: *J'écris mieux* [zhay-cree myuh].
When you want to say "the biggest", "the least expensive", or "the best", you are using a **superlative**.
In French, we create superlatives by simply placing the matching definite article — le [luh] , la [lah] , or les [lay] — directly in front of the comparative structure.
Let's review these structures in action:
Look away from the screen. How do you construct superlatives in French? Write "the best pizza" on paper.
1. How do you say "the tallest" when describing a feminine person?
2. How do you write "the best" when describing a masculine plural noun like *les hôtels*?
3. Translate: "She is the best."
Question 1: Correct Answer: A. The feminine definite article *la* and feminine spelling *grande* are needed for a feminine subject. Thus: *la plus grande*.
Question 2: Correct Answer: B. *les hôtels* is masculine plural. The plural form is *les meilleurs*.
Question 3: Correct Answer: A. Since the subject is *Elle* (she), we use the feminine article and adjective form: *Elle est la meilleure* [ehl ay lah may-yur].
Sarah and Tom compare two hotels.
Regarde l'Hôtel Bellevue. Il est plus cher que l'Hôtel Central.
(Look at Hotel Bellevue. It is more expensive than Hotel Central.)Oui, mais il est meilleur. Les chambres sont plus grandes.
(Yes, but it is better. The rooms are bigger.)C'est vrai. Et il est aussi près de la plage que l'autre.
(That's true. And it is as close to the beach as the other one.)Compare the pizzas (Pizza A is gold, Pizza B is silver).
Solidify your memory. Import the flashcards directly to practice comparatives and superlatives.
Achieve total self-contained mastery by completing the three tiers below.
1. What structure represents "more... than" in French?
2. Which phrase is grammatically forbidden in French?
3. When comparing how someone performs an action (describing a verb), what word represents "better"?
4. Translate: "He is taller than you." (taller = plus grand)
5. How do you say "the best hotel" in French? (hotel is masculine: l'hôtel)
1. "The pizza is better than the pasta." → La pizza est que les pâtes. (Clue: "better" describing a feminine noun: pizza)
2. "He is as tall as Paul." → Il est grand que Paul. (Clue: "as... as")
3. "They sing better than us." → Ils chantent que nous. (Clue: "better" describing a verb: chantent)
4. "This book is less expensive than that one." → Ce livre est cher que celui-là. (Clue: "less... than")
5. "He is the tallest." → Il est le grand. (Clue: "the most")
1. Translate: "I am taller than you." (Clue: informal, taller is *plus grand que toi*)
2. Translate: "This hotel is better." (Clue: hotel is *hôtel* which takes *cet*, better is *meilleur*)
3. Translate: "He sings better." (Clue: sings is *chante*, better describing a verb is *mieux*)
4. Translate: "It is less expensive." (Clue: expensive is *cher*, use *C'est* and less is *moins*)
5. Translate: "She is the best." (Clue: she is is *Elle est*, best is feminine superlative)
1. B is correct. *plus... que* represents "more... than".
2. A is correct. *plus bon* is grammatically forbidden. We must use *meilleur*.
3. B is correct. We describe actions/verbs using the adverb *mieux*.
4. C is correct. *Il est plus grand que toi* translates to "He is taller than you."
5. B is correct. Hôtel is a masculine noun, so it takes the adjective *meilleur* combined with the masculine article. Thus: *le meilleur hôtel*.
1. meilleure — pizza is feminine singular, so we use *meilleure*.
2. aussi — aussi... que means "as... as".
3. mieux — chantent is an action verb, requiring the adverb *mieux*.
4. moins — moins... que means "less... than".
5. plus — le plus grand means "the tallest/biggest".
1. Je suis plus grand que toi. (or *Je suis plus grande que toi*)
2. Cet hôtel est meilleur.
3. Il chante mieux.
4. C'est moins cher.
5. Elle est la meilleure.