This document provides an overview of comparatives and superlatives in French. It is divided into four sections that cover: (1) definitions and examples of comparatives and superlatives, (2) forming comparatives and superlatives of adjectives using rules and exceptions, (3) forming comparatives and superlatives of adverbs similarly to adjectives, and (4) lists of irregular comparative and superlative adjectives and adverbs that do not follow the standard rules. The document concludes by recommending additional French learning resources.

1. FRENCH
COMPARATIVES AND
SUPERLATIVES

2. This learning guide is divided into different
parts with a quick recap after each topic.
1)
WHAT IS COMPARATIVES AND SUPERLATIVES?
2)
COMPARATIVES AND SUPERLATIVES OF ADJECTIVES
3)
COMPARATIVES AND SUPERLATIVES OF ADVERBS
4)
THE IRREGULARS

3. 1. WHAT IS
COMPARATIVES AND SUPERLATIVES?
Comparatives is used to compare superiority, inferiority, or equality
between two or more things. In English, it’s marked by the suffix –er or
preceded by the word more or less.
Superlatives is used to talk about the extremes. In Englis, it’s marked by the
suffix –est or preceded by the word most or least.
Example for Comparative:
Example for Superlatives:
I am more good-looking than my
office friends.
I am the most good-looking person
ever!
Things you should remember:
French comparatives and superlatives, just like in English, can occur both
in adjectives and adverbs.
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4. 2. COMPARATIVES AND SUPERLATIVES
OF ADJECTIVES
Here are some tips and rules in using comparative adjectives in French:
1. Use the word plus (which means more).
2. Use the word moins (which means less).
3. Use the word que (which means than).
Here are some tips and rules in using superlative adjectives in French:
1. Use the word plus (to mean most) ;
 Masculin singular adjectives  le plus
 Feminine singular adjectives  la plus
 Plural adjectives (masculin and feminine)  les plus
2. Use the word moins (to mean least) ;
 Masculin singular adjectives  le moins
 Feminine singular adjectives  la moins
 Plural adjectives (masculin and feminine)  les moins
Things you should remember:
For irregular comparative and superlative adjectives do not follow these
rules
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5. 2. COMPARATIVES AND SUPERLATIVES
OF ADJECTIVES (CONTINUED)
A quick recap of this topic:
1. The words plus and moins are used to denote comparisons just like how
we use ‘more’ and ‘less’ in English.
2. To change an adjective into its superlative form, le/la/les
plus or le/la/les moins are used, and these are dependent on the
gender and quantity of the subject being described.
3. Irregular comparatives and superlatives do not follow these rules.
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6. 3. COMPARATIVES AND SUPERLATIVES
OF ADVERBS
Here are some tips and rules in using comparative adverb in French:
1. Use plus... que (which means more...than).
2. Use moins... que (which means less... than).
3. Use aussi... que (which means as...as).
Here are some tips and rules in using superlative adverb in French:
1. Superlatives in adverbs works the same way as they do in the
adjectives, except for one thing: you no longer need to make le agree
with the gender or number. In short, there is no la or les for the
feminine and plural forms. Le stays as is.
2. Use le plus to say the most or the ____est.
3. Use le moins to say the least or the ____est.
Things you should remember:
For irregular comparative and superlative adverbs do not follow these
rules
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7. 4. THE IRREGULARS
IRREGULAR COMPARATIVE AND SUPERLATIVE ADJECTIVES
bon (good)
meilleur (better)
le meilleur (the best)
mauvais (bad)
pire/ plus muvais (worse)
le pire / le plus mauvais (the
worst)
petit (small)
moindre / plus petit (smaller)
le moindre / le plus petit (the
smallest)
IRREGULAR COMPARATIVE AND SUPERLATIVE ADVERBS
beaucoup (a lot) plus (more)
le plus (the most)
bien (well)
mieux (better)
le mieux (the best)
mal (badly)
pis or plus mal (worse)
le pis or le plus mal (the
worst)
Peu (little)
moins (less)
le moins (the least)
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8. A quick recap of this topic:
1. Comparatives and superlatives of adverbs are formed in the same way
as the adjectives. Plus… que, moins… que, and aussi… que for
comparatives and le plus and le moins for superlatives.
2. Unlike the adjectives, the comparatives and superlatives of the adverbs
no longer need to agree to the gender or number to the word they are
describing.
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