French grammar · Elementary (A2)
Comparing: plus, moins, aussi, meilleur
How to say bigger, cheaper and as good as in French, the special word meilleur, and how to say the best or the biggest.
Plus, moins, aussi… que
French doesn't add an ending like English “-er”. Instead, put (more), (less) or (as) before the adjective, and (than, as) after it. becomes qu' before a vowel.
The adjective agrees with the noun it describes, as always: To say “cheaper”, French usually says (less expensive).
| French | English |
|---|---|
| bigger than, taller than | |
| more expensive than | |
| cheaper than | |
| as quiet as | |
| less interesting than |
- Le salon est plus clair que la chambre.The living room is brighter than the bedroom.
- Il fait plus froid qu'à Paris.It's colder than in Paris.
Meilleur and mieux
(good) becomes (better): never plus bon. It agrees like any adjective: , , , .
(well) becomes (better). Use with a noun and with a verb: (This bread is better), but (She speaks English better than me).
- Le pain d'ici est meilleur que le pain du supermarché.The bread here is better than the bread from the supermarket.
- Je dors mieux à la montagne.I sleep better in the mountains.
The best, the biggest
For “the most” or “the least”, add , or before or : (the biggest bedroom). If the adjective normally comes after the noun, it stays there and the article is repeated: (the quietest neighbourhood).
“The best” is , . After a superlative, “in” is : (the best restaurant in town).
- C'est le meilleur appartement.It's the best flat.
- C'est la plus grande chambre de l'hôtel.It's the biggest room in the hotel.
- C'est le quartier le plus calme de Grenoble.It's the quietest neighbourhood in Grenoble.