6.10: Structure - Comparaison de quantités et de qualités
- Page ID
- 118955
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\(\newcommand{\avec}{\mathbf a}\) \(\newcommand{\bvec}{\mathbf b}\) \(\newcommand{\cvec}{\mathbf c}\) \(\newcommand{\dvec}{\mathbf d}\) \(\newcommand{\dtil}{\widetilde{\mathbf d}}\) \(\newcommand{\evec}{\mathbf e}\) \(\newcommand{\fvec}{\mathbf f}\) \(\newcommand{\nvec}{\mathbf n}\) \(\newcommand{\pvec}{\mathbf p}\) \(\newcommand{\qvec}{\mathbf q}\) \(\newcommand{\svec}{\mathbf s}\) \(\newcommand{\tvec}{\mathbf t}\) \(\newcommand{\uvec}{\mathbf u}\) \(\newcommand{\vvec}{\mathbf v}\) \(\newcommand{\wvec}{\mathbf w}\) \(\newcommand{\xvec}{\mathbf x}\) \(\newcommand{\yvec}{\mathbf y}\) \(\newcommand{\zvec}{\mathbf z}\) \(\newcommand{\rvec}{\mathbf r}\) \(\newcommand{\mvec}{\mathbf m}\) \(\newcommand{\zerovec}{\mathbf 0}\) \(\newcommand{\onevec}{\mathbf 1}\) \(\newcommand{\real}{\mathbb R}\) \(\newcommand{\twovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\ctwovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\threevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cthreevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\mattwo}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{rr}#1 \amp #2 \\ #3 \amp #4 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\laspan}[1]{\text{Span}\{#1\}}\) \(\newcommand{\bcal}{\cal B}\) \(\newcommand{\ccal}{\cal C}\) \(\newcommand{\scal}{\cal S}\) \(\newcommand{\wcal}{\cal W}\) \(\newcommand{\ecal}{\cal E}\) \(\newcommand{\coords}[2]{\left\{#1\right\}_{#2}}\) \(\newcommand{\gray}[1]{\color{gray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\lgray}[1]{\color{lightgray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\rank}{\operatorname{rank}}\) \(\newcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\col}{\text{Col}}\) \(\renewcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\nul}{\text{Nul}}\) \(\newcommand{\var}{\text{Var}}\) \(\newcommand{\corr}{\text{corr}}\) \(\newcommand{\len}[1]{\left|#1\right|}\) \(\newcommand{\bbar}{\overline{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bhat}{\widehat{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bperp}{\bvec^\perp}\) \(\newcommand{\xhat}{\widehat{\xvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\vhat}{\widehat{\vvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\uhat}{\widehat{\uvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\what}{\widehat{\wvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\Sighat}{\widehat{\Sigma}}\) \(\newcommand{\lt}{<}\) \(\newcommand{\gt}{>}\) \(\newcommand{\amp}{&}\) \(\definecolor{fillinmathshade}{gray}{0.9}\)In this section, you will learn how to compare quantities (nouns) and qualities (adjectives & adverbs).
Listen to the audio clips that follow on this page to hear the French pronunciation of vocabulary and examples presented.
On étudie !
(a) We have already seen how to express quantity with phrases like beaucoup de, un peu de, assez de , trop de. etc. To compare the quantity of different nouns we have some very useful phrases:
| Français | Anglais |
|---|---|
| plus de, d' + nom... que | more than |
| autant de, d' + nom... que | as much as, as many as |
| moins de, d' + nom... que | less, fewer than |
Il y a plus de plantes dans le jardin que sur la terrasse. (There are more plants in the garden than on the terrace.)
Paul mange autant de pizza que moi. (Paul eats as much pizza as I do.)
J'ai moins d'argent que lui. (I have less money than he does.)
If you want, you can always intensify plus and moins with beaucoup: beaucoup plus de...que, beaucoup moins de... que.
(b) To compare qualities (i.e., adjectives and adverbs) we have these expressions:
| Français | Anglais |
|---|---|
| plus + adjectif, adverbe...... que | more... than |
| aussi + adjectif, adverbe... que | as... as |
| moins + adjectif, adverbe...... que | less... than |
Cette maison est plus jolie que l'autre. (This house is prettier than the other one.)
Antonella parle le portugais aussi bien que João. (Antonella speaks Portuguese as well as João.)
Michelle est moins convaincue que Madeleine. (Michelle is less convinced than Madeleine.)
Plus (more) and plus (not any more) are two different words with different pronunciations. The s in plus (not anymore) is never pronounced. The s in plus (more) is pronounced like and English s, but it is pronounced like a z before a vowel:
J'ai plus de frères que toi. Je suis plus-z-intelligent que toi.
(c) The adjectives bon (good) and mauvais (bad) have irregular comparative forms. Here is how they go:
|
Français |
Anglais |
|---|---|
| moins bon(ne)(s) | not as good |
| aussi bon(ne)(s) | as good |
| better |
|
Français |
Anglais |
|---|---|
| moins mauvais(e)(s) | not as bad |
| aussi mauvais(e)(s) | as bad |
| plus mauvais(e)(s) ou pire(s) | worse |
Notice how the last word in each series above is irregular (better, worse; meilleur, pire).
Ça c'est le meilleur appartement. Il est de meilleure qualité. (That is the best apartment. It is of better quality.)
C'est une mauvaise chanson. Mais la nôtre est pire, plus mauvaise. (That's bad song. But ours is worse.)
(d) The adverbs bien (fine, well) and mal (badly, poorly) can also be comparative:
| Français | Anglais |
|---|---|
| moins bien | less well |
| aussi bien | as well |
| better |
| Français | Anglais |
|---|---|
| moins mal | less badly |
| aussi mal | as badly |
| plus mal | worse |
Je chante mal. Charlotte chante aussi mal que moi. (I sing badly. Charlotte sings as badly as I do.)
Ce tableau s'accorde mieux avec la décoration du bureau. (This painting goes better with the office decoration.)
Explore these video tutorials and practice making comparisons:
On pratique !
Activité A
Comparez ces objets selon le modèle.
Modèle : une maison et un appartement ➔
Une maison est plus grande qu'un appartement, mais un appartement est moins chèr.
Use any adjective that applies. Here are some new ones to toy with:
| Français | Anglais |
|---|---|
| chèr(e) | expensive |
| pratique | practical |
| confortable | comfortable |
| amusant(e) | fun |
| économique | economical |
| intéressant(e) | interesting |
| utile | useful |
| abordable | affordable |
| convenable | convenient |
- une voiture, un vélo
- un chat, un chien
- un appartement au rez-de-chaussée, un appartement au cinquième étage
- un voyage en avion, un voyage en train
- la ville, la campagne
Activité B
Make 5 comparisons between you and your family members. Write 5 full sentences.
Modèle : Mon frère est plus âgé que moi.
- ________
- ________
- ________
- ________
- ________
Activité C
Complete these sentences with bon, mauvais, bien, or mal.
- Tu vas______________ ?
- Oh la la, qu’est-ce tu danses____________________ ! C’est terrible.
- Je n’aime pas avoir de___________________notes.
- Vous parlez_________________le français. Vous avez un bon accent.
- Cette robe va____________________avec ces chaussures.
On approfondit !
Use the following resources to type accents and/or search for words:
- Accents: ç, à, é, è, â, ê, î, ô, û, ù, ë, ï, ü
- Dictionnaire français-anglais