Expressing the comparative of adjectives in French.
There is only one way to express the comparative of adjectives in French. Use the following construction:
`plus + adjective + `que/qu' more + adjective + than
`aussi + adjective + `que/qu' as + adjective + as
`moins + adjective + `que/qu' less + adjective + than
The adjective which is used needs to agree in gender and number with the word (noun or pronoun) it modifies:
<Elle est `aussi `grande {qu'}Henri.
(She is as tall as Henry)
"grande" is feminine singular because "elle" is feminine singular.
Ces <livres sont `moins `intΘressants `que cet autre livre.
(These books are less interesting that this other book)
"intΘressants" is masculine plural because "livres" is masculine plural.
The comparison can be stronger by using demonstrative adjectives (see Program II lesson 2) in the following manner:
<Ce livre-c{i} est moins intΘressant que <ce livre-l{α}.
( <th{i}s book is less interesting than <th{a}t book)
<Ces livres-c{i} sont moins intΘressants que <ces livres-l{α}.
( <th{e}se books are less interesting than <th{o}se books)
the forms -ci and -lα are invariable. In a comparison use the form which has the same vowel as the one you would use in English: -c{i} for th{i}s (and plural these) and -l{α} for th{a}t (and plural those)
A few irregular adjectives do not form their comparative in the above manner. Sometimes they can have a regular form also. The regular forms are underlined below:
ADJECTIVE^2 COMPARATIVE^5 TRANSLATION
bon/s^2 meilleur/s^5 better
bonne/s^2 meilleure/s^5 better
mauvais^2 pire/s - <plus <mauvais^5 worse
mauvaise/s^2 pire/s - <plus <mauvaises^5 worse
petit/s^2 moindre/s - <plus <petit/s^5 smaller
petite/s^2 moindre/s - <plus <petite/s^5 smaller
Expressing the superlative of adjectives in French.
To express the superlative of adjectives in French, use the following constructions for the most + adjective:
`le `plus `+ `masc `sing `adjective^4 the most + masc sing adj
`la `plus `+ `fem `sing `adjective^4 the most + fem sing adj
`les `plus `+ `masc `plur `adjective^4 the most + masc plur adj
`les `plus `+ `fem `plur `adjective^4 the most + fem plur adj
Use the following constructions to express the least + adjective:
`le `moins `+ `masc `sing `adjective^4 the least + masc sing adj
`la `moins `+ `fem `sing `adjective^4 the least + fem sing adj
`les `moins `+ `masc `plur `adjective^4 the least + masc plur adj
`les `moins `+ `fem `plur `adjective^4 the least + fem plur adj
$$
As an adjective is part of the superlative construction in French, it is necessary that this adjective has to agree with the noun it modifies, as shown above. Also, when we studied the adjectives in Program II lesson 1, we found out that some adjectives are placed in front of the noun they modify and that some adjectives (the majority) are placed after the noun they modify. When you use a superlative construction, you will do the same: the superlative of adjectives which are placed in front of the nouns they modify will be placed in front of these nouns and the superlative of adjectives which are placed after the noun they modify will be placed after these nouns. When the superlative form of the adjective follows the noun, you must repeat the same definite article used by the noun it modifies. Follow these examples:
In the sentence below, the superlative comes before the noun. Therefore the superlative and the noun share the same definite article.
Ce sont `les `plus `grands monuments en France.
(These are the largest monuments in France)
In the next example below, the superlative comes after the noun. Therefore the superlative and the noun each have their own definite article, but it is the same article which is repeated.
Ce sont <les <Θtudiantes `les `plus `intelligentes.
(They are the most intelligent students)
Do not decide to place the French superlative in front or after the noun because that is what the corresponding English superlative does. French adjectives and English are following different grammatical rules (as you can see in the above sentences)!
To express `in `the after a superlative, French prefers to use de followed by an article:
Ce sont les instruments les plus importants `de {l'}institut.
(These are the most important instruments `in `the institute)
