Comparatif et superlatif des adjectifs (Comparative and superlative of adjectives)

Persons or things can be compared by using:

• the comparative form of the adjective:

• the superlative form of the adjective:

The comparative

Formation:

plus ... (que) (more..., ...er(than))
plus long (longer)
plus cher (more expensive)
moins... (que) (less...than)
moins long (less long)
moins récent (less recent)
aussi...(que) (as...(as))
aussi bon (as good)
aussi important (as important/ enough important)

-une plus grande maison(a larger house)
-un village plus ancien(an older village)
-le football est-il plus populaire que le rugby?(is football more popular than rugby?)
-ces gant sont moins chauds que les autres(these gloves are less warm than the others)
-elle est beaucoup/ bien moins patiente que lui (she is much/much less patient than him)
-le problème de la pollution est tout aussi grave(the pollution problem is just as serious)

The superlative

Formation:

le/la/les plus..., le/la/les moins... (the most..., the ...est, the least ...)

-le plus grand pays(the largest country)
-la plus grande ville(the largest city)
-les plus grands acteurs(the greatest actors)
-les plus grandes voiture(the largest cars)

Word order

• Same rules are applied and adjectives. when a superlative adjective comes after the noun, the article is used twice, before the noun and before the adjective.

-le plat le plus délicieux(the most delicious dish)
-l'histoire la plus passionnante(the most exciting story)

• When a possessive adjective is used there are two constructions, depending on the position of the adjective.

-ma plus forte matière(my best subject)
    or
- son besoin le plus urgent est de trouver un emploi(his most urgent need is to find a job)

'in' is normaly translated by 'de'

-la plus jolie maison du quartier/de la ville(the prettiest house in the area/town)
-le restaurant le plus cher de France(the most expensive restaurant in France)

Note: Verbs following the superlative ususally take the subjunctive (see verbs)

Irregular comparatives and superlatives

Note: Plus mauvais is used in the sense of the worse in quality, taste, moindre means 'less in importance', plus petit means 'less in size'

-le moindre de mes soucis(the least of my worries)
-elle est plus petit que moi(she is smaller than I am)