Comparer des choses (plus grand, plus cher)
-er et more pour comparer deux choses avec style ! faster, more expensive.
Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
Use comparatives to describe the difference between two people, places, or things using '-er' or 'more'.
- Add '-er' to short words (1 syllable), like 'fast' to 'faster'.
- Use 'more' before long words (2+ syllables), like 'more beautiful'.
- Always use 'than' to connect the two things you are comparing.
Overview
plus devant l'adjectif (plus grand, plus intelligent, plus beau). En anglais, c'est un peu plus nuancé, et c'est souvent là que les apprenants francophones s'emmêlent les pinceaux.This car is fast, tu pourras dire This car is faster than my old one. C'est ce genre de détails qui rend ton anglais plus naturel et plus précis.- 1Le suffixe
-er: On l'attache à la fin des adjectifs courts. - 2Le mot
more: On le place *devant* les adjectifs longs.
plus petit et plus extraordinaire. Le mot plus ne change pas. En anglais, on dira smaller (on change le mot) mais more extraordinary (on ajoute un mot devant).than. C'est l'équivalent de notre que. Sans lui, ta comparaison est incomplète.- En français :
Il est plus grand que moi. - En anglais :
He is taller than me.
This book is more interesting than that movie.(On compare deux objets : le livre et le film).She runs faster than he does.(On compare deux actions : sa course à elle et la sienne).Our new apartment is bigger than our old one.(On compare deux lieux).
-er à un mot court comme tall est facile à prononcer (taller). Mais essayer d'ajouter -er à un mot long comme interesting donnerait interestinger, ce qui est lourd et difficile à articuler. L'utilisation de more permet de garder une certaine élégance à l'oral.-er à la fin.tall (grand) | taller | My brother is taller than my sister. |cold (froid) | colder | It’s colder today than it was yesterday. |fast (rapide) | faster | This car is faster than the bus. |- Si le mot finit déjà par
-e: On ajoute seulement un-r. Pas besoin de doubler lee! nice→nicer(This hotel is nicer than the last one.)large→larger(The kitchen is larger than the bedroom.)- La règle du « Consonne-Voyelle-Consonne » (CVC) : Si ton adjectif court se termine par une seule consonne précédée d'une seule voyelle (comme
bigouhot), tu dois doubler la consonne finale avant d'ajouter-er. C'est crucial pour garder le son de la voyelle court. big→bigger(et nonbiger)hot→hotterthin→thinner
-y-y devient un -i.happy (heureux) | happier | She looks happier now than before. |easy (facile) | easier | This exercise is easier than I thought. |funny (drôle) | funnier | That movie was funnier than the first one. |-y) et tous les adjectifs de trois syllabes ou plus, on utilise more devant l'adjectif. L'adjectif lui-même ne change pas. C'est la structure la plus proche du français.expensive (cher) | more expensive | Paris is more expensive than Lyon. |difficult (difficile) | more difficult | English is more difficult than I thought. |modern (moderne) | more modern | This office is more modern than mine. |clever → cleverer ou more clever). En tant qu'apprenant A2, si tu as un doute sur un mot de deux syllabes (qui ne finit pas par -y), utilise more. C'est la solution de sécurité et on te comprendra toujours.good | better | Meilleur |bad | worse | Pire / Plus mauvais |far | farther / further | Plus loin |much / many | more | Plus (quantité) |little | less | Moins |farther vs further : En gros, farther s'utilise pour une distance physique mesurable (The station is farther than the park). Further s'utilise pour une distance figurative ou pour dire « supplémentaire » (Do you have any further questions?).the biggest), mais restons concentrés sur le duel pour l'instant.- 1Exprimer une opinion ou une préférence :
I think Italian food is better than French food.(Un avis courageux !)I prefer this sofa; it's more comfortable than the other one.
- 1Décrire un changement dans le temps :
The weather is colder than it was yesterday.My English is better than last year.
- 1Comparer des performances (Adverbes) :
He works harder than his brother.You speak more clearly than before.
- 1Faire du shopping et comparer des prix ou des qualités :
This laptop is cheaper than the MacBook.The screen is clearer than my old TV.
How is your coffee?, tu peux répondre : It's better! (sous-entendu : than the one I had before).more big au lieu de biggerplus grand. Ton cerveau veut donc dire more big.- Erreur :
This house is more big. - Correction :
This house is bigger.
big est un adjectif court (1 syllabe), il DOIT prendre la terminaison -er.than et thatque sert à tout. Il sert pour la comparaison (plus grand que) et pour les propositions (je pense que). En anglais, ce sont deux mots différents.- Erreur :
He is taller that me. - Correction :
He is taller than me.
than comme à un lien entre deux (2) choses.more better)- Erreur :
This car is more better. - Correction :
This car is better.
Better est déjà un comparatif. Ajouter more devant, c'est comme dire « plus meilleur » en français. C'est une faute lourde.- Erreur :
big→biger/hot→hoter. - Correction :
bigger,hotter.
adj + -er OU more + adj | Plus ... que |as + adjectif + as | Aussi ... que |less + adjectif + than | Moins ... que |as... as) :I am as tall as you.(Je suis aussi grand que toi).This movie is as interesting as the book.(Ce film est aussi intéressant que le livre).
less... than) :less devant l'adjectif, peu importe sa longueur.This phone is less expensive than an iPhone.The park is less noisy than the street.
- Comparatif (2 choses) :
My dog is bigger than yours. - Superlatif (3 choses ou plus) :
My dog is the biggest in the neighborhood.
nice a deux voyelles écrites (n-i-c-e), mais on ne prononce qu'un seul son voyelle (/naɪs/). C'est donc un adjectif d'une seule syllabe. Beautiful a beaucoup de voyelles, mais on entend trois sons (beau-ti-ful), donc c'est un adjectif long.more avec des adjectifs courts si je veux insister ?much ou far devant le comparatif : This is much bigger! (C'est beaucoup plus grand) ou He is far taller than me.happier et pas more happy ?-y sont considérés comme « légers » à l'oreille, donc ils acceptent la terminaison -er. C'est l'exception la plus importante à retenir pour les mots de deux syllabes.than est obligatoire ?I want a bigger car, la phrase est correcte car on comprend que c'est « plus grande que celle que j'ai ». Mais si tu nommes l'autre voiture, tu dois dire I want a car bigger than this one.Comparative Formation Rules
| Adjective Type | Rule | Example Adjective | Comparative Form |
|---|---|---|---|
|
1 Syllable
|
Add -er
|
Fast
|
Faster
|
|
1 Syllable (CVC)
|
Double consonant + -er
|
Big
|
Bigger
|
|
1 Syllable (ends in e)
|
Add -r
|
Nice
|
Nicer
|
|
2 Syllables (ends in y)
|
y -> i + -er
|
Happy
|
Happier
|
|
2+ Syllables
|
Use 'more'
|
Expensive
|
More expensive
|
|
Irregular
|
Memorize
|
Good
|
Better
|
|
Irregular
|
Memorize
|
Bad
|
Worse
|
|
Irregular
|
Memorize
|
Far
|
Further/Farther
|
Meanings
Comparative adjectives are used to compare differences between the two objects they modify (larger, smaller, faster, higher). They are used in sentences where two nouns are compared.
Superiority (More)
To show that one thing has a higher quality or degree of a trait than another.
“This book is more interesting than the last one.”
“She is taller than her brother.”
Inferiority (Less)
To show that one thing has a lower quality or degree of a trait.
“This phone is less expensive than that one.”
“The movie was less exciting than the trailer.”
Equality (As...as)
To show that two things are equal in a specific quality.
“He is as tall as his father.”
“This cake is as delicious as the one you made.”
Reference Table
| Type d'adjectif | Règle simple | Adjectif | Forme comparative | Exemple en contexte |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1 syllabe
|
Ajoute -er
|
tall
|
taller
|
She is taller than her sister.
|
|
1 syllabe (finit en e)
|
Ajoute juste -r
|
nice
|
nicer
|
This climate is nicer than mine.
|
|
1 syllabe (Consonne-Voyelle-Consonne)
|
Double consonne + -er
|
big
|
bigger
|
My car is bigger than yours.
|
|
2 syllabes (finit en y)
|
Change y en i + -er
|
happy
|
happier
|
I feel happier today.
|
|
2+ syllabes (les autres)
|
Utilise more + adjectif
|
expensive
|
more expensive
|
This phone is more expensive.
|
|
Irrégulier
|
Forme spéciale à retenir
|
good
|
better
|
This coffee tastes better.
|
|
Irrégulier
|
Forme spéciale à retenir
|
bad
|
worse
|
The traffic is worse today.
|
Spectre de formalité
The first candidate appears to be more experienced than the second. (Hiring process)
The first person has more experience than the second one. (Hiring process)
The first guy is more experienced. (Hiring process)
The first one's got way more street cred. (Hiring process)
Flux des Adjectifs Comparatifs
Adjectifs Courts (1 syllabe)
- tall taller
- big bigger
- cold colder
2 Syllabes (finit en -y)
- happy happier
- easy easier
- funny funnier
Adjectifs Longs (2+ syllabes)
- expensive more expensive
- interesting more interesting
- beautiful more beautiful
Formes Irrégulières
- good better
- bad worse
Former le Comparatif : -er vs More
Comment former un comparatif ?
L'adjectif a-t-il une seule syllabe (ex: 'tall', 'big') ?
L'adjectif a-t-il deux syllabes et finit par -y (ex: 'happy', 'easy') ?
L'adjectif a-t-il deux syllabes ou plus (ex: 'boring', 'expensive') ?
Exemples de Comparatifs par Catégorie
Règle du -er
- • tall > taller
- • hot > hotter
- • nice > nicer
- • pretty > prettier
Règle du More
- • important > more important
- • delicious > more delicious
- • difficult > more difficult
- • popular > more popular
Irréguliers
- • good > better
- • bad > worse
- • far > farther/further
- • little > less
Comparaisons Courantes
- • bigger than
- • more expensive than
- • easier than
- • better than
Exemples par niveau
My cat is smaller than your dog.
My cat is smaller than your dog.
I am taller than my sister.
I am taller than my sister.
This car is faster.
This car is faster.
Tea is hotter than water.
Tea is hotter than water.
This phone is more expensive than that one.
This phone is more expensive than that one.
The city is noisier than the countryside.
The city is noisier than the countryside.
Your English is better than last year.
Your English is better than last year.
Is the bus cheaper than the train?
Is the bus cheaper than the train?
This exercise is much easier than the previous one.
This exercise is much easier than the previous one.
The new model is slightly more efficient.
The new model is slightly more efficient.
He speaks more fluently than he did before.
He speaks more fluently than he did before.
I feel less tired today than yesterday.
I feel less tired today than yesterday.
The more you practice, the better you become.
The more you practice, the better you become.
The results were far more impressive than we anticipated.
The results were far more impressive than we anticipated.
The situation is getting more and more complicated.
The situation is getting more and more complicated.
She is no more capable than her predecessor.
She is no more capable than her predecessor.
The proposal was all the more convincing for its brevity.
The proposal was all the more convincing for its brevity.
He is taller than I am.
He is taller than I am.
The weather was rather more pleasant than predicted.
The weather was rather more pleasant than predicted.
It was a far cry from the earlier, simpler versions.
It was a far cry from the earlier, simpler versions.
The argument is none the stronger for being repeated.
The argument is none the stronger for being repeated.
He was a man of no lesser stature than the king himself.
He was a man of no lesser stature than the king himself.
The more's the pity that we didn't arrive earlier.
The more's the pity that we didn't arrive earlier.
Her performance was significantly more nuanced than her debut.
Her performance was significantly more nuanced than her debut.
Facile à confondre
Learners use superlatives (best, biggest) when only comparing two things.
These words sound similar but have completely different meanings.
Using both 'more' and '-er' on the same adjective.
Erreurs courantes
He is more tall than me.
He is taller than me.
This is more better.
This is better.
I am taller that him.
I am taller than him.
My car is biger than yours.
My car is bigger than yours.
It is more easy now.
It is easier now.
She is more happy than before.
She is happier than before.
This is badder than that.
This is worse than that.
The movie was less better than I thought.
The movie was not as good as I thought.
He is more taller.
He is much taller.
I have more few books than you.
I have fewer books than you.
He is the taller of the three.
He is the tallest of the three.
It's getting more and more hot.
It's getting hotter and hotter.
I prefer tea than coffee.
I prefer tea to coffee.
Structures de phrases
My ___ is ___er than yours.
This ___ is more ___ than that one.
I think ___ is better than ___.
The ___er it is, the more ___ it becomes.
Real World Usage
This model is much quieter than the previous version.
I am looking for a more challenging role.
I'm looking for someone taller than 6 feet.
This SUV is safer and more reliable for families.
Tomorrow will be colder and windier than today.
Is there a cheaper flight available?
Écoute les syllabes
This room is colder.
Pas de double combo !
more bigger, c'est une grosse erreur. Dis juste : My house is bigger.
Utilise 'than' comme lien
I am faster than you.
La culture du 'Better'
Booste tes phrases
This is much more expensive.
Smart Tips
Always change the 'y' to 'i' before adding '-er'. It works for happy, busy, easy, and crazy!
Use 'much' or 'a bit' to show the size of the difference.
In casual English, we use 'than me' or 'than him'. In very formal English, we use 'than I am' or 'than he is'.
Use 'the [comparative] one' to choose between two items without repeating the noun.
Prononciation
The Schwa sound in '-er'
The '-er' ending is almost always pronounced as a weak schwa /ə/. Do not stress it.
Linking 'than'
The word 'than' is usually reduced to /ðən/ and links to the following word.
Comparison Stress
This one is BIGGER than that one.
Stress the comparative adjective to emphasize the difference.
Mémorise-le
Moyen mnémotechnique
Short words get 'er' (like a motor), long words get 'more' (like a crowd).
Association visuelle
Imagine a tiny mouse with a long tail shaped like the letters 'ER' standing next to a giant elephant wearing a shirt that says 'MORE'.
Rhyme
Short gets -er, long gets more, use 'than' to settle the score!
Story
A small ant (Short) wanted to be a runner, so he became 'faster'. A beautiful butterfly (Long) didn't want to change her name, so she just became 'more beautiful'. They both had to cross the 'Than' bridge to finish the race.
Word Web
Défi
Look around your room. Find two objects and say three sentences comparing them out loud (e.g., 'The lamp is taller than the book').
Notes culturelles
Americans often use 'farther' for physical distance and 'further' for metaphorical distance. British speakers often use 'further' for both.
In Japanese culture, direct comparisons can sometimes be seen as too blunt. In English, however, they are expected and necessary for clarity.
German speakers may find the English use of 'more' for long adjectives similar to their own 'mehr', but must remember that German also uses suffixes for almost all adjectives.
The '-er' suffix comes from the Old English '-ra', which was used to form comparatives in Germanic languages.
Amorces de conversation
Which is better: living in a big city or a small village?
Compare your current phone with your previous one.
Is it better to be a student or an employee?
How has your life changed in the last five years?
Sujets d'écriture
Erreurs courantes
Test Yourself
Score: /3
Exercices pratiques
8 exercisesMy house is ___ (big) than yours.
Which sentence is grammatically correct?
Find and fix the mistake:
This coffee is more better than the one I had yesterday.
than / is / My / faster / car / yours
Match the following:
I am taller ___ my father.
Pick the irregular comparative.
This book is ___ (interesting) than the movie.
Score: /8
Practice Bank
12 exercisesThis bed is much ___ (comfortable) than the old one.
Choisis la phrase correcte :
Living in the city is excitinger than the countryside.
Traduits en anglais : 'L'examen était plus difficile que ce que je pensais.'
Remets ces mots dans l'ordre :
This path is ___ (narrow) than the main road.
Associe les adjectifs à leurs formes comparatives :
Our team's presentation was gooder than theirs.
Choisis la phrase correcte :
Traduits en anglais : 'Mon vélo est plus vieux que le tien.'
Remets les mots dans l'ordre :
Associe chaque adjectif à son comparatif :
Score: /12
FAQ (8)
Double the last letter for one-syllable words that end in a single vowel + single consonant (like `big` -> `bigger`, `hot` -> `hotter`). Do not double it if there are two vowels (like `cheap` -> `cheaper`).
Both are correct! In American English, `farther` is usually for physical distance and `further` is for metaphorical distance (like 'further information'). In British English, `further` is common for both.
Both are actually correct! Some two-syllable words like `clever`, `simple`, and `narrow` can take either form, though `-er` is more traditional.
Because `better` already means 'more good'. Saying `more better` is like saying 'more more good', which is redundant and incorrect in standard English.
`Than` is for comparing things (He is taller `than` me). `Then` is for time or sequences (I went home, `then` I ate dinner).
Use the structure `as + adjective + as`. For example, 'I am `as tall as` my brother.'
Yes! For example, 'He runs `faster` than me' or 'She speaks `more clearly` than her friend.' The rules for syllables are the same.
You can use `less + adjective + than`. For example, 'This phone is `less expensive` than that one.'
Scaffolded Practice
1
2
3
4
Mastery Progress
Needs Practice
Improving
Strong
Mastered
In Other Languages
más + adjective + que
English has two systems (-er and more), while Spanish only has one (más).
plus + adjective + que
French never changes the ending of the adjective to mean 'more'.
adjective + -er + als
German uses the suffix for almost all adjectives, whereas English switches to 'more' for long ones.
A no hou ga B yori [adj]
Japanese grammar structure for comparison is completely different from the English SVO structure.
Elative form (Af'al)
Arabic uses a morphological internal change rather than a simple suffix or prefix.
A bǐ B + adjective
Chinese has no inflection or 'more' equivalent within the comparative sentence.
Learning Path
Prerequisites
Vidéos associées
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