French Comparisons: More, Less, and As (plus, moins, aussi)
plus, moins, or aussi and que to compare two things in French.
Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
Use 'plus', 'moins', or 'aussi' followed by 'que' to compare two things in French.
- More: plus + adjective/adverb + que (e.g., Il est plus grand que moi).
- Less: moins + adjective/adverb + que (e.g., Elle est moins rapide que lui).
- As: aussi + adjective/adverb + que (e.g., C'est aussi bon que ça).
Overview
Comparatives are fundamental to expressing relationships between elements in French. They allow you to state whether something possesses a quality to a greater, lesser, or equal degree than another. This mechanism is central to expressing opinions, preferences, and making detailed observations, moving beyond simple factual statements to nuanced descriptions.
French utilizes a consistent adverbial structure, employing specific words before the adjective or adverb to be modified, rather than English's practice of adding suffixes like '-er'.
At its core, a French comparative construction involves a comparative adverb (plus, moins, or aussi), followed by an adjective or adverb, and then the conjunction que. This structure fundamentally alters the intensity of the descriptive word. Understanding this pattern is essential for progressing beyond basic sentence construction and engaging in more sophisticated French conversation.
Linguistically, French maintains the base form of adjectives and adverbs, relying on these preceding adverbs to convey the comparative sense. This contrasts with synthetic languages that might inflect the adjective itself. This analytical approach makes the system highly regular and predictable, once its foundational patterns are understood.
You will find yourself using these structures constantly in everyday French, from comparing two restaurants to discussing differing viewpoints on a subject.
How This Grammar Works
que (meaning 'than' or 'as') then introduces the element being compared.- 1Superiority: Expresses that something possesses a quality more than another. This is conveyed using
plus... que. For example,Cette voiture est plus rapide que la tienne.(This car is faster than yours.) Here,plusintensifiesrapide. - 2Inferiority: Indicates that something possesses a quality less than another. This is formed with
moins... que. ConsiderMon travail est moins intéressant que le sien.(My job is less interesting than his/hers.)Moinsdiminishes the quality ofintéressant. - 3Equality: Shows that something possesses a quality as much as or to the same degree as another. This uses
aussi... que. For instance,Elle est aussi intelligente que son frère.(She is as intelligent as her brother.)Aussiequates the degree ofintelligente.
Formation Pattern
plus, moins, aussi), the adjective or adverb, and the conjunction que. Adherence to this structure is mandatory for grammatical correctness. Remember that adjectives must agree in gender and number with the noun they modify, while adverbs remain unchanged.
plus + adjectif/adverbe + que
plus + adjectif + que | Il est plus grand que son frère. (He is taller than his brother.) | Elle parle plus vite que moi. (She speaks faster than me.) |
Elle est plus grande que sa sœur. (She is taller than her sister.) | |
Ce restaurant est plus cher que l'autre. (This restaurant is more expensive than the other one.)
Tu travailles plus sérieusement que lui. (You work more seriously than he does.)
La nouvelle version est plus rapide que l'ancienne. (The new version is faster than the old one.)
moins + adjectif/adverbe + que
moins + adjectif + que | Il est moins patient que sa femme. (He is less patient than his wife.) | Il conduit moins prudemment que son père. (He drives less carefully than his father.) |
Cette tâche est moins difficile que je pensais. (This task is less difficult than I thought.) | |
L'examen était moins stressant que prévu. (The exam was less stressful than expected.)
Nous nous levons moins tôt que d'habitude. (We get up less early than usual.)
Sa réponse était moins claire que la tienne. (His/Her answer was less clear than yours.)
aussi + adjectif/adverbe + que
aussi + adjectif + que | Il est aussi fort que toi. (He is as strong as you.) | Elle chante aussi bien que sa sœur. (She sings as well as her sister.) |
Ma voiture est aussi vieille que la tienne. (My car is as old as yours.) | |
Ce café est aussi bon que celui de Paris. (This coffee is as good as the one in Paris.)
Tu devrais t'habiller aussi chaudement que moi. (You should dress as warmly as I do.)
Le service est aussi efficace que la dernière fois. (The service is as efficient as last time.)
que:
que precedes a word beginning with a vowel or a mute h, it contracts to qu'. This is a mandatory liaison rule in French phonology.
plus important qu'un autre (more important than another)
aussi honnête qu'elle (as honest as her)
plus + adjectif/adverbe + que pattern.
bon (good) | meilleur(e)(s) (better) | Adjective | Ce livre est meilleur que le film. (This book is better than the film.) |
bien (well) | mieux (better) | Adverb | Je me sens mieux que hier. (I feel better than yesterday.) |
mauvais (bad)| plus mauvais(e)(s) OR pire(s) (worse) | Adjective | Ce résultat est pire que le précédent. (This result is worse than the previous one.) |
mal (badly) | plus mal OR pis (worse)| Adverb | Elle chante plus mal que toi. (She sings worse than you.) (Note: pis is rarer, usually found in fixed expressions.) |
plus de... que, moins de... que, or autant de... que. For example, J'ai plus de livres que toi. (I have more books than you.) This is a different grammatical construction and should not be confused with the comparative forms for adjectives and adverbs.
When To Use It
Cette chanson est plus entraînante que la précédente. (This song is more catchy than the previous one.) Similarly, when critiquing a service: Le service était moins efficace que la dernière fois. (The service was less efficient than last time.)Paris est plus grand que Lyon. (Paris is bigger than Lyon.) or Mon nouvel appartement est aussi lumineux que l'ancien. (My new apartment is as bright as the old one.) This is essential for detailed descriptions.Ce modèle est moins cher que celui-là. (This model is less expensive than that one.) or Je trouve ce chemin plus sûr que l'autre. (I find this path safer than the other.) This directly influences practical communication.Les ventes sont plus élevées que l'année dernière. (Sales are higher than last year.) In contrast, a friend might text: Ce film est moins drôle que ce que j'espérais. (This film is less funny than I hoped.) The structure remains consistent.- When buying clothing:
Ce pull est plus doux que l'autre.(This sweater is softer than the other one.) - When discussing travel plans:
Voyager en train est souvent moins stressant que prendre l'avion.(Traveling by train is often less stressful than flying.) - When comparing skills:
Je pense que tu es aussi doué que moi en dessin.(I think you are as talented as I am in drawing.)
plus... que, moins... que, and aussi... que effectively elevates your French from basic expression to articulate comparison, enabling you to convey a much richer array of information and personal viewpoints.Common Mistakes
- Incorrect:
Ma voiture est plus rapide que ton voiture.(My car is more fast than your car.) -rapideneeds to agree withvoiture(feminine singular). - Correct:
Ma voiture est plus rapide que ta voiture.(My car is faster than your car.) - Incorrect:
Ces livres sont plus intéressant que ceux-là.(These books are more interesting than those ones.) -intéressantneeds to agree withlivres(masculine plural). - Correct:
Ces livres sont plus intéressants que ceux-là.(These books are more interesting than those ones.)
bon and bien:plus bon (more good) or plus bien (more well). These are incorrect forms. French uses the irregular comparatives meilleur (for bon) and mieux (for bien).- Incorrect:
Ce gâteau est plus bon que l'autre. - Correct:
Ce gâteau est meilleur que l'autre.(This cake is better than the other.) - Incorrect:
Il parle français plus bien que moi. - Correct:
Il parle français mieux que moi.(He speaks French better than I do.)
Comparative Structure Table
| Type | Formula | Example |
|---|---|---|
|
Superiority
|
plus + adj + que
|
plus grand que
|
|
Inferiority
|
moins + adj + que
|
moins grand que
|
|
Equality
|
aussi + adj + que
|
aussi grand que
|
Elision Rules
| Word | Before Consonant | Before Vowel |
|---|---|---|
|
que
|
que
|
qu'
|
Meanings
These structures allow you to express the degree of a quality relative to another person or object.
Superiority
Expressing that something has more of a quality.
“Il est plus fort que moi.”
“Elle est plus intelligente que son frère.”
Inferiority
Expressing that something has less of a quality.
“Ce café est moins chaud que le thé.”
“Il est moins patient que sa sœur.”
Equality
Expressing that two things share the same level of quality.
“Je suis aussi fatigué que toi.”
“Il court aussi vite que son ami.”
Reference Table
| Form | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
|
Affirmative
|
plus + adj + que
|
Il est plus fort que moi.
|
|
Negative
|
ne pas être plus + adj + que
|
Il n'est pas plus fort que moi.
|
|
Question
|
Est-ce qu'il est plus + adj + que...?
|
Est-ce qu'il est plus fort que toi?
|
|
Equality
|
aussi + adj + que
|
Il est aussi fort que moi.
|
|
Inferiority
|
moins + adj + que
|
Il est moins fort que moi.
|
|
Adverb
|
plus + adv + que
|
Il court plus vite que moi.
|
Formality Spectrum
Il est plus grand que moi. (General)
Il est plus grand que moi. (General)
Il est plus grand que moi. (General)
Il est plus grand que moi. (General)
Comparative Logic
More
- plus more
Less
- moins less
Equal
- aussi as
Examples by Level
Il est plus grand que moi.
He is taller than me.
C'est moins cher que ça.
It is cheaper than that.
Elle est aussi gentille que toi.
She is as kind as you.
Il court plus vite que moi.
He runs faster than me.
La robe rouge est plus belle que la bleue.
The red dress is more beautiful than the blue one.
Ce film est moins intéressant que le livre.
This movie is less interesting than the book.
Je suis aussi fatiguée que toi.
I am as tired as you.
Il travaille plus sérieusement qu'elle.
He works more seriously than her.
Ce projet est bien plus complexe qu'il n'y paraît.
This project is much more complex than it seems.
Il est moins doué pour les langues que son frère.
He is less gifted for languages than his brother.
Elle chante aussi bien qu'une professionnelle.
She sings as well as a professional.
C'est une solution moins coûteuse que la précédente.
It is a less costly solution than the previous one.
Le résultat est plus probant que nous ne l'avions espéré.
The result is more convincing than we had hoped.
Elle est tout aussi déterminée que ses collègues.
She is just as determined as her colleagues.
C'est une approche moins conventionnelle qu'à l'accoutumée.
It is a less conventional approach than usual.
Il est plus à l'aise en public qu'en petit groupe.
He is more comfortable in public than in small groups.
Cette théorie est plus nuancée qu'il n'est d'usage de le penser.
This theory is more nuanced than it is customary to think.
Il est moins enclin à la compromission que ses prédécesseurs.
He is less inclined to compromise than his predecessors.
Elle est tout aussi éloquente qu'elle est persuasive.
She is just as eloquent as she is persuasive.
C'est une situation moins périlleuse qu'elle n'y paraît.
It is a less perilous situation than it seems.
Il s'avère être plus sagace que ne le suggérait son apparence.
He turns out to be more sagacious than his appearance suggested.
C'est une distinction moins subtile qu'il n'y paraît au premier abord.
It is a less subtle distinction than it seems at first glance.
Elle est tout aussi indomptable que le vent lui-même.
She is just as indomitable as the wind itself.
Il est plus enclin à la contemplation qu'à l'action.
He is more inclined to contemplation than to action.
Easily Confused
Learners mix up quality vs quantity.
Both mean 'better' but have different grammatical roles.
Comparing two vs comparing to all.
Common Mistakes
Il est plus grand moi.
Il est plus grand que moi.
Elle est plus grand que lui.
Elle est plus grande que lui.
Il est plus bon que lui.
Il est meilleur que lui.
C'est plus que moi.
C'est plus grand que moi.
Il est moins grand que moi.
Il est moins grand que moi.
Elle est aussi grand que lui.
Elle est aussi grande que lui.
Il est plus vite que moi.
Il est plus rapide que moi.
C'est plus mieux.
C'est meilleur.
Il est plus grand que je suis.
Il est plus grand que je ne le suis.
Plus de grand.
Plus grand.
Il est plus grand que moi le suis.
Il est plus grand que je ne le suis.
C'est plus pire.
C'est pire.
Il est aussi grand que il est.
Il est aussi grand qu'il l'est.
Sentence Patterns
Il est ___ que moi.
C'est ___ que je pensais.
Elle est ___ qu'elle est ___.
Ce projet est ___ qu'il n'y paraît.
Real World Usage
C'est plus beau en vrai!
T'es plus dispo?
Je suis plus qualifié que...
C'est moins cher ici.
C'est moins épicé que prévu.
Cette analyse est plus rigoureuse.
Check your gender
Don't forget 'que'
Use 'qu'' before vowels
Be precise
Smart Tips
Always check the gender of the person you are describing.
Always elide to 'qu'' to sound native.
Use 'plus' for adjectives, 'plus de' for nouns.
Learn 'meilleur' and 'mieux' early.
Pronunciation
Elision
Always link 'que' to a following vowel.
Rising
Plus grand que lui? ↑
Questioning the comparison.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Plus, Moins, Aussi: The 'PMA' rule for comparing things.
Visual Association
Imagine a scale. 'Plus' adds weight to the left, 'Moins' takes it away, and 'Aussi' keeps it perfectly balanced.
Rhyme
Plus, moins, aussi, n'oublie pas le 'que' aussi!
Story
Marie is 'plus' tall than Paul. Paul is 'moins' tall than Marie. But they are 'aussi' happy as each other.
Word Web
Challenge
Write 3 sentences comparing your friends using each of the three forms.
Cultural Notes
French speakers are very precise with comparisons in formal settings.
Informal speech often uses 'plus' with different emphasis.
Standard French rules apply in education.
Derived from Latin 'plus' (more) and 'minus' (less).
Conversation Starters
Est-ce que tu es plus grand que ton frère?
Quel est le film le plus intéressant que tu as vu?
Est-ce que la vie ici est plus chère qu'ailleurs?
Penses-tu que cette solution est aussi efficace que l'autre?
Journal Prompts
Common Mistakes
Test Yourself
Il est ___ grand que moi.
Which is correct?
Find and fix the mistake:
Il est plus fort moi.
Il est plus grand que moi. (Use aussi)
Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:
Order: que / est / plus / elle / grande / lui
C'est ___ intéressant que le film.
Il est ___ intelligent qu'elle.
Score: /8
Practice Exercises
8 exercisesIl est ___ grand que moi.
Which is correct?
Find and fix the mistake:
Il est plus fort moi.
Il est plus grand que moi. (Use aussi)
Match the word to its meaning.
Order: que / est / plus / elle / grande / lui
C'est ___ intéressant que le film.
Il est ___ intelligent qu'elle.
Score: /8
Practice Bank
10 exercisesThe cat is less big than the dog.
rapide / plus / train / est / le / que / voiture / la
Il est plus âgé ___ moi.
Ta pizza est ___ délicieuse ___ la mienne.
La{f} ville est plus petit que le{m} village.
Match the meanings:
Cette situation est ___ que la précédente.
Marc court plus ___ que Julie.
Elle est plus intelligente que elle-même.
Translate to French:
Score: /10
FAQ (8)
It's the standard comparative conjunction in French.
Only if the comparison is implied.
Yes, in this context.
It's the irregular comparative of 'bon'.
Same way as adjectives.
It's neutral.
The adjective must be plural.
Yes, absolutely.
Scaffolded Practice
1
2
3
4
Mastery Progress
Needs Practice
Improving
Strong
Mastered
In Other Languages
más/menos/tan...como
Spanish uses 'de' instead of 'que' for numbers.
mehr/weniger/so...wie
German uses suffixes (-er) for many adjectives.
yori/hodo
The word order is completely different.
akthar/aqall
Arabic uses a different sentence structure.
bi/gen...yiyang
Chinese does not conjugate adjectives.
more/less/as...as
English uses '-er' for short adjectives.
Learning Path
Prerequisites
Related Grammar Rules
French Adjectives: The BAGS Rule (Before the Noun)
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French Comparatives: Better, Faster, More (Plus, Moins, Aussi)
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French Adverbs: The Double-M Rule (-amment, -emment)
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French Adjectives That Change Meaning (Position Matters)
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French Irregular Comparatives: Better & Best (Meilleur vs. Mieux)
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