aussi...que

Comparative of Equality

Level 1

The comparative of equality uses the structure aussi... que to compare qualities (adjectives) or manners (adverbs). It translates to 'as... as' in English.

How It Works

The comparative of equality is used to express that two subjects have the same degree of a certain quality.

1. Structure with Adjectives:
When comparing qualities, the adjective must agree in gender and number with the first subject.
Example: Elle est aussi grande que son frère. (She is as tall as her brother.)

2. Structure with Adverbs:
When comparing how an action is performed, use an adverb. Adverbs are invariable.
Example: Il court aussi vite que toi. (He runs as fast as you.)

3. Elision:
The word que becomes qu' when the following word starts with a vowel or a mute 'h'.
Example: Il est aussi drôle qu'elle. (He is as funny as her.)

4. Negative Sentences:
In negative sentences, the structure becomes ne... pas aussi... que (not as... as). While some textbooks mention using si instead of aussi in the negative, aussi remains the standard and most common choice.

Examples (5)

  1. Ce film est aussi intéressant que le livre.

    This movie is as interesting as the book.

    Word by Word: This film is as interesting as the book.

    Here, 'aussi' and 'que' surround the adjective 'intéressant' to show equality.

  2. Ma sœur est aussi grande que mon père.

    My sister is as tall as my father.

    Word by Word: My sister is as tall as my father.

    Notice that 'grande' is feminine to match 'ma sœur', the first subject.

  3. Tu chantes aussi bien qu'un professionnel.

    You sing as well as a professional.

    Word by Word: You sing as well as a professional.

    In this case, 'aussi' modifies the adverb 'bien'. 'Que' becomes 'qu'' before the vowel in 'un'.

  4. Le train n'est pas aussi rapide que l'avion.

    The train is not as fast as the plane.

    Word by Word: The train [negation] is not as fast as the plane.

    This shows the negative form 'ne... pas aussi... que'.

  5. Ils sont aussi intelligents que nous.

    They are as intelligent as us.

    Word by Word: They are as intelligent as us.

    The adjective 'intelligents' is plural to match 'ils'. 'Nous' is a stressed pronoun used after 'que'.

Common Mistakes

  • Using 'aussi' with nouns instead of 'autant de'.

    J'ai aussi de livres que toi.
    J'ai autant de livres que toi.

    Use autant de for quantities (nouns) and 'aussi' only for adjectives or adverbs.

  • Using subject pronouns instead of stressed pronouns after 'que'.

    Il est aussi grand que je.
    Il est aussi grand que moi.

    After 'que' in a comparison, you must use stressed pronouns (moi, toi, lui, elle, etc.) rather than subject pronouns (je, tu, il, elle).

  • Forgetting adjective agreement.

    Marie est aussi petit que Jean.
    Marie est aussi petite que Jean.

    The adjective must follow the rules of adjective agreement with the first subject (Marie).

How It Connects

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aussi...queLevel 1Comparative of Equality

Learn This First

To use the comparative of equality, you need to understand how to link subjects to adjectives using the verb 'être', how to ensure those adjectives agree with the subject, and the general syntax of French comparative structures.

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