moins...que

Comparative of Inferiority

Level 1

The comparative of inferiority is used to show that something has a lower degree of a quality or quantity compared to something else. It translates to 'less... than' or 'fewer... than'.

How It Works

The comparative of inferiority allows you to rank things on a scale of 'lesser' value. Here is how to use it in different contexts:

  • With Adjectives: Place the adjective between moins and que. The adjective must agree in gender and number with the subject.
    Ex: Cette valise est moins lourde que l'autre.
  • With Adverbs: Use the same structure as adjectives. Adverbs are invariable.
    Ex: Il court moins vite que toi.
  • With Nouns: You must add de (or d') after moins. Usually, the article (le, la, les) is dropped.
    Ex: J'ai moins de devoirs que mon frère.
  • With Verbs: Place moins que directly after the conjugated verb.
    Ex: Elle travaille moins que d'habitude.
  • With Numbers: When comparing to a specific number, que is replaced by de.
    Ex: Il y a moins de dix personnes.

In casual conversation, French speakers often prefer using ne... pas with aussi... que (e.g., 'not as... as') instead of moins... que for a more descriptive tone.

Examples (5)

  1. Ce film est moins intéressant que le premier.

    This movie is less interesting than the first one.

    Word by Word: This movie is less interesting than the first.

    Here, 'moins... que' is used with an adjective. Note that 'intéressant' matches the masculine singular subject 'ce film'.

  2. Il y a moins de sucre dans ce café.

    There is less sugar in this coffee.

    Word by Word: It there has less of sugar in this coffee.

    When comparing nouns (sugar), we must use 'moins de'.

  3. Ma sœur parle moins que moi.

    My sister talks less than me.

    Word by Word: My sister talks less than me.

    When comparing actions (verbs), 'moins que' follows the verb. We use the stressed pronoun 'moi' after 'que'.

  4. Cette voiture coûte moins de vingt mille euros.

    This car costs less than twenty thousand euros.

    Word by Word: This car costs less of twenty thousand euros.

    Before a number, 'que' changes to 'de'.

  5. Tes chaussures sont moins chères que les miennes.

    Your shoes are less expensive than mine.

    Word by Word: Your shoes are less expensive than the mine.

    The adjective 'chères' is feminine plural to agree with 'chaussures'.

Common Mistakes

  • Forgetting the 'de' when comparing nouns.

    J'ai moins livres que toi.
    J'ai moins de livres que toi.

    In French, 'moins' requires the preposition 'de' before a noun, just like 'beaucoup de' or 'peu de'.

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

    Il est moins grand que je.
    Il est moins grand que moi.

    After 'que' in a comparison, you must use stressed pronouns (moi, toi, lui, elle, nous, vous, eux, elles) if no verb follows.

  • Using 'que' instead of 'de' before a number.

    Cela prend moins que cinq minutes.
    Cela prend moins de cinq minutes.

    When the comparison is followed by a specific quantity or number, use 'moins de' instead of 'moins que'.

How It Connects

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moins...queLevel 1Comparative of Inferiority

Learn This First

To use the comparative 'moins...que', you need to understand how to link subjects to adjectives using 'être', how to ensure those adjectives agree with the nouns they modify, and the basic 'marker + adjective + que' structure used in French comparisons.

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moins