plus...que

Comparative of Superiority

Level 1

The comparative of superiority is formed by placing plus before an adjective, adverb, or noun, and que before the second part of the comparison.

How It Works

The comparative of superiority allows you to compare two things where one has a higher degree of a quality or quantity than the other.

1. With Adjectives and Adverbs
Place the adjective or adverb between plus and que. Adjectives must agree with the first noun.
Example: Elle est plus grande que lui. (She is taller than him.)

2. Irregular Forms
Some words have special forms instead of using "plus":

  • meilleur (better): used for the adjective bon.
  • mieux (better): used for the adverb bien.
  • pire (worse): used for the adjective mauvais. Note that plus mauvais is also common for concrete qualities.
  • moindre (lesser/smaller): used for abstract values of petit.
  • plus mal (worse): used for the adverb mal.

3. With Nouns (Quantity)
Use plus de before the noun.
Example: J'ai plus de temps que toi. (I have more time than you.)

4. With Verbs (Actions)
Place plus que directly after the conjugated verb.
Example: Il travaille plus que moi. (He works more than me.)

5. Pronunciation of 'plus'

  • [ply] (silent 's'): Used with adjectives or adverbs starting with a consonant (e.g., plus grand).
  • [plyz] (z-sound): Used when the next word starts with a vowel (Liaison).
  • [plys] (heard 's'): Used when comparing nouns (plus de) or verbs to distinguish it from the negative "no more" (ne... plus).

Examples (5)

  1. Cette valise est plus lourde que la tienne.

    This suitcase is heavier than yours.

    Word by Word: This suitcase is more heavy than the yours.

    Here, 'plus...que' surrounds the adjective 'lourde'. Note that 'lourde' is feminine to match 'valise'.

  2. Il y a plus de sucre que de sel dans cette recette.

    There is more sugar than salt in this recipe.

    Word by Word: It there has more of sugar than of salt in this recipe.

    When comparing nouns (sugar vs salt), we must use 'plus de'.

  3. Aujourd'hui, j'ai couru plus que d'habitude.

    Today, I ran more than usual.

    Word by Word: Today, I have run more than of habit.

    When comparing the action of the verb (running), 'plus que' follows the verb.

  4. Il est plus intelligent qu'il ne le paraît.

    He is more intelligent than he seems.

    Word by Word: He is more intelligent than he [ne] it appears.

    In formal French, a 'ne explétif' is often added before the second verb, though it doesn't make the sentence negative.

  5. Tu es plus aimable que ton voisin.

    You are more likable than your neighbor.

    Word by Word: You are more likable than your neighbor.

    Because 'aimable' starts with a vowel, the 's' in 'plus' is pronounced as a [z] sound (liaison).

Common Mistakes

  • Using 'plus bon' instead of the irregular form.

    Ce gâteau est plus bon que l'autre.
    Ce gâteau est meilleur que l'autre.

    Just like in English we don't say 'gooder', in French 'plus bon' is incorrect. You must use the irregular form meilleur.

  • Using subject pronouns after 'que'.

    Il est plus grand que je.
    Il est plus grand que moi.

    When the comparison ends without a verb, use a stressed pronoun (moi, toi, lui, etc.) after 'que', not a subject pronoun (je, tu, il).

  • Forgetting 'de' when comparing nouns.

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

    When you are comparing quantities of things (nouns), you must use the construction plus de.

How It Connects

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plus...queLevel 1Comparative of Superiority

Learn This First

To use the comparative of superiority, you need to be able to form basic sentences using the verb 'être' and understand how adjectives agree with the nouns they describe, as these adjectives are placed between 'plus' and 'que'.

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