Invariable in gender and in number, it is placed in
front of the noun if it's an attributive adjective.
Example: David has two yellow bicycles.
When there are several attributive adjectives, it is necessary
to respect the following order and not to use "and":
- quality, personal opinion
- size, dimension, form
- age + NOUN
- colour
- nationality, origin
For instance: a beautiful large old red American car
I. COMPARATIVES…………….to compare two elements
1. Comparatives of equality and inequality
For all adjectives, we must use "as…as…" or
"not as…as…, not so…as…" (autant…que,
aussi…que, pas autant…que, pas aussi…que).
Example : My fancy dress is as original as your costume.
Mon déguisement est aussi original que ton costume
My fancy dress isn't as funny as your costume.
Mon déguisement n'est pas aussi rigolo que ton costume.
This music group isn't so good as the Beatles.
Ce groupe de musique n'est pas aussi bon que les Beatles.
2. Comparatives of superiority
o Short adjectives: they only have own or two syllables.
When the final letter is "e", we add only "r".
For instance: large/larger He is larger than me. Il est plus gros
que moi.
Adjectives composed with two syllables ending by "y":
their superlative is in "ier".
Example: happy/happier She is much happier than her brother.
Elle est beaucoup plus heureuse que son frère.
o All other adjectives: we must use "more…than…".
For instance: German is more difficult than English.
L'allemand est plus difficile que l'anglais.
o Irregular adjectives:
big/bigger good/better bad/worse far/farther
3. Comparatives of inferiority
All adjectives have their comparative in "less…than"
(moins…que).
Example: This dress is less expensive than these trousers.
Cette robe est moins chère que ce pantalon.
But, the english prefer to avoid this form and use a comparative
of superiority.
For instance: This dress is cheaper than these trousers.
Cette robe est meilleur marché que ce pantalon.
II. THE DOUBLE COMPARATIVE…………….to express
a progression
We use "get", "become" or "grow"
and twice the comparative.
Example: The weather is getting hotter and hotter.
Le temps est de plus en plus chaud.
This book is becoming more and more/less and less interesting.
Ce livre est de plus en plus/de moins en moins intéressant.
To express an opposite progression, we can use "the more…the
less".
Be careful to the form: The more I try, the less I succeed.
Plus je travaille, moins je réussis.
III. THE SUPERLATIVE……………..more than others
1. Superlative of superiority
o Short adjectives: they only have own or two syllables ending
by "-y" or "-er".
Their form is "the ___-est".
Example: tall/the tallest grand/le plus grand
small/the smallest petit/le plus petit
o All other adjectives are formed with "the most ____ ".
For instance: the most beautiful le plus beau
o Irregular adjectives:
good/the best bad/the worst far/the farthest
2. Superlative of inferiority
We must use "the least ____ " for all the adjectives.
Example: the least easy thing la chose la moins facile
the least important thing la chose la moins importante
IV. ADJECTIVE BECOMING NOUN………………
to refer to a person category
It's necessary to put "the" in front of the adjective.
The verb is in the plural.
For instance: The unemployed are in need of help.
Les chômeurs ont besoin d'aide.
To only denote a category, the noun must be present.
Example: a young girl/boy les jeunes
V. COMPOSED ADJECTIVES
They are so invariable and we must place them in front of the noun
when they are attributive adjectives.
For instance: NOUN + PAST PARTICIPLE
home + made ? a home-made cake un gâteau fait à la
maison
ADJECTIVE + ADJECTIVE
light + green ? two light-green coats deux manteaux vert clair
ADJECTIVE + NOUN + -ED
dark + hair + -ED ? a dark-haired man un homme aux cheveux brun
ADVERB + PRESENT PARTICIPLE
fast + fly ? a fast-flying plane un avion qui vole vite
VI. COMPLEMENT ONLY ADJECTIVES
We can use them only as a complement.
Example: The girl is asleep/afraid/alone.
La fille est endormie/effrayée/seule.
VII. EXERCICES
1. Make sentences as in the example: We can travel _____ in 1940.
(fast)
We can travel faster than in 1940.
Nous pouvons voyager plus vite qu'en 1940.
· Luxembourg is ______ the other member countries of the
Union. (small)
· German motorists have got ______ cars ______ French people.
(big)
· The weather in Italy is ______ in Ireland. (good)
· Spanish is ______ Danish. (easy)
2. Use the comparative of equality then the comparative of superiority
as example:
The pipe/the drums (deafening)
The pipe isn't as deafening as the drums.
Le pipeau n'est pas aussi assourdissant que la batterie.
The drums are more deafening than the pipe.
La batterie est plus assourdissante que le pipeau.
· The piano/the synthesizer (modern)
· The double bass/the violin (voluminous)
· The triangle/the harp (melodious)
3. Put these adjectives in the superlative.
· That's _____ dress I have ever seen. (pretty)
· They have got _____ car in the street. (fast)
· He's _____ man is the company. (clever)
· This is _____ beer they have ever drunk. (bad)
· She's _____ person I know. (quiet)
4. Translation.
· We aren't as tired as yesterday.
· He works better than his sister.
· She dances much better than her husband.
· A cat isn't as big as a dog.
· Ce n'est pas aussi facile que vous croyez.
· Un morceau de gâteau est meilleur qu'un morceau de
pain.
· Elle est beaucoup plus heureuse que son frère.
· La France est plus petite que l'Australie.
VIII. CORRECTION
1. o Luxembourg is smaller than the other member countries of the
union.
o German motorists have got bigger cars than French people.
o The weather in Italy is better than in Ireland.
o Spanish is easier than Danish.
2. o The piano isn't as modern as the synthesizer.
The synthesizer is more modern than the piano.
o The violin isn't as voluminous as the double bass.
The double bass is more voluminous than the violin.
o The triangle isn't as melodious as the harp.
The harp is more melodious than the triangle.
3. o That's the prettiest dress I have ever seen.
o They have got the fastest car in the street.
o He's the cleverest man in the company.
o This is the worst beer they have ever drunk.
o She's the quietest person I know.
4. o Nous sommes moins fatigues qu'hier.
o Il travaille mieux que sa sœur.
o Elle danse beaucoup mieux que son mari.
o Un chat est moins gros qu'un chien.
o It isn't easy as you think.
o A piece of cake is better than a piece of bread.
o She is much happier than her brother.
o France is much smaller than Australia.
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