What level is The Comparative Framework (plus...que, moins...que, aussi...que)?

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French Grammar

The Comparative Framework (plus...que, moins...que, aussi...que)

Constructing explicit comparisons between objects or individuals using plus...que, moins...que, and aussi...que.

Level A2 Category Grammar

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Lesson Summary

Constructing explicit comparisons between objects or individuals using plus...que, moins...que, and aussi...que.

Grammar

Comparing Qualities and Quantities

The comparative structures are built around the adverbs plus (more), moins (less), and aussi (as). They are followed by the adjective or the noun phrase and then by que (than/as). The adjectives themselves continue to agree in gender and number with the noun they modify, following the rules presented in colours and basic descriptive adjectives.

Comparing Adjectives

Structure	Example	Meaning
plus + adjective + que	Paris est plus grand que Lyon.	Paris is bigger than Lyon.
moins + adjective + que	Ce quartier est moins calme que l’autre.	This neighbourhood is less quiet than the other.
aussi + adjective + que	Ta robe est aussi belle que la mienne.	Your dress is as beautiful as mine.

Comparing Quantities

To compare amounts, the construction is plus de, moins de, or autant de + noun + que.

- Il y a plus de magasins ici qu’en centre-ville.
- J’ai autant de livres que toi.
- Elle a moins de temps que nous.

The noun is not preceded by any article after de. For the behaviour of de in expressions of quantity, see quantity and partitive articles.

Agreement

The adjective inside the comparative structure continues to agree with the noun it qualifies. For example, Cette chambre est plus grande que l’autre. (feminine singular) and Ces rues sont moins larges que les avenues. (feminine plural). The comparative itself does not alter the agreement rules.

Examples

Le supermarché est plus cher que le marché.
The comparative plus cher que compares prices; cher is masculine singular.
Il y a autant de pharmacies ici qu'en centre-ville.
Quantity comparison with autant de … que.

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The Comparative Framework (plus...que, moins...que, aussi...que)Constructing explicit comparisons between objects or individuals using plus...que, moins...que, and aussi...que.Formulate comparisons with adjectives and quantities, applying the correct agreement and word order.GrammarA2grammarLearn French GrammarFrench GrammarComparing Qualities and QuantitiesThe comparative structures are built around the adverbs plus (more), moins (less), and aussi (as). They are followed by the adjective or the noun phrase and then by que (than/as). The adjectives themselves continue to agree in gender and number with the noun they modify, following the rules presented in colours and basic descriptive adjectives.