đź“Š Comparatives & Superlatives
Comparer, classer, exprimer une opinion
more / less + than-er / -estthe most / the leastgood → better → bestbad → worse → worst
Objectif de révision
1. Savoir comparer deux personnes, objets ou habitudes avec un comparatif.
2. Savoir désigner le plus / le moins dans un groupe avec un superlatif.
3. Choisir entre -er / -est, more / most, less / least et les formes irrégulières.
Lesson 1 — Comparatives
Use: a comparative compares two people, objects, places or ideas.
Subject + verb + comparative adjective + than + second element
My phone is newer than yours.
Mon téléphone est plus récent que le tien.
I spend less time online than my brother.
Je passe moins de temps en ligne que mon frère.
Short adjectives1 syllable, often 2 syllables ending in -y → -er
small → smaller, happy → happier
small → smaller, happy → happier
Long adjectives2+ syllables → more + adjective
interesting → more interesting
interesting → more interesting
Inferiorityless + adjective/noun + than
less expensive than, less time than
less expensive than, less time than
Equalityas + adjective + as
as fast as, as good as
as fast as, as good as
Careful! Ne dis pas “more bigger”. On choisit une seule forme : bigger ou more interesting.
| Type | Rule | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Short adjective | adj + -er + than | tall → taller than old → older than fast → faster than |
| Ends in -e | add -r | nice → nicer than large → larger than |
| Consonant-vowel-consonant | double final consonant + -er | big → bigger than hot → hotter than thin → thinner than |
| Ends in consonant + y | y → i + -er | happy → happier than easy → easier than |
| Long adjective | more + adj + than | more difficult than more dangerous than more careful than |
| Less | less + adj/noun + than | less safe than less useful than less time than |
| Irregular | special forms | good → better than bad → worse than far → farther/further than |
Useful comparatives: better, worse, safer, more dangerous, easier, harder, more useful, less useful, faster, slower, cheaper, more expensive, older, younger, more careful, less careful.
Quick check — Comparatives
Lesson 2 — Superlatives
Use: a superlative identifies one element as the highest or lowest in a group.
the + superlative adjective + in / of + group
This is the safest password.
C’est le mot de passe le plus sûr.
She is the most careful student in the class.
Elle est l’élève la plus prudente de la classe.
This is the least useful app on my phone.
C’est l’appli la moins utile sur mon téléphone.
Short adjectivesthe + adjective + -est
small → the smallest
small → the smallest
Long adjectivesthe most + adjective
interesting → the most interesting
interesting → the most interesting
Inferioritythe least + adjective
the least dangerous
the least dangerous
Irregulargood → the best
bad → the worst
bad → the worst
Careful! On met très souvent the devant un superlatif : the best, the most important, the safest.
| Type | Rule | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Short adjective | the + adj + -est | small → the smallest fast → the fastest old → the oldest |
| Ends in -e | the + adj + -st | nice → the nicest large → the largest |
| Consonant-vowel-consonant | double final consonant + -est | big → the biggest hot → the hottest |
| Ends in consonant + y | y → i + -est | happy → the happiest easy → the easiest |
| Long adjective | the most + adj | the most difficult the most dangerous the most careful |
| Least | the least + adj | the least expensive the least useful |
| Irregular | special forms | good → the best bad → the worst far → the farthest / furthest |
Useful superlatives: the best, the worst, the safest, the most dangerous, the easiest, the hardest, the most useful, the least useful, the fastest, the slowest, the cheapest, the most expensive, the oldest, the youngest, the most careful.
Quick check — Superlatives
Exercises and training
Method: first ask yourself: “Am I comparing 2 things, or choosing the top element in a group?”
2 elements?Use a comparative.
than, more, less, -er
than, more, less, -er
3+ elements / a group?Use a superlative.
the most, the least, -est
the most, the least, -est
Exercise 1 — Choose the correct form
Exercise 2 — Complete the sentence
Exercise 3 — Write your own sentences
Write 3 sentences: one with a comparative, one with a superlative, one with less / the least.
Model answer:
My tablet is newer than my computer.
This is the most useful website for revision.
Social media is less important than real friends.
My tablet is newer than my computer.
This is the most useful website for revision.
Social media is less important than real friends.