Le+comparatif+et+le+superlatif

**Le comparatif et le superlatif**

The comparative and superlative constructions are how we say good, better, and best in French. There are different words to use depending on the situation. __Le comparatif__ //1. Bon// When comparing two **things** in French using the verb **être**, we use the phrase "meilleur que" to say 'better than'.

Le chocolat est **bon**. //(Chocolate is good.)// La crème glacée est **meilleure que** le chocolat. //(Ice cream is better than chocolate.)// Les bonbons sont **meilleurs que** le chocolat. //(Candy is better than chocolate.)// Le glaçage est **meilleur que** le chocolat. //(Icing is better than chocolate.)// Les crêpes sont **meilleures que** le chocolat. //(Crepes are better than chocolate.)//

The words 'bon' and 'meilleur' are both adjectives as they describe nouns. As seen in the above examples, the endings change to match the first noun in the sentence.


 * masculine singular || masculine plural || feminine singular || feminine plural ||
 * meilleur || <span style="display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 20.8px; text-align: left;">meilleurs || <span style="display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 20.8px; text-align: left;">meilleure || <span style="display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 20.8px; text-align: left;">meilleures ||

<span style="display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 20.8px; text-align: left;">//2. Bien// <span style="display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 20.8px; text-align: left;">When comparing two **actions** in French using **verbs other than être**, we use the phrase "mieux que" to say 'better than'.

<span style="display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 20.8px; text-align: left;">Les Maple Leafs jouent **bien**. //(The Leafs play well.)// <span style="display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 20.8px; text-align: left;">Les Penguins jouent **mieux que** les Maple Leafs. //(The Penguins play better than the Leafs.)// <span style="display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 20.8px; text-align: left;">Les Red Wings jouent **mieux que** les Maple Leafs. //(The Red Wings play better than the Leafs.)//

<span style="display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 20.8px; text-align: left;">In the examples above, we are compaing how well the teams play, which is an action. The verb used is 'jouer' and not 'être'. <span style="display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 20.8px; text-align: left;">The words 'bien' and 'mieux' are adverbs as they describe verbs. As seen in the above examples, the endings **do not change** to match the first noun in the sentence.

<span style="display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 20.8px; text-align: left;">__Le superlatif__ <span style="display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 20.8px; text-align: left;">//1. Bon// <span style="display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 20.8px; text-align: left;">To say that one **thing** is the best using the verb **être**, we use the phrase "le meilleur".

<span style="display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 20.8px; text-align: left;">Le chocolat est **bon.** //(Chocolate is good.)// <span style="display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 20.8px; text-align: left;">La crème glacée est **meilleure que** le chocolat. //(Ice cream is better than chocolate.)// <span style="display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 20.8px; text-align: left;">Les bonbons sont **les meilleurs.** //(Candy is the best.)//

<span style="display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 20.8px; text-align: left;">The phrase "le meilleur" is also an adjective since it describes nouns. Its changes are listed below.


 * <span style="display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 20.8px; text-align: left;">masc. sing. || <span style="display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 20.8px; text-align: left;">masc. plur. || <span style="display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 20.8px; text-align: left;">fém. sing. || <span style="display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 20.8px; text-align: left;">fém. plur. ||
 * <span style="display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 20.8px; text-align: left;">le meilleur || <span style="display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 20.8px; text-align: left;">les meilleurs || <span style="display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 20.8px; text-align: left;">la meilleure || <span style="display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 20.8px; text-align: left;">les meilleures ||

<span style="display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 20.8px; text-align: left;">//2. Bien// <span style="display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 20.8px; text-align: left;">To say one **action** is the best using **verbs other than être**, we use the phrase "le mieux".

<span style="display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 20.8px; text-align: left;">Les Maple Leafs jouent **bien.** //(The Leafs play well.)// <span style="display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 20.8px; text-align: left;">Les Red Wings jouent **mieux que** les Maple Leafs. //(The Red Wings play better than the Leafs.)// <span style="display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 20.8px; text-align: left;">Les Penguins jouent **le mieux.** //(The Penguins play the best.)//

<span style="display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 20.8px; text-align: left;">The phrase "le mieux" is an adverb since it describes verbs. It does not change.

<span style="display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 20.8px; text-align: left;">__Other Superlative Forms__

<span style="display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 20.8px; text-align: left;">//1. Plus// <span style="display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 20.8px; text-align: left;">We use "le/la/les plus" to say 'the most'.

<span style="display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 20.8px; text-align: left;">La musique classique est la musique **la plus** touchante. //(Classical music is the most touching.)// <span style="display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 20.8px; text-align: left;">Ils sont les styles **les plus** calmants. //(They are the most calming styles.)//

<span style="display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 20.8px; text-align: left;">//2. Moins// <span style="display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 20.8px; text-align: left;">We use "le/la/les moins" to say 'the least'.

<span style="display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 20.8px; text-align: left;">La musuqe d’opéra est le style **le moins** branché. //(Opera is the least cool style.)// <span style="display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 20.8px; text-align: left;">Ces chansons sont **les moins** émouvants. //(These songs are the least moving.)//

<span style="display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 20.8px; text-align: left;">//3. Pire// <span style="display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 20.8px; text-align: left;">We use "le pire" to say 'the worst'.

<span style="display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 20.8px; text-align: left;">Rebecca Black chante **le pire.** //(Rebecca Black sings the worst.)//