French I - Comparisons - Quick Guides | World Languages

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Study GuideFrench I–Comparisons1.Comparisons of EqualityIn French,comparisons of equalityare used when you want to say thattwo things are the sameor equalin some way. This could be aboutqualities, actions, or quantities.French uses specific structures to express these comparisons. Let’s look at the most commonpatterns.1. Comparing with Adjectives or AdverbsTo comparequalities (adjectives)oractions (adverbs), French uses the structure:aussi + adjective/adverb + queThis means“as … as”in English.Examples•Elle est aussi jolie que sa sœur.She is as pretty as her sister.•Il travaille aussi dur que toi.He works as hard as you.Here:•aussimeansas•quemeansasTogether they create the idea ofequal comparison.2. Equality in Negative SentencesInnegative sentences, French usually replacesaussiwithsi.Structure

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Study Guidene … pas si + adjective/adverb + queExample•Elles ne sont pas si malheureuses que ça.They aren’t all that unhappy.This structure still shows comparison but emphasizes that somethingis not as much as expected.3. Comparing Quantities with NounsWhen you want to compareamounts or quantities, useautant de.Structureautant de + noun + queThis means“as much” or “as many … as.”Example•Il a autant d'argent que moi.He has as much money as I do.Notice thatde becomes d’ before a vowel(d'argent).4. Comparing Actions with “Autant que”Sometimes you compareactions or general amountswithout directly mentioning the noun.Structureautant que + noun/pronounExample•Elle mange autant que son amie.She eats as much as her friend.Here, the comparison focuses onhow much the action happens.

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Study GuideKey TakeawayFrench comparisons of equality follow these simple patterns:StructureMeaningExampleaussi + adjective/adverb + queas…asaussi jolie quene…pas si + adjective/adverb + quenot as…aspas si malheureuse queautant de + noun + queas much/many…asautant d'argent queautant que + noun/pronounas much/many asmange autant queBy remembering these structures, you can easily expressequal comparisons in Frenchwhentalking aboutqualities, actions, or quantities.2.Comparative and Superlative ExpressionsIn French, certain expressions help you speakmore naturally and idiomaticallywhen comparingactions or describing changes in degree. These expressions are commonly used in everydayconversation and writing.1. Faire de son mieux—To do one’s bestThis expression is used when someone istrying as hard as possibleto do something well.Example•Je fais de mon mieux.I do my best.Here,sonchanges depending on the subject:•Je fais de mon mieux—I do my best•Tu fais de ton mieux—You do your best•Il/Elle fait de son mieux—He/She does his/her best

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Study Guide2. Le plus / le moins possible—As much or as little as possibleThese expressions describedoing something to the greatest or smallest extent possible.Example•Tu fais le plus possible.You do as much as possible.•Tu fais le moins possible.You do as little as possible.They are often used when talking abouteffort, quantity, or frequency.3. Le plus / le moins … possible—As … as possibleThis structure allows you to describehow something should be done, usually with an adverb.Structurele plus / le moins + adverb + possibleExample•Je marche le plus vite possible.I walk as quickly as possible.•Je marche le moins vite possible.I walk as slowly as possible.This expression emphasizesthe maximum or minimum degree of an action.4. De plus en plus—More and moreThis phrase is used when somethinggradually increases.Example•Il devient de plus en plus nerveux.He becomes more and more nervous.It showscontinuous growth or increase over time.

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