Making comparisons with nouns (e.g. I have more books than he (does), as opposed to I'm taller than he (is)) is different to making comparisons with adjectives, verbs or adverbs.
Look at these examples:
J'ai plus de livres que toi
I have more books than you (do).
Marie a autant de vêtements que sa mère
Marie has as many clothes as her mother (does).
Tu as moins de chaussures qu'elle.
You have fewer shoes than she (does).
Note that to compare nouns, you will use comparative words as follows:
| English | French |
|
more [thing/s] than |
plus de [chose/s] que |
| less/fewer [thing/s] than | moins de [chose/s] que |
| as much/many [thing/s] as | autant de [chose/s] que |
Note that in all three forms, de is required before the noun.
Whereas in English, you will need to use a subject pronoun after than (... than I (do), you (do), he/she (does)...), in French you will once again use the stress pronoun after que (... que moi, toi, lui/elle, nous, vous, eux/elles). You will also never repeat the verb with (do/am/have) afterwards:
I have more chocolate eggs than you do.
See also other Comparative structures:
Plus... plus..., moins... moins... = the more...the more..., the less...the less... (comparisons with phrases)
Better and better, worse and worse = de mieux en mieux, de pire en pire (comparisons)
De plus en plus and de moins en moins = more and more and less and less (comparisons with adjectives, adverbs, verbs)
De plus en plus de and de moins en moins de = more and more and less and less (comparisons of nouns)
Making comparisons with adjectives: plus... que, aussi... que, moins... que
Making comparisons with adverbs: plus... que, aussi... que, moins... que
Making comparisons with verbs: plus que, autant que, moins que
And for Superlative forms, see:
Le, la, les plus and le, la, les moins = the most and the least (superlatives of adjectives)
Meilleur, mieux, pire / plus mauvais, plus mal = better, best, worse and worst (irregular comparatives and superlatives)
Le plus and le moins = the most and the least (superlative of adverbs)
Learn more about these related French grammar topics
Examples and resources
Q&A
Bonnie
Kwiziq community member
11 May 2017
3 replies
plu de plus de
do we have lessons explaining when to use plu de and plus de? Thanks Bonnie
Bonnie
Kwiziq community member
11/05/17
Aurélie
Kwiziq language super star
12/05/17
The general rule here is as such:
- Never pronounce the "s" when "plus" has a negative meaning (no more, no ... left):
"Je n'ai plu[s] de beurre." (I have no butter left)
but
- Pronounce it in positive context most of the time, though it can be omitted:
"Il y a de plus en plu[s] / de plus en pluS de pollution." (more and more)
The only cases you need to pronounce it is when the meaning could be either negative or positive, for clarity.
For example, when using "ne...plus", as a lot of people would drop the "ne" in speech:
"Je fume plu[s]." = Je ne fume plus. = I don't smoke any more.
"Je fume pluS." = I smoke more.
Here are links to our related lessons:
https://french.kwiziq.com/revision/grammar/how-to-say-more-and-more-less-and-less-nouns-de-plus-en-plus-de-de-moins-en-moins-de-comparisons
https://french.kwiziq.com/revision/grammar/making-comparisons-with-nouns-plus-de-que-moins-de-que-autant-de-que-comparative
https://french.kwiziq.com/revision/grammar/n-avoir-plus-de-to-have-none-left
I hope that's helpful!
À bientôt !
Bonnie
Kwiziq community member
12/05/17
Bon week end,
Bonnie
Aurélie
Kwiziq language super star
2/11/16
Yes, it is correct, as "plus" is here used in a positive sense (meaning "more"), and not as a negation ("not... anymore"), you therefore need to pronounce the "s" (not all the time mind you, there are exceptions, but not there!) :)
Susan
Kwiziq community member
2/11/16
This is good to know.
Merci!
Aleida
Kwiziq community member
9 October 2017
2 replies
Don't these two sentences mean the same thing?
"Nous avons DAVANTAGE d'enfants que lui" and "Nous avons PLUS D'enfants que lui" I put 'davantage' and it was marked wrong.
Ron
Kwiziq community member
11 October 2017
11/10/17
According to the Collins-Robert:
davantage de and plus de have the same meaning --> more.
I am uncertain the reason that «plus de» is more commonly used in this type of syntax, perhaps it is better for the pronunciation linguistic effect.
Bonne chance et bonne continuation
Chris
Kwiziq community member
17 October 2017
17/10/17
-- Chris (not a native speaker).