The English word "than" is used to make comparisons between two things, people, or ideas. In French, this comparative function is primarily expressed by the word "que" (pronounced /kə/). Understanding how to use "que" correctly is essential for expressing comparisons in French, which is a fundamental aspect of everyday communication.
Definition: "Than" is a conjunction used after comparative adjectives and adverbs to introduce the second element of a comparison. In French, "que" serves this primary function, though the construction of comparative sentences differs from English.
Q: What does "than" mean in French? A: "Than" translates to "que" in French when making comparisons. It follows comparative forms like "plus... que" (more... than) or "moins... que" (less... than).
In this lesson, you will encounter "que" in various comparative structures. The examples progress from simple comparisons to more complex sentences, showing how French handles comparisons differently from English. You'll see "que" used with adjectives, adverbs, and in different tenses, providing a comprehensive understanding of comparative structures in French.
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Course: French for English Speakers -
Level: Intermediate -
Topic: Comparative Structures -
Focus Word: than (que) -
Learning Objective: Master the use of "que" in French comparisons
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"Que" is the French equivalent of "than" in comparisons -
French comparatives use "plus/moins + adjective/adverb + que" -
Word order in French comparisons differs from English -
"Que" contracts to "qu'" before vowels -
Some comparative structures in French don't use "que" at all
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80.1 Marie Marie est is plus more grande tall que than sa her sœur sister
80.2 Ce This livre book coûte costs moins less cher expensive que than celui-là that-one
80.3 Il He court runs plus more vite fast que than moi me
80.4 J' I aime like mieux better le the thé tea que than le the café coffee
80.5 Paris Paris est is plus more ancien old que than New New York York
80.6 Elle She travaille works plus more dur hard que than jamais ever
80.7 Mon My frère brother est is moins less patient patient que than mon my père father
80.8 Cette This voiture car consomme consumes plus more d' of essence gasoline que than la the mienne mine
80.9 Il It fait makes plus more froid cold ici here qu' than à in Marseille Marseille
80.10 Tu You parles speak français French mieux better que than tu you ne not le it penses think
80.11 La The situation situation est is pire worse que than nous we ne not l' it imaginions imagined
80.12 J' I ai have plus more de of livres books que than d' of espace space
80.13 Elle She chante sings aussi as bien well que than/as sa her mère mother
80.14 Il He y there a has moins less de of monde people que than prévu expected
80.15 Ce This film film est is meilleur better que than je I ne not croyais believed
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80.1 Marie est plus grande que sa sœur. Marie is taller than her sister.
80.2 Ce livre coûte moins cher que celui-là. This book costs less than that one.
80.3 Il court plus vite que moi. He runs faster than me.
80.4 J'aime mieux le thé que le café. I prefer tea to coffee.
80.5 Paris est plus ancien que New York. Paris is older than New York.
80.6 Elle travaille plus dur que jamais. She works harder than ever.
80.7 Mon frère est moins patient que mon père. My brother is less patient than my father.
80.8 Cette voiture consomme plus d'essence que la mienne. This car consumes more gas than mine.
80.9 Il fait plus froid ici qu'à Marseille. It's colder here than in Marseille.
80.10 Tu parles français mieux que tu ne le penses. You speak French better than you think.
80.11 La situation est pire que nous ne l'imaginions. The situation is worse than we imagined.
80.12 J'ai plus de livres que d'espace. I have more books than space.
80.13 Elle chante aussi bien que sa mère. She sings as well as her mother.
80.14 Il y a moins de monde que prévu. There are fewer people than expected.
80.15 Ce film est meilleur que je ne croyais. This film is better than I thought.
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80.1 Marie est plus grande que sa sœur.
80.2 Ce livre coûte moins cher que celui-là.
80.3 Il court plus vite que moi.
80.4 J'aime mieux le thé que le café.
80.5 Paris est plus ancien que New York.
80.6 Elle travaille plus dur que jamais.
80.7 Mon frère est moins patient que mon père.
80.8 Cette voiture consomme plus d'essence que la mienne.
80.9 Il fait plus froid ici qu'à Marseille.
80.10 Tu parles français mieux que tu ne le penses.
80.11 La situation est pire que nous ne l'imaginions.
80.12 J'ai plus de livres que d'espace.
80.13 Elle chante aussi bien que sa mère.
80.14 Il y a moins de monde que prévu.
80.15 Ce film est meilleur que je ne croyais.
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The French word "que" serves as the equivalent of English "than" in comparative constructions. Here are the essential rules for using "que" correctly:
Basic Comparative Structure: -
Positive comparison: plus + adjective/adverb + que (more... than) -
Negative comparison: moins + adjective/adverb + que (less... than) -
Equal comparison: aussi + adjective/adverb + que (as... as)
Special Comparative Forms: -
meilleur que (better than) - for adjectives -
mieux que (better than) - for adverbs -
pire que (worse than) - for adjectives -
pis que (worse than) - for adverbs (literary)
Contraction Rule: Que becomes qu' before a vowel or silent h: -
plus grand qu'elle (taller than her) -
moins cher qu'avant (less expensive than before)
The Expletive "ne": In formal French, an expletive "ne" often appears after "que" in comparisons, especially with verbs of thinking or believing: -
Il est plus intelligent que je ne pensais (He is more intelligent than I thought) This "ne" doesn't make the sentence negative and is often omitted in spoken French.
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Using "de" instead of "que" -
Incorrect: Il est plus grand de moi -
Correct: Il est plus grand que moi -
Forgetting to agree adjectives -
Incorrect: Elle est plus grand que sa sœur -
Correct: Elle est plus grande que sa sœur -
Using "que" with superlatives -
Incorrect: C'est le plus beau que tous -
Correct: C'est le plus beau de tous (superlatives use "de") -
Direct translation of "than ever" -
Incorrect: que toujours -
Correct: que jamais -
Misplacing the comparative elements -
Incorrect: Il que moi court plus vite -
Correct: Il court plus vite que moi
Word Order Differences: -
English: She is taller than her sister -
French: Elle est plus grande que sa sœur (literally: She is more tall than her sister)
Different Structures for Preferences: -
English: I prefer tea to coffee -
French: J'aime mieux le thé que le café (literally: I like better tea than coffee)
Quantity Comparisons: -
English: more books than space -
French: plus de livres que d'espace (note the use of "de" with quantities)
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Identify what is being compared (adjective, adverb, or quantity) -
Choose the appropriate comparative word (plus/moins/aussi) -
Place the adjective/adverb after the comparative word -
Add "que" (or "qu'" before vowels) -
Complete with the second element of comparison -
Check for adjective agreement if applicable -
Consider if expletive "ne" is needed (formal register)
Forms: que, qu' (before vowels) Function: Introduces the second element in comparisons Position: Always follows the comparative structure Register variations: Expletive "ne" in formal French Common phrases: -
plus... que (more... than) -
moins... que (less... than) -
aussi... que (as... as) -
autant... que (as much... as) -
mieux que (better than) -
meilleur que (better than) -
pire que (worse than)
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Understanding comparisons in French requires awareness of cultural communication patterns. French speakers often use comparisons more carefully and precisely than English speakers, particularly in formal contexts.
In French culture, direct comparisons between people can be considered less polite than in Anglo-American culture. French speakers might soften comparisons with phrases like "peut-être" (perhaps) or "il me semble que" (it seems to me that). This reflects the French value of diplomacy and nuance in social interactions.
The expletive "ne" in comparative sentences represents the French tendency toward more formal and elaborate expression, especially in written language. While younger speakers often omit it in casual conversation, its presence in formal writing demonstrates educational level and linguistic sophistication.
French comparisons often involve cultural references that may not translate directly. For example, "plus français que le béret" (more French than a beret) uses a cultural stereotype for emphasis. Understanding these cultural markers helps grasp the full meaning of comparative expressions.
The French education system emphasizes precise use of comparative structures, and errors in comparison are particularly noticed in academic and professional contexts. This linguistic precision reflects broader French cultural values of clarity, logic, and intellectual rigor.
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From "Le Petit Prince" by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry (1943):
"Les grandes personnes aiment les chiffres. Quand vous leur parlez d'un nouvel ami, elles ne vous questionnent jamais sur l'essentiel. Elles ne vous disent jamais: 'Quel est le son de sa voix? Quels sont les jeux qu'il préfère? Est-ce qu'il collectionne les papillons?' Elles vous demandent: 'Quel âge a-t-il? Combien pèse-t-il? Combien gagne son père?' Alors seulement elles croient le connaître."
Elles They vous you demandent ask: 'Combien How-much pèse weighs -t- (euphonic) il he ?' ? ... Alors Then seulement only elles they croient believe le him connaître to-know mieux better que than si if vous you leur them parliez spoke de of ses his vrais true trésors treasures.
"Elles vous demandent: 'Quel âge a-t-il? Combien pèse-t-il? Combien gagne son père?' Alors seulement elles croient le connaître."
They ask you: 'How old is he? How much does he weigh? How much does his father earn?' Only then do they think they know him.
"Elles vous demandent: 'Quel âge a-t-il? Combien pèse-t-il? Combien gagne son père?' Alors seulement elles croient le connaître."
This passage illustrates an implied comparison using "que". While "que" doesn't appear directly in this excerpt, the context creates a comparison between superficial knowledge (numbers and facts) and true understanding. The phrase "Alors seulement elles croient le connaître" implies they think they know him better through numbers than (que) through understanding his essence. This demonstrates how French literature often uses implicit comparisons, preparing the reader for explicit comparative structures that appear elsewhere in the text.
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80.16 Aujourd'hui Today il it fait makes plus more chaud hot qu' than hier yesterday avec with des some températures temperatures atteignant reaching trente thirty degrés degrees
80.17 Le The nord north de of la the France France reçoit receives moins less de of pluie rain que than le the sud south cette this année year
80.18 Les The vents winds soufflent blow plus more fort strong que than la the normale normal saisonnière seasonal sur on la the côte coast atlantique Atlantic
80.19 L' The hiver winter dernier last était was moins less rigoureux harsh que than celui that de of l' the année year précédente previous
80.20 Nous We attendons expect plus more de of neige snow en in montagne mountain qu' than en in plaine plain ce this week-end weekend
80.21 Le The climat climate méditerranéen Mediterranean est is plus more sec dry que than le the climat climate océanique oceanic
80.22 Les The orages storms sont are moins less fréquents frequent qu' than en in été summer mais but plus more violents violent
80.23 La The visibilité visibility est is meilleure better que than ce this matin morning grâce thanks au to-the vent wind
80.24 Il It pleut rains plus more souvent often à in Brest Brest qu' than à in Nice Nice
80.25 Le The printemps spring arrive arrives plus more tôt early que than d' of habitude usual cette this année year
80.26 Les The températures temperatures nocturnes nighttime restent remain plus more élevées high que than les the moyennes averages de of saison season
80.27 Le The brouillard fog est is moins less dense dense qu' than annoncé announced sur on les the routes roads
80.28 Cette This canicule heatwave dure lasts plus more longtemps long que than celle that de of 2003 2003
80.29 Les The précipitations precipitation sont are plus more importantes important que than la the normale normal en in Bretagne Brittany
80.30 Le The soleil sun brille shines moins less qu' than espéré hoped pour for la the saison season touristique tourist
80.16 Aujourd'hui il fait plus chaud qu'hier avec des températures atteignant trente degrés. Today it's hotter than yesterday with temperatures reaching thirty degrees.
80.17 Le nord de la France reçoit moins de pluie que le sud cette année. The north of France receives less rain than the south this year.
80.18 Les vents soufflent plus fort que la normale saisonnière sur la côte atlantique. The winds are blowing stronger than the seasonal normal on the Atlantic coast.
80.19 L'hiver dernier était moins rigoureux que celui de l'année précédente. Last winter was less harsh than that of the previous year.
80.20 Nous attendons plus de neige en montagne qu'en plaine ce week-end. We expect more snow in the mountains than in the plains this weekend.
80.21 Le climat méditerranéen est plus sec que le climat océanique. The Mediterranean climate is drier than the oceanic climate.
80.22 Les orages sont moins fréquents qu'en été mais plus violents. Storms are less frequent than in summer but more violent.
80.23 La visibilité est meilleure que ce matin grâce au vent. Visibility is better than this morning thanks to the wind.
80.24 Il pleut plus souvent à Brest qu'à Nice. It rains more often in Brest than in Nice.
80.25 Le printemps arrive plus tôt que d'habitude cette année. Spring arrives earlier than usual this year.
80.26 Les températures nocturnes restent plus élevées que les moyennes de saison. Nighttime temperatures remain higher than seasonal averages.
80.27 Le brouillard est moins dense qu'annoncé sur les routes. The fog is less dense than announced on the roads.
80.28 Cette canicule dure plus longtemps que celle de 2003. This heatwave lasts longer than that of 2003.
80.29 Les précipitations sont plus importantes que la normale en Bretagne. Precipitation is more significant than normal in Brittany.
80.30 Le soleil brille moins qu'espéré pour la saison touristique. The sun shines less than hoped for the tourist season.
80.16 Aujourd'hui il fait plus chaud qu'hier avec des températures atteignant trente degrés.
80.17 Le nord de la France reçoit moins de pluie que le sud cette année.
80.18 Les vents soufflent plus fort que la normale saisonnière sur la côte atlantique.
80.19 L'hiver dernier était moins rigoureux que celui de l'année précédente.
80.20 Nous attendons plus de neige en montagne qu'en plaine ce week-end.
80.21 Le climat méditerranéen est plus sec que le climat océanique.
80.22 Les orages sont moins fréquents qu'en été mais plus violents.
80.23 La visibilité est meilleure que ce matin grâce au vent.
80.24 Il pleut plus souvent à Brest qu'à Nice.
80.25 Le printemps arrive plus tôt que d'habitude cette année.
80.26 Les températures nocturnes restent plus élevées que les moyennes de saison.
80.27 Le brouillard est moins dense qu'annoncé sur les routes.
80.28 Cette canicule dure plus longtemps que celle de 2003.
80.29 Les précipitations sont plus importantes que la normale en Bretagne.
80.30 Le soleil brille moins qu'espéré pour la saison touristique.
Weather-Specific Vocabulary with Comparisons: In weather reports, certain comparative structures are standard: -
plus/moins + adjective + que la normale (more/less... than normal) -
plus/moins + adjective + que prévu (more/less... than expected) -
plus/moins + adjective + que d'habitude (more/less... than usual)
Impersonal Constructions: Weather expressions often use impersonal "il": -
Il fait plus chaud que... (It's hotter than...) -
Il pleut plus que... (It rains more than...) -
Il y a plus de soleil que... (There's more sun than...)
Time References in Weather Comparisons: Weather reports frequently compare different time periods: -
qu'hier (than yesterday) -
que la semaine dernière (than last week) -
que l'année précédente (than the previous year) -
que les moyennes de saison (than seasonal averages)
Geographic Comparisons: Regional comparisons are common in weather reports: -
Le nord... que le sud (The north... than the south) -
En montagne qu'en plaine (In the mountains than in the plains) -
À Brest qu'à Nice (In Brest than in Nice)
Technical Terms and Their Comparatives: -
Les précipitations (precipitation) - always feminine plural -
La visibilité (visibility) - uses meilleure/pire -
Les températures (temperatures) - agrees as feminine plural -
Le brouillard (fog) - uses dense/épais for thickness
Register Considerations: Weather reports use a formal register but often omit the expletive "ne": -
Formal: plus élevées qu'on ne l'avait prévu -
Weather report style: plus élevées que prévu
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This lesson is part of a comprehensive language learning series developed by the Latinum Institute. These lessons are specifically designed for autodidacts - self-directed learners who want to master languages independently.
The course methodology, detailed at latinum.substack.com and latinum.org.uk, employs several key pedagogical principles:
Construed Text Method: In Section A, each word is individually glossed to help beginners understand the exact correspondence between English and French. This granular approach allows learners to build vocabulary systematically while understanding grammatical structures.
Progressive Difficulty: The lessons move from simple interlinear translations to complete sentences, then to authentic literary texts, allowing learners to gradually develop their comprehension skills.
Genre-Based Learning: Each lesson includes a genre section (like our weather reports) that provides practical, real-world language use in specific contexts.
Cultural Integration: Sections E and F ensure that learners understand not just the language but also the cultural context in which it's used.
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