The French word "plus" is one of the most essential and versatile words in the French language, serving as the primary translation for the English word "more." As a comparative adverb and adjective, "plus" allows speakers to express greater quantity, degree, or extent. For the autodidact learner, mastering "plus" is crucial for building conversational fluency and understanding written French texts.
Plus (pronounced /ply/ or /plys/) primarily means "more" in English. It functions as: -
An adverb of comparison: Il travaille plus (He works more) -
Part of comparative constructions: plus grand que (bigger than) -
In negative constructions: ne...plus (no more/no longer)
Question: What does "plus" mean in French? Answer: "Plus" is the French word for "more" in English. It is used to indicate a greater amount, degree, or extent of something. It can also mean "no longer" or "no more" when used with "ne" in negative constructions.
In this lesson, "plus" appears in 15 varied example sentences demonstrating its multiple uses: as a comparative adverb, in superlative constructions, with adjectives and adverbs, and in negative expressions. The examples progress from simple to more complex usage, showing different positions within sentences and various grammatical contexts.
Course: French for English Speakers Level: Beginner to Intermediate Lesson Type: Grammar and Vocabulary Focus: Comparative and Quantitative Expressions Learning Objective: Students will understand and correctly use "plus" in various contexts
-
"Plus" is the standard French translation for "more" -
Pronunciation varies: /ply/ when followed by a consonant, /plys/ before a vowel -
In negative constructions (ne...plus), it means "no longer/no more" -
Essential for making comparisons and expressing quantities -
Forms part of many idiomatic expressions in French
✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾
99.1 Je I veux want plus more de of pain bread
99.2 Elle She est is plus more intelligente intelligent que than son her frère brother
99.3 Nous We n'avons don't have plus more/anymore de of temps time
99.4 Plus More tu you étudies study, plus more tu you apprends learn
99.5 Il He fait makes/does plus more chaud hot aujourd'hui today qu' than hier yesterday
99.6 Les The enfants children demandent ask for toujours always plus more de of bonbons candies
99.7 Cette This voiture car coûte costs beaucoup much plus more cher expensive
99.8 Je I ne not peux can plus more/anymore attendre wait
99.9 Marie Marie travaille works plus more dur hard que than jamais ever
99.10 Plus More on one vieillit ages, plus more on one comprend understands
99.11 Il He y there a has/is plus more de of cinquante fifty personnes people ici here
99.12 Tu You devrais should manger eat un a peu little plus more
99.13 Le The film movie devient becomes de of plus more en in plus more intéressant interesting
99.14 Rien Nothing n'est isn't plus more important important que than la the santé health
99.15 Plus More tard late, nous we irons will go au to the cinéma cinema
✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾
99.1 Je veux plus de pain. I want more bread.
99.2 Elle est plus intelligente que son frère. She is more intelligent than her brother.
99.3 Nous n'avons plus de temps. We don't have any more time.
99.4 Plus tu étudies, plus tu apprends. The more you study, the more you learn.
99.5 Il fait plus chaud aujourd'hui qu'hier. It's hotter today than yesterday.
99.6 Les enfants demandent toujours plus de bonbons. Children always ask for more candy.
99.7 Cette voiture coûte beaucoup plus cher. This car costs much more.
99.8 Je ne peux plus attendre. I can't wait any longer.
99.9 Marie travaille plus dur que jamais. Marie works harder than ever.
99.10 Plus on vieillit, plus on comprend. The older one gets, the more one understands.
99.11 Il y a plus de cinquante personnes ici. There are more than fifty people here.
99.12 Tu devrais manger un peu plus. You should eat a little more.
99.13 Le film devient de plus en plus intéressant. The movie is becoming more and more interesting.
99.14 Rien n'est plus important que la santé. Nothing is more important than health.
99.15 Plus tard, nous irons au cinéma. Later, we will go to the cinema.
✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾
99.1 Je veux plus de pain.
99.2 Elle est plus intelligente que son frère.
99.3 Nous n'avons plus de temps.
99.4 Plus tu étudies, plus tu apprends.
99.5 Il fait plus chaud aujourd'hui qu'hier.
99.6 Les enfants demandent toujours plus de bonbons.
99.7 Cette voiture coûte beaucoup plus cher.
99.8 Je ne peux plus attendre.
99.9 Marie travaille plus dur que jamais.
99.10 Plus on vieillit, plus on comprend.
99.11 Il y a plus de cinquante personnes ici.
99.12 Tu devrais manger un peu plus.
99.13 Le film devient de plus en plus intéressant.
99.14 Rien n'est plus important que la santé.
99.15 Plus tard, nous irons au cinéma.
✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾
Plus functions in several distinct grammatical contexts in French:
When comparing two things, "plus" precedes adjectives or adverbs: -
Structure: plus + adjective/adverb + que -
Example: plus grand que (bigger than) -
Note: The adjective agrees in gender and number with the noun it modifies
Used with "de" to express "more of something": -
Structure: plus + de + noun -
Example: plus de temps (more time) -
This replaces the partitive article (du, de la, des)
With "ne," it means "no longer" or "no more": -
Structure: ne + verb + plus -
Example: Je ne fume plus (I don't smoke anymore) -
This is different from simple negation with "pas"
The "plus...plus" structure (the more...the more): -
Structure: Plus + clause, plus + clause -
Example: Plus je lis, plus j'apprends (The more I read, the more I learn)
"Le/la/les plus" forms the superlative: -
Structure: le/la/les + plus + adjective -
Example: le plus grand (the biggest)
-
Pronunciation Error: English speakers often pronounce "plus" always as /ply/, but before vowels it's /plys/ -
Incorrect: plus intéressant /ply ɛ̃teʁesɑ̃/ -
Correct: plus intéressant /plys ɛ̃teʁesɑ̃/ -
Forgetting "de" after "plus": When expressing quantity -
Incorrect: J'ai plus livres -
Correct: J'ai plus de livres -
Word Order in Negatives: Placing "plus" incorrectly -
Incorrect: Je plus ne travaille -
Correct: Je ne travaille plus -
Using "more" structures from English: Direct translation errors -
Incorrect: plus et plus (more and more) -
Correct: de plus en plus -
Agreement Errors: Forgetting adjective agreement after "plus" -
Incorrect: Elle est plus intelligent -
Correct: Elle est plus intelligente
For Correlative Constructions (Plus...plus): -
Identify what increases in the first part -
Use "plus" + subject + verb -
Add comma -
Repeat structure for the second part -
Example breakdown: Plus [je mange], plus [j'ai faim]
For Negative Constructions (ne...plus): -
Place "ne" before the conjugated verb -
Place "plus" immediately after the conjugated verb -
If there's an infinitive, it goes after "plus" -
Example: Je ne veux plus partir (I don't want to leave anymore)
English "more" vs French "plus": -
English uses "more" + adjective for longer adjectives (more beautiful) -
French always uses "plus" regardless of adjective length (plus beau, plus magnifique) -
English "no more" = French "ne...plus" (but word order differs) -
English "-er" comparatives (bigger) = French "plus" + adjective (plus grand)
Forms of "plus": -
Standalone: plus (more) -
With "de": plus de (more of) -
Negative: ne...plus (no more/no longer) -
Comparative: plus...que (more...than) -
Correlative: plus...plus (the more...the more) -
Superlative: le/la/les plus (the most) -
Progressive: de plus en plus (more and more)
✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾
The concept of "more" in French culture extends beyond mere grammar. French society values moderation (modération) and balance, yet the word "plus" appears frequently in everyday expressions that reveal cultural attitudes.
French speakers use "plus" in many idiomatic expressions that don't directly translate to English. For instance, "Plus ça change, plus c'est la même chose" (The more things change, the more they stay the same) reflects a philosophical French perspective on life's continuities.
The phrase "Un peu plus" (a little more) is commonly heard at French dinner tables, where hosts encourage guests to take second helpings. However, this differs from American "supersizing" culture – French "more" tends toward quality rather than quantity.
The negative construction "ne...plus" carries particular weight in French social contexts. Saying "Je ne fume plus" (I don't smoke anymore) implies a definitive life change, not just a temporary cessation. This reflects the French tendency toward decisive statements about personal habits.
In French schools, teachers often use the expression "Peut mieux faire" (Can do better), literally "Can do more well," on report cards. This reflects the French educational system's emphasis on continuous improvement and high standards.
French advertising frequently uses "plus" in slogans, but with more subtlety than English equivalents. Where English might say "More for less!", French tends toward "Plus de qualité" (More quality), emphasizing value over mere quantity.
✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾
From Antoine de Saint-Exupéry's Le Petit Prince (1943):
"On ne voit bien qu'avec le cœur. L'essentiel est invisible pour les yeux. C'est le temps que tu as perdu pour ta rose qui fait ta rose si importante. Les hommes ont oublié cette vérité, mais tu ne dois pas l'oublier. Tu deviens responsable pour toujours de ce que tu as apprivoisé."
On One ne not voit sees bien well qu' only avec with le the cœur heart. L' The essentiel essential est is invisible invisible pour for les the yeux eyes. C'est It is le the temps time que that tu you as have perdu lost pour for ta your rose rose qui which fait makes ta your rose rose si so importante important. Les The hommes men ont have oublié forgotten cette this vérité truth, mais but tu you ne not dois must pas not l' it oublier forget. Tu You deviens become responsable responsible pour for toujours always de of ce that que which tu you as have apprivoisé tamed.
"On ne voit bien qu'avec le cœur. L'essentiel est invisible pour les yeux. C'est le temps que tu as perdu pour ta rose qui fait ta rose si importante. Les hommes ont oublié cette vérité, mais tu ne dois pas l'oublier. Tu deviens responsable pour toujours de ce que tu as apprivoisé."
"One sees clearly only with the heart. What is essential is invisible to the eyes. It is the time you have wasted for your rose that makes your rose so important. Men have forgotten this truth, but you must not forget it. You become responsible, forever, for what you have tamed."
This passage from Le Petit Prince demonstrates several uses of comparative and emphatic structures in French. While "plus" doesn't appear directly in this excerpt, the passage illustrates concepts of "more" through other means: the idea that the heart sees "more clearly" (bien) than the eyes, and that investing "more time" creates deeper value. The philosophical depth shows how French expresses comparative concepts beyond the simple word "plus."
The passage contains several grammatical structures relevant to expressing degrees and comparisons: -
ne...que: a restrictive construction meaning "only" -
si: intensifier meaning "so" (related to comparative concepts) -
pour toujours: "forever" (literally "for always") -
The use of present tense for universal truths -
Relative pronouns (qui, que) creating complex comparative relationships
✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾
99.16 Le The client customer demande asks s' if il he peut can avoir have plus more de of réduction discount
99.17 Cette This boutique shop offre offers plus more de of choix choice que than les the autres others
99.18 Plus More vous you achetez buy, plus more vous you économisez save
99.19 Je I ne not trouve find plus anymore cette this marque brand au at the supermarché supermarket
99.20 Les The prix prices augmentent increase de from plus more en in plus more chaque each mois month
99.21 Il He faut must payer pay vingt twenty euros euros de of plus more pour for la the livraison delivery
99.22 Ce This produit product se itself vend sells plus more rapidement quickly que than prévu expected
99.23 Nous We n' not avons have plus anymore de of stock stock pour for cet this article item
99.24 Plus More le the produit product est is rare rare, plus more il it est is cher expensive
99.25 La The vendeuse saleswoman propose suggests plus more de of services services aux to the clients customers fidèles loyal
99.26 J' I aimerais would like en of it savoir to know plus more sur about cette this garantie warranty
99.27 Le The magasin store reste stays ouvert open une one heure hour de of plus more le the samedi Saturday
99.28 Plus More c' it est is loin far, plus more les the frais fees de of port shipping sont are élevés high
99.29 Elle She dépense spends toujours always plus more que than ce what qu' that elle she avait had prévu planned
99.30 Ce This commerçant merchant fait makes plus more d' of efforts efforts pour to satisfaire satisfy ses his clients customers
✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾
99.16 Le client demande s'il peut avoir plus de réduction. The customer asks if he can have more discount.
99.17 Cette boutique offre plus de choix que les autres. This shop offers more choice than the others.
99.18 Plus vous achetez, plus vous économisez. The more you buy, the more you save.
99.19 Je ne trouve plus cette marque au supermarché. I can't find this brand at the supermarket anymore.
99.20 Les prix augmentent de plus en plus chaque mois. Prices increase more and more each month.
99.21 Il faut payer vingt euros de plus pour la livraison. You have to pay twenty euros more for delivery.
99.22 Ce produit se vend plus rapidement que prévu. This product sells more quickly than expected.
99.23 Nous n'avons plus de stock pour cet article. We don't have any more stock for this item.
99.24 Plus le produit est rare, plus il est cher. The rarer the product, the more expensive it is.
99.25 La vendeuse propose plus de services aux clients fidèles. The saleswoman offers more services to loyal customers.
99.26 J'aimerais en savoir plus sur cette garantie. I would like to know more about this warranty.
99.27 Le magasin reste ouvert une heure de plus le samedi. The store stays open one hour more on Saturday.
99.28 Plus c'est loin, plus les frais de port sont élevés. The farther it is, the higher the shipping costs.
99.29 Elle dépense toujours plus que ce qu'elle avait prévu. She always spends more than what she had planned.
99.30 Ce commerçant fait plus d'efforts pour satisfaire ses clients. This merchant makes more efforts to satisfy his customers.
✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾
99.16 Le client demande s'il peut avoir plus de réduction.
99.17 Cette boutique offre plus de choix que les autres.
99.18 Plus vous achetez, plus vous économisez.
99.19 Je ne trouve plus cette marque au supermarché.
99.20 Les prix augmentent de plus en plus chaque mois.
99.21 Il faut payer vingt euros de plus pour la livraison.
99.22 Ce produit se vend plus rapidement que prévu.
99.23 Nous n'avons plus de stock pour cet article.
99.24 Plus le produit est rare, plus il est cher.
99.25 La vendeuse propose plus de services aux clients fidèles.
99.26 J'aimerais en savoir plus sur cette garantie.
99.27 Le magasin reste ouvert une heure de plus le samedi.
99.28 Plus c'est loin, plus les frais de port sont élevés.
99.29 Elle dépense toujours plus que ce qu'elle avait prévu.
99.30 Ce commerçant fait plus d'efforts pour satisfaire ses clients.
✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾
Structure: X euros de plus Example: vingt euros de plus (twenty euros more) This construction is essential for discussing price differences and surcharges.
The correlative "plus...plus" appears frequently in sales slogans: -
Plus vous achetez, plus vous économisez (The more you buy, the more you save) This mirrors English marketing but with French grammatical structure.
Negative construction "ne...plus de" for "out of stock": -
Nous n'avons plus de stock (We have no more stock) Note: "de" replaces the article after "ne...plus"
When comparing shops or products: -
plus de choix que (more choice than) -
plus rapidement que prévu (more quickly than expected)
"De plus en plus" for gradual increases: -
Les prix augmentent de plus en plus (Prices increase more and more)
En savoir plus: to know more (literally "to know of it more") -
Used in customer service contexts -
The "en" refers back to the topic
Une heure de plus: one more hour -
For extended hours or additional time -
Note the structure: quantity + de + plus
Plus de services: more services -
Standard in customer loyalty programs -
Always uses "de" before the noun
-
Forgetting "de" in quantities -
Wrong: plus réduction -
Right: plus de réduction -
Incorrect word order with prices -
Wrong: de plus vingt euros -
Right: vingt euros de plus -
Using "pas" instead of "plus" for "no more" -
Wrong: nous n'avons pas de stock -
Right: nous n'avons plus de stock
✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾
This lesson is part of the innovative language learning series developed by the Latinum Institute, following the unique pedagogical approach created by Evan der Millner BA MA (Cantab. NZ, London). Since 2006, Mr. der Millner has been pioneering online language learning materials that combine traditional philological methods with modern autodidactic principles.
The lessons at latinum.substack.com and latinum.org.uk employ a carefully structured approach based on the "construed text" method, which breaks down target language texts into their smallest meaningful units. This granular approach allows learners to build vocabulary and grammatical understanding systematically, without the confusion often caused by idiomatic translations or unexplained grammatical leaps.
Each lesson follows a consistent structure: -
Interlinear glossing (Section A) provides word-by-word understanding -
Natural translations (Section B) show authentic usage -
Target language immersion (Section C) reinforces patterns -
Detailed grammar explanations (Section D) clarify rules and exceptions -
Cultural context (Section E) enhances practical understanding -
Literary examples (Section F) demonstrate sophisticated usage -
Genre-specific sections provide specialized vocabulary and structures
Self-directed learners benefit from: -
Complete transparency in translation - no hidden grammatical assumptions -
Multiple exposures to each structure in varied contexts -
Clear explanations designed for independent study -
Cultural and literary enrichment beyond basic communication -
Genre variety ensuring practical, real-world application
The Latinum Institute has received positive recognition from learners worldwide. See reviews at: https://uk.trustpilot.com/review/latinum.org.uk
For audio materials and additional resources, primarily focusing on ancient languages, paid subscribers can access materials at patreon.com/latinum
For a comprehensive index of all available courses and lessons, visit: https://latinum.substack.com/p/index
This index provides easy navigation to lessons in: -
Classical and Modern Languages -
Various difficulty levels -
Specialized vocabulary topics -
Grammar-focused sessions -
Cultural immersion materials
The consistent methodology across all languages allows learners to apply successful learning strategies from one language to another, making the Latinum Institute's approach particularly valuable for polyglots and serious language enthusiasts.
✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾
---