Comparative Adverbs
Adverbs modify adjectives, verbs, or other adverbs, and comparative adverbs show difference in manner, degree, or frequency between two actions or qualities. This guide focuses on how to form and use comparative adverbs in French.
Key Adverbs
Adverbs often end in -ment and come after the verb they modify; common adverbs describe manner, time, place, frequency, and degree. Knowing a few basic adverbs helps you describe actions in detail when teaching or narrating.
| French Word(s) | English Word(s) |
|---|---|
| lentement | slowly |
| rapidement | quickly |
| souvent | often |
| toujours | always |
| parfois | sometimes |
| ici | here |
| là-bas | there |
| French Example | English Translation | Note |
|---|---|---|
| 🍅 Je coupe les tomates finement. | I cut the tomatoes finely. | Manner |
| ⏱️ Je cuis la sauce doucement. | I cook the sauce slowly. | Manner |
| 🍲 Je mélange ici. | I mix here. | Place |
| ⏰ Je sors la pâte tôt. | I take out the dough early. | Time |
| 🔥 Je chauffe très. | I heat (it) very much. | Degree |
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Forming Comparative Adverbs
-🌶️ Je cuisine plus épicé que d'habitude. (More + adj.)
-🍯 La sauce est moins sucrée aujourd’hui. (Less + adj.)
-🍵 Je sers la soupe plus chaud qu’hier. (Comparative adj.)
-❄️ La marinade est moins froide que celle d’avant. (Comparative adj.)
-🔥 Je cuis plus vite en chauffant plus fort. (Irregular adv.)
| French Example | English Translation | Note |
|---|---|---|
| 🌶️ Je cuisine plus épicé que d'habitude. | I cook more spicily than usual. | More + adj. |
| 🍯 La sauce est moins sucrée aujourd’hui. | The sauce is less sweet today. | Less + adj. |
| 🍵 Je sers la soupe plus chaud qu’hier. | I serve the soup hotter than yesterday. | Comparative adj. |
| ❄️ La marinade est moins froide que celle d’avant. | The marinade is less cold than the previous one. | Comparative adj. |
| 🔥 Je cuis plus vite en chauffant plus fort. | I cook faster by heating higher. | Irregular adv. |
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Usage
Use plus, moins or aussi to compare adverbs, and you can add que to introduce the second element of the comparison; for comparisons of equality with adverbs use tant que or simply aussi... que depending on register. When comparing actions rather than qualities, comparative constructions sit neatly around the adverb for clarity.
- Use plus, moins or aussi to compare adverbs, and add que for the second element.
- For equality with adverbs use tant que or aussi... que depending on register.
- Comparative constructions often bracket the adverb for clarity when comparing actions.
Examples
| French Example | English Translation |
|---|---|
| 🍞 La pâte lève plus rapidement avec un peu de chaleur. | The dough rises more quickly with a bit of warmth. |
| 🔄 Je tourne la crêpe moins souvent pour qu’elle dore. | I turn the crepe less often so it browns. |
| 🔝 Je mets la sauce plus haut sur feu. | I put the sauce on higher heat. |
| 🔙 Je remets la casserole un peu plus tard. | I put the pot back a little later. |
| 🧂 J’assaisonne plus légèrement cette fois. | I season more lightly this time. |
Comparative Expressions
Some expressions use davantage instead of plus for a slightly more formal tone, and bien plus or de beaucoup plus can add emphasis when comparing adverbs or actions. Set phrases like ne... pas plus tôt que serve specific comparative purposes in time, and modifiers like beaucoup can intensify the comparison.
| French Example | English Translation |
|---|---|
| 🍽️ Je préfère cette sauce-ci. | I prefer this sauce here. |
| 🍶 La sauce là-bas est plus concentrée. | The sauce over there is more concentrated. |
| 🕒 Je commence la cuisson maintenant. | I start cooking now. |
| ⏳ La cuisson sera plus longue ensuite. | The cooking will be longer afterwards. |
| 🍴 On mange bientôt ? | Are we eating soon? |
- Davantage can replace plus for a formal tone when comparing actions or amounts.
- Bien plus and de beaucoup plus add strong emphasis to the comparison.
- Set phrases like ne... pas plus tôt que serve specific time comparisons.
- Beaucoup can intensify the comparative (e.g., beaucoup plus vite).
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Summary
Comparative adverbs sharpen how you describe differences in manner, time, or degree between actions; use plus, moins, aussi followed by the adverb, and add que for the second element when needed. Practice switching adverbs and comparatives in sentences to make comparisons clear and natural in French.
Last updated: Sun Sep 14, 2025