Comparisons with moins… que — identify and understand

Comparisons with moins… que: progressive explanation, topic-specific examples, guided exercises and a corrected assessment.

Duration: 25 minPrerequisites: comparatif-superiorite-produirePass mark: 80%

1. Objective

By the end, you can spot Comparing with moins… que in a sentence and explain the clue you used.

2. Discover

Read the examples before looking for a rule. What keeps coming back when the sentence uses Comparing with moins… que?

3. Understand

To express inferiority, use “moins + adjective/adverb + que”. With a noun, use “moins de + noun + que”.

Ce trajet est moins long que l’autre.Cette chambre est moins chère que la première.Il parle moins vite que son collègue.Aujourd’hui, il fait moins froid qu’hier.Ce café est moins fort que l’expresso.Cette valise est moins lourde que la mienne.

Watch out

Check the determiner, gender and number of the noun before making agreement. A word ending alone is not enough to decide.

4. Guided practice

5. Independent practice

6. Write / speak

Choose two Comparing with moins… que examples and say aloud what lets you recognise the pattern.

7. Check your learning

8. Remember

First identify the meaning you want, then the form used for Comparing with moins… que. The answer must work in the whole sentence.

Download worksheet (PDF)

9. Now I can…

I can recognise Comparing with moins… que in a new sentence.