By the end of this lesson you'll be able to compare two cities or two homes in a clear paragraph.
What you've learned
This unit has been about comparing and describing. Skim this list, and go back to anything that feels shaky.
- Compare. You know plus, moins, aussi, autant, meilleur and mieux, from the lesson on comparatives.
- Pick out the top. You know le plus, le moins, le meilleur and le mieux, from the lesson on superlatives.
- Talk about the home. You know rooms, furniture and chores, from the lesson on home and household chores.
- Join sentences. You know qui, que and où, from the lesson on qui, que and où.
- Describe where you live. You've put it all together in the lesson on describing where you live.
A few new words
| French | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| comparer | kohn-pah-RAY | to compare |
| une différence | ewn dee-fay-RAHNSS | a difference |
| un avantage | uh-nah-vahn-TAHZH | an advantage |
| magnifique | mah-nyee-FEEK | magnificent, beautiful |
A model comparison
Here's a short comparison of two places. Look at how each sentence uses something from this unit.
Je compare deux villes : Lille et Nice.
I'm comparing two towns: Lille and Nice.
J'habite à Lille, mais j'ai habité à Nice pendant trois ans.
I live in Lille, but I lived in Nice for three years.
Lille est une ville plus animée que Nice, et il y a plus d'étudiants.
Lille is a livelier town than Nice, and there are more students.
À Nice, il fait moins froid, et la mer est magnifique.
In Nice, it's less cold, and the sea is magnificent.
Le quartier où j'habite est le plus calme de la ville.
The neighbourhood where I live is the quietest in the town.
C'est une ville que j'adore.
It's a town I love.
Je préfère Lille.
I prefer Lille.
Pour moi, la meilleure ville de France, c'est Lille !
For me, the best town in France is Lille!
You met préférer in the lesson on comparatives.
A model about two homes
You can do the same with homes.
Notre appartement est moins grand que la maison de mes parents.
Our flat isn't as big as my parents' house.
Il y a autant de pièces, mais le salon est plus petit.
There are as many rooms, but the living room is smaller.
La cuisine que j'ai rangée hier est la plus belle pièce !
The kitchen I tidied yesterday is the most beautiful room!
How to organize it
A comparison is easier to follow if you take one topic at a time, and use both places in each sentence. Start by saying what you're comparing. Then choose two or three topics, such as size, noise and shops. Finish with a superlative, or with the one you prefer. Two short phrases help you make your point: La différence, c'est le bruit (The difference is the noise) and L'avantage, c'est la mer (The advantage is the sea).
Your turn
Write a paragraph comparing two cities or two homes, on paper or in a notes app. It can be real or invented. Aim for six to eight sentences, and include:
- at least two comparisons, one with an adjective and one with a noun
- meilleur or mieux
- a superlative, with de for "in"
- a sentence with qui, que or où
- a participle after que, with agreement if it's needed
Check your work
Go through your paragraph once for each question below.
- Did you use que for "than"?
- Does each adjective agree with its subject?
- Did you use meilleur with nouns and mieux with verbs?
- After a superlative, is "in" written as de?
- After que, does the participle agree with the noun it stands for?
What's next
The next and last unit of A2 is about everyday interactions. It starts with the lesson on emotions and feelings.