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Year 10 - French

Mieux et le mieux : comparative and superlative adverbs

Studying and my future: Au collège

Unit Summary

This unit secures understanding of both regular and irregular comparative adjectives and adverbs, and then introduces pupils to regular and irregular superlative adjectives and adverbs. Pupils learn to use these in the context of expressing preferences and strengths at school.

Lesson Summary

You will learn to use comparative and superlative adverbs to enhance verbs to describe and compare people's talents.

Key Notes

  • To describe an action as the best, the most or the least, we use superlatives: le + plus/moins + adverb.
  • The superlative adverb goes directly after the verb: il parle le plus lentement.
  • Irregular superlative form 'le mieux' is used for 'the best' when describing a verb.
  • Two superlative forms 'le plus mal' and 'le moins bien' are used for 'the worst' when describing a verb.

Vocabulary To Learn

  • superlative adverb: a form of adverb to describe the highest degree of a quality e.g. the fastest
  • le mieux: the superlative adverb form of 'bien' meaning 'the best'
  • le plus mal / le moins bien: the superlative adverb forms of 'mal' meaning 'the worst'

Common Mistakes To Avoid

  • 'Mieux' and 'plus mal/moins bien' can be used interchangeably with 'le mieux' and 'le plus mal' or ''le moins bien'.

3 Quick Questions (With Answers)

1. Explain what you can now say or understand in this lesson.

To describe an action as the best, the most or the least, we use superlatives: le + plus/moins + adverb. The superlative adverb goes directly after the verb: il parle le plus lentement.

2. Define this key language word and use it in context. 'superlative adverb'

a form of adverb to describe the highest degree of a quality e.g. the fastest. Say or write it in a short sentence so you use the word actively.

3. Correct this common language-learning mistake.

Mistake: 'Mieux' and 'plus mal/moins bien' can be used interchangeably with 'le mieux' and 'le plus mal' or ''le moins bien'. Correction: 'Le mieux' and 'le plus mal'/'le moins bien' are superlative adverbs to describe actions as '(the) best' or '(the) worst'. 'Mieux' and 'moins bien'/'plus mal' describe actions as 'better' or 'less well'/'worse' and are comparative adverbs.

More Lessons In This Unit

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