French Vocabulary

204 practice makes perfect French Vocabulary

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EXERCICE

La cigale et la fourmi. The cicada and the ant. Translate into English the highlighted

adverbial phrases in this prose version of a famous poetic fable.

Une fourmi avait travaillé tout l’été alors que la cigale, sa voisine, n’avait que dansé et

chanté. Les premiers jours d’hiver étaient (1) à peine arrivés que la cigale s’est trouvée

aff amée. (2)Tout d’abord elle a pensé que la fourmi l’aiderait et qu’elle lui donnerait

quelque chose à manger. Mais la fourmi a (3) tout de suite déclaré qu’elle ne voulait rien lui

donner. La cigale l’a suppliée mais (4) en vain. Finalement la cigale a dit : «(5) Tant pis! Je

vais mourir de faim. C’est (6) tout à fait ma faute. Mais (7) tout de même elle est cruelle, la

fourmi». (8) Tout d’un coup elle a vu la fourmi ouvrir la porte et lui jeter quelques grains de

blé. La fourmi a (9) sans doute eu pitié de la pauvre cigale. Tout est bien qui fi nit bien. (10)

Tant mieux, n’est-ce pas?

An ant had worked all summer long while the cicada, her neighbor, had done nothing

but dance and sing. The fi rst days of winter had (1) begun when the

cicada found herself famished. (2) she thought that the ant would help

her and give her something to eat. But the ant declared (3) that she

would not give her anything. The cicada begged her but (4). Finally the

cicada said: “(5)! I am going to die. It is (6) my fault.

But (7) this ant is cruel!” (8) she saw the ant open the

door and throw her a few grains of wheat. The ant (9) took pity on the

poor cicada. All is well that ends well. (10) , don’t you think?

Les structures comparatives et superlatives

(Comparative and superlative structures)

We oft en compare how various people perform activities and how things happen diff erently (i.e.,

more or less oft en than... ); these structures are called comparative. We sometimes single out

one person or one thing as performing the best, the worst, or the most; these structures are called

superlative.

Adverbs are found in comparative structures using the phrases aussi... que, plus... que,

moins... que. In the following examples, note how the two components of the comparative phrases

are placed before and aft er the adverb.

Je parle aussi bien que toi. I speak as well as you.

Je parle plus fréquemment que toi. I speak more frequently than you.

Je parle moins vite que toi. I do not speak as fast as you.

Adverbs can also be found in superlative structures using the phrases le plus and le moins.

In the following examples, note how those phrases are placed before the adverb.

Il conduit le plus vite. He drives the fastest.

Il répond le moins souvent. He answers the least oft en.

Beware of the irregular adverb mieux, which means better or best. Do not confuse it with

the adjective meilleur, which also means better or best. In the following examples, note how the

adverb mieux modifi es the meaning of the verb danse.

Elle danse mieux que moi. She dances better than me.

Elle danse le mieux. She dances the best.