Comparing Nouns vs. Adjectives: plus de vs. plus
നാമവും വിശേഷണവും തമ്മിലുള്ള താരതമ്യം: plus de vs plus
Two structures look almost identical but do different jobs — plus de counts a noun, while plus alone intensifies an adjective or adverb. Mixing them up is one of the most common A2 slip-ups.
Grammar Comparison
വ്യാകരണ താരതമ്യം
plus de + noun = 'more [noun]' (quantity)
J'ai plus de temps. (I have more time.)
എനിക്ക് കൂടുതൽ സമയമുണ്ട്.
When comparing an amount of something — a noun — use plus de (or moins de, autant de) directly before the noun, with no que required unless you're comparing it to something specific (plus de temps que toi, 'more time than you'). This is the same de that shows up in the partitive articles you learned earlier, and it corresponds to Malayalam's കൂടുതൽ ('more') placed directly before the noun it quantifies.
plus + adjective/adverb = 'more [quality]' (degree)
Il est plus intelligent. (He is more intelligent.)
അവൻ കൂടുതൽ ബുദ്ധിമാനാണ്.
When comparing a quality or manner — an adjective or adverb — use plus (or moins, aussi) directly before that word, with no de. Mixing the two up (plus de intelligent, or plus temps) is a very natural mistake for a Malayalam speaker, since കൂടുതൽ conveniently covers both the noun-quantity sense and the quality-degree sense with a single word — French instead requires you to first ask 'am I comparing a noun or a quality?'
Vocabulary
വാക്കുകൾ
- Malayalam
- കൂടുതൽ സമയംkooduthal samayam
- English
- more time
- Malayalam
- കൂടുതൽ ബുദ്ധിമാൻkooduthal budhimaan
- English
- more intelligent
- Malayalam
- കുറച്ച് പണംkurachu panam
- English
- less money
- Malayalam
- കുറഞ്ഞ വിലkuranja vila
- English
- less expensive
- Malayalam
- അത്രയും പുസ്തകങ്ങൾathrayum pusthakangal
- English
- as many books
- Malayalam
- അത്ര തന്നെ എളുപ്പത്തിൽathra thanne eluppathil
- English
- as easily
- Malayalam
- കൂടുതൽ ആളുകൾkooduthal aalukal
- English
- more people
- Malayalam
- കൂടുതൽ വേഗത്തിൽkooduthal vegathil
- English
- more quickly