French for English speakers House · Lesson 5

Size comparisons

Comparisons in French — Tu as de grands yeux (You have big eyes) — and Ne sont-ils pas comme les tiens ? (Aren't they like yours?).

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Pronunciation Translations Tips

Cassian

Tu as de grands yeux !

Your have big eyes!
Pishi

Ne sont-ils pas comme les tiens ?

Aren't they like yours?
Cassian

Non, les miens sont petits.

No, mine are small.

Tip: <les tiens> = lit. yours. The article has to be used here.
Pishi

C'est peut-être parce que tu n'es pas un chat.

Maybe that's because you are not a cat.

Quick answers about this lesson's grammar and vocabulary.

Where do adjectives go in French?

Most go after the noun. BAGS (Beauty/Age/Good/Size) adjectives go before. Grand is a size adjective: de grands yeux (before).

How do French possessive pronouns work?

Le mien/la mienne (mine), le tien/la tienne (yours), le sien/la sienne (his/hers). Plural: les miens, les tiens, les siens.

Why de instead of des?

Before a plural adjective placed before the noun, des becomes de: de grands yeux (not 'des grands yeux'). A common rule.