How to pronounce the French adjective ‘PLUS’
Last time we figured it out with clutch and binding in spoken French. As a reminder, these are the ways two consecutive words are pronounced without a pause, making speech flow like a never-ending stream. We left off at the trickiest case: when a normally silent consonant at the end of a word may or may not be pronounced.
It depends either on you or on the rules. The topic is voluminous. So we start eating the elephant piece by piece.
Let's take an adjective today ‘plus’ and learn to pronounce it correctly.
Let us immediately stipulate that ‘plus’ used in two cases:
- In the meaning 'davantage' - more, stronger, etc.
- In denial.
Today we take only the first point.
So if we use ‘plus’to express the comparative or superlative degree of an adjective, then this word can be pronounced three in different ways:
1.If the adjective after ‘plus’ begins with a consonant, then we pronounce ⠀ [ply] - that is, S is not readable at the end.
Examples:
- Il est plus petit que son cousin. - He is smaller than his cousin.
- C’est la plus belle fille. - This is the most beautiful girl.
2.If ‘plus’ is in an isolated position, that is, there is no other adjective after it, then we pronounce [plys] - that is, S is read at the end.
Examples:
- Notre usine produit trois fois plus. – Our plant produces three times more.
- Ce que tu aimes le plus c’est le miel. – What you love most is honey.
3.If the adjective after ‘plus’ begins with a vowel, then there is a binding and will be pronounced [plyz] - that is, [S] turns into [Z].
Examples:
- Ce film est plus_intéressant que ton histoire. – This film is more interesting than your story.
- C’est le moment le plus_heureux de ma vie. – This is the happiest moment in my life.
This is my cheat sheet. Use it.
Read other articles:
French phonetics: practising sounds with songs
Podcasts in French for beginners and more