Question 1

Why is it plus vite instead of plus rapide?

Accepted Answer

Vite is an adverb, meaning it describes how an action is done. Here, it describes how the waiter works (travaille). Rapide is an adjective, which describes nouns (like the waiter himself: Le serveur est rapide). To say "works faster" (literally "works more quickly"), we must use plus vite.

Question 2

Since we are learning about intensifiers, could I say beaucoup vite to mean "very fast"?

Accepted Answer

No, you cannot use beaucoup (a lot / much) right before an adjective or an adverb like vite. To say he works "very fast", you would use très and say Il travaille très vite. In this sentence, plus is used to mean "more fast" (faster).

Question 3

Can I use beaucoup with the verb travailler in other sentences?

Accepted Answer

Yes! If you want to say the waiter "works a lot" (intensifying how much he works, rather than his speed), you would say Le serveur travaille beaucoup. But because this sentence focuses on his speed (vite), we use plus directly in front of the adverb.

Question 4

Do I pronounce the 's' at the end of plus in this sentence?

Accepted Answer

No, the 's' is silent here. When plus means "more" and is followed by a word starting with a consonant (like vite), you do not pronounce the 's'. It sounds like "plu".

Le serveur travaille plus vite.

Breakdown of Le serveur travaille plus vite.

Questions & Answers about Le serveur travaille plus vite.

Learn Le serveur travaille plus vite and more in French