Comparative and Superlative Adjectives – Adjetivos Comparativos y Superlativos
Intermediate III
37. Comparative and superlative adjectives (English)
Formulas exist for the comparative adjectives and the superlative adjectives.
This lesson includes information on:
1. Comparative Adjectives
2. Superlative Adjectives
3. RelatedVocabulary
1. Comparative Adjectives
In Spanish as in English, we use comparatives to express comparisons of superiority, equality, and inferiority. The comparisons of equality have their own formula.
a) To express more… than…, one uses the following forms:
· When using an adjective, adverb or noun in a comparison, one uses the form:
Verb + más +adjective, adverb, noun + que
Spanish English
Roberto es más energético que Pablo. Robert is more energetic than Pablo.
· When comparing two things directly, one uses the form:
Verb + más + que
Spanish English
Sara lee más que Lisa. Sara reads more than Lisa.
· When using numbers, one uses the form:
Verb + más + de + number, quantitySpanish English
Juan tiene más de 2 perros. John has more than 2 dogs.
*This form is only valid for affirmative sentences.
· When comparing two clauses, one uses the form:
Verb + más + adjective, adverb, noun + de lo (la,los,las) que
Spanish English
Esa montaña es más peligrosa de lo que creemos. This mountain is more dangerous than we think.
b)To express less… than…, one uses the following forms:
· When using an adjective, adverb or noun in a comparison, one uses the form:
Verb + menos + adjective, adverb, noun + que
Spanish English
Roberto es menos energético que Pablo. Robert is less energetic than Pablo.
· When comparing two things directly, one uses the form:
Verb+ menos + que
Spanish English
Sara lee menos que Lisa. Sara reads less than Lisa.
· When using numbers, one uses the form:
Verb + menos + de + number, quantity
Spanish English
Juan tiene menos de 2 perros. John has less than 2 dogs.
*This form is only valid in affirmative sentences.
· When comparing two clauses, one uses the form:Verb + menos + adjective, adverb, noun + de lo (la,los,las) que
Spanish English
Esa montaña es menos peligrosa de lo que creemos. This mountain is less dangerous than we think.
c) To express equality, one uses the following forms:
· When expressing equality regarding people and things, one uses the form:
Verb + tan + adjective, adverb, noun +como
Spanish English
Sara es tan alta como Lisa. Sara is as tall as Lisa.
· When expressing equality regarding quantity, one uses the form:
Verb + tanto + adjective, adverb, noun + como
Spanish English
Tiene tanto dinero como su hermano. He has as much money as his brother.
*When using tanto… como…, tanto is a modifier and must agree in gender andsingular/plural with the noun. For example, if there are as many cars as, the statement would be written: Hay tantos coches como….
d) There are some irregular comparisons.
· With bueno (good) and bien(well) one uses mejor. With malo (bad) and mal (bad) one uses peor.
Spanish English Spanish English
Bueno (a) Good Malo (a) Bad
Mejor (que) Better Peor (que)Worse
El (la) mejor (de) Best El (la) peor (de) Worst
· With joven(young) and pequeño(small) one uses menor. With Viejo (old) and grande(large) one uses mayor.
Spanish English Spanish English
Joven Young Viejo (a) Old
Menor (que) Younger Mayor (que) Older
El (la) menor (de) Youngest El (la) mayor (de) Oldest
· Alto(high) and bajo(low) use…
