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 Spanish
Comparatives and Superlatives
Spanish comparatives and superlatives are fairly simple. Comparatives
are the comparison of one person or thing to another (more, less, or as... as), while superlatives
indicate that one person/thing is the most, best, least, or worst of all.
I. Comparatives come in three varieties:
| Superiority |
más... (que) |
more... than or ____er than |
| Inferiority |
menos... (que) |
less/fewer... than |
| Equality |
tan... como |
as... as |
| tanto... como |
as much/many as |
Notes
1. With más and menos, the que + noun/pronoun
construction is (optional). With tan and tanto como,
however, the noun/pronoun is required.
2. In comparatives of equality, tan is used with adjectives (tan
guapo como) and adverbs (tan rápidamente como), while tanto (tanta,
tantos, tantas) is used with nouns (tanto dinero como) and verbs (trabajamos
tanto como).
3. Bueno and malo have irregular comparative forms (see
III, below).
| Tú eres más interesante (que nosotros). |
You are more interesting (than we are). |
| Ana es más grande (que Lucas). |
Ana is taller (than Lucas). |
| Sevilla es menos caro (que Barcelona). |
Sevilla is less/not as expensive (than/as Barcelona). |
| Soy tan guapo como José. |
I'm as handsome as José. |
| Tengo tanto dinero como Uds. |
I have as much money as you. |
II. Superlatives are formed with the definite
article + noun + más or menos + adjective. Note that when
the superlative uses "in" (e.g., the tallest in the world, the
happiest in the house), "in" is translated by de.
| Carlos es la persona más inteligente que trabaja aquí. |
Carlos is the most intelligent person who works here. |
| Es la ciudad menos interesante del mundo. |
It's the least interesting city in the world. |
| Es el profesor más amable de la escuela. |
He is the nicest teacher in the school. |
III. Exceptions: Bueno
and malo have irregular forms for the
comparative and superlative.
|
Comparative |
Superlative |
| Bueno |
mejor(es) |
lo(s)/la(s) mejor(es) |
| Malo |
peor(es) |
lo(s)/la(s) peor(es) |
In the superlative, they are placed in front of the noun they modify.
| Mi restaurante es mejor (que esto). |
My restaurant is better (than this one). |
| Son los mejores profesores de la escuela. |
They are the best teachers in the school. |
| El libro es peor (que la película). |
The book is worse (than the movie). |
| Es la peor idea del mundo. |
It's the worst idea in the world. |
Test on
Comparatives + Superlatives
Spanish Grammar
Spanish for Beginners
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