In life, not all things are equal. Some are better or worse than others.

In all languages, this difference in appreciation is expressed through the use of comparatives. In Spanish, the use of comparatives is similar to the way we use them in English.

What are the rules for being a master of comparatives in Spanish?

Comparative of superiority

Comparatives of superiority are useful for saying that one thing is better than another or that one person has something more than another.

In Spanish, this idea is expressed by the use of more … than: más … que. You just have to fill in the blanks with the adjective that fits the situation.

Examples of adjective of comparisons:

• Mi hermana es más linda que yo = My sister is more beautiful than me
• Mi vecino es más fuerte que yo = My neighbor is stronger than me
• Ese coche es más rápido que el tuyo = This car is faster than yours
• Esta casa es más alta que aquella = This house is higher than that one

The superiority comparison is not limited to adjectives. With the same formula, it is also possible to compare nouns or adverbs:

Examples of noun comparisons:

• En verano hay más sol que en invierno = In summer there is more sun than in winter
• Este edificio tiene más ventanas que aquel = This building has more windows than that one

Examples of adverb comparisons:

• Marcos trabaja más lentamente que Pedro = Marcos works more slowly than Pedro
• Silvia habla más amablemente que Dolores = Silvia speaks more kindly than Dolores

Inferiority comparisons

Comparative inferiority is used to show that one thing is less good than another or that one person has something less than another.

To express this, we use the expression less … than: menos … que. As with the comparative of inferiority, this formula can be used with an adjective, an adverb or a noun.

Simply place the element of comparison between “menos” and “que” :

• Mi gato es menos gordo que el tuyo = My cat is less fat than yours (adjective)
• Las zanahorias son menos caras que las berenjenas = Carrots are cheaper than eggplants (adjective)
• En España hay menos lluvia que en Inglaterra = In Spain, there is less rain than in England (noun)
• Pablo actuó menos sabiamente que Juan = Pablo acted less wisely than John (adverb)

Equality comparisons

To say that two things are equal or that two people have the same characteristic, we use a comparative of equality.

This type of comparison is formed in the following way: tanto … como. “If the point of comparison is expressed by an adverb or adjective, only “tan” followed by “como” is used:

• Tenemos que solucionar tanto los problemas políticos como los económicos = We need to solve the political problems as well as the economic ones
• Este coche es tan caro como aquel = This car is as expensive as that one
• Este edificio es tan sucio por dentro como por fuera = This building is as dirty inside as it is outside

Irregular comparatives

In English, some words directly include the idea of a comparison. This is the case of “better” or “worse” which is used instead of “more best” or “less better”.

In Spanish, the same rule applies. A similar formula is used to translate the expressions “older” or “younger”.

The four most common irregular comparatives are: mejor, peor, mayor et menor :

• Mi médico es mejor que el tuyo = My doctor is better than yours
• Tu salario es peor que el suyo = Your salary is worse than his
• Soy mayor que mi hermano = I am older than my brother
• Mi madre es menor que mi padre = My mother is younger than my father

👉 Practice now!

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