What you’ll learn
- Make more/less comparisons with que.
- Make equal comparisons with tan... como.
- Use mejor, peor, mayor and menor in clear contexts.
Compare two things
Use más + adjective + que to say more... than and menos + adjective + que to say less... than. The adjective still agrees with the thing being described: Esta calle es más tranquila que la avenida. For equality, use tan + adjective + como: Mi mochila es tan grande como la tuya. Do not mix the comparison connectors que and como.
When comparing quantities, use más or menos with a noun: Tengo menos tiempo que tú. Equality with a noun uses tanto/tanta/tantos/tantas and agrees with that noun: tantas sillas como personas. Start by identifying whether you are comparing a quality or a quantity, then choose the matching construction.
El tren es más rápido que el autobús.
The train is faster than the bus.
Esta habitación es tan grande como la otra.
This room is as big as the other one.
Tenemos menos tiempo que ayer.
We have less time than yesterday.
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Choose the best of a group
A relative superlative identifies an extreme within a group: el hotel más barato de la zona. Match the article and adjective to the noun. With a plural group, say las calles más tranquilas. The group can be introduced with de, and the sentence should make clear which set you are comparing.
Bueno commonly compares as mejor, and malo as peor. For age, mayor and menor often express older and younger: Mi hermana es mayor que yo. Avoid adding más to these irregular comparisons in the basic patterns taught here. Muy and -ísimo can intensify a quality without comparing a person with a specific group.
Es el café más barato del barrio.
It is the cheapest café in the neighborhood.
Este plan es mejor que el otro.
This plan is better than the other one.
Mi hermano es menor que yo.
My brother is younger than I am.
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Useful vocabulary
- mejor
- better / best
- peor
- worse / worst
- barato / barata
- inexpensive
Common mistakes
- Use tan... como rather than tan... que.
- Keep adjective agreement inside a comparison.
- Do not add más to mejor in the ordinary comparison taught here.
Keep these ideas
- Más/menos... que compares differences.
- Tan... como compares equal qualities.
- A relative superlative names an extreme within a stated group.
Use it in your life
Compare two places from a story, then recommend one for a clearly stated reason. Avoid inventing facts the text does not give.
Read it in context
Look for this lesson’s ideas in a complete Spanish story. Read the passage first, then use its translations to check your understanding.
Read a public A2 storyLesson quiz
5 equally weighted questions. Score 80% or higher to complete this lesson. You can retry as often as you need.
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