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<\/figure>\n\n\n\n1. What comparatives are and when to use them<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Comparatives let you compare two things \u2014 people, objects, situations, quantities, behaviours, and so on.
They\u2019re essential for expressing differences, similarities, or degrees of superiority\/inferiority.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In Spanish, you can compare:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- \n
- adjectives<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
– El edificio es m\u00e1s alto que<\/strong> la casa.<\/em><\/mark><\/p>\n\n\n\n
- \n
- nouns<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
– Mi casa tiene m\u00e1s habitaciones que<\/strong> la tuya.<\/em><\/mark><\/p>\n\n\n\n
- \n
- adverbs<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
– Luc\u00eda corre tan r\u00e1pido como<\/strong> Marta.<\/em><\/mark><\/p>\n\n\n\n
- \n
- verbs<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
– Yo estudio m\u00e1s que<\/strong> t\u00fa.<\/em><\/mark><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Each type follows its own logic \u2014 and that\u2019s exactly what we\u2019ll break down next.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
2. Comparatives with adjectives<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
When you\u2019re comparing qualities \u2014 alto, caro, interesante, antiguo<\/em>, etc. \u2014 there are three main categories: superiority, inferiority, and equality.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
a) Comparative of superiority: m\u00e1s <\/em>+ adjective + que<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
This is the most intuitive and most commonly used pattern.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
– Estos libros son m\u00e1s antiguos que<\/strong> \u00e9sos.<\/em><\/mark><\/p>\n\n\n\n
You can also add intensifiers like un poco, bastante, mucho<\/em> to make the comparison more precise:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
– Tus amigas son un poco m\u00e1s antip\u00e1ticas que<\/strong> las m\u00edas.<\/em><\/mark><\/p>\n\n\n\n
b) Comparative of inferiority: menos <\/em>+ adjective + que<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Same structure, but expressing the opposite meaning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
– El avi\u00f3n es menos lento que<\/strong> los otros transportes.<\/em><\/mark><\/p>\n\n\n\n
c) Comparative of equality: tan <\/em>+ adjective + como<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Used when two things share the same degree of a quality.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
– Es tan alto como <\/strong>su hermano.<\/em><\/mark><\/p>\n\n\n\n
A useful alternative: igual de<\/em> + adjective + que<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
– Esto es igual de caro que<\/strong> el que tengo en casa.<\/em><\/mark><\/p>\n\n\n\n
2.1 Irregular comparatives with adjectives<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Some adjectives have completely irregular comparative forms. They\u2019re among the most frequent in the language, so they\u2019re worth memorizing early.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- \n
- bueno \u2192 mejor<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
– Ese reloj es mejor que<\/strong> \u00e9ste.<\/em><\/mark><\/p>\n\n\n\n
- \n
- malo \u2192 peor<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
– Estas lavadoras son peores que<\/strong> \u00e9sas.<\/em><\/mark><\/p>\n\n\n\n
- \n
- grande \u2192 mayor <\/em>(age or importance)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
– Mi hijo es mayor que<\/strong> el tuyo.<\/em><\/mark><\/p>\n\n\n\n
- \n
- peque\u00f1o \u2192 menor <\/em>(age or importance)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
– Alicia es menor que<\/strong> su hermana Luc\u00eda.<\/em><\/mark><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Important note: mayor <\/em>and menor <\/em>can also behave like regular comparatives (m\u00e1s grande, m\u00e1s peque\u00f1o<\/em>) when the context is not about age or importance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
3. Comparatives with nouns: comparing amounts<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
When the comparison involves a noun (money, hours, rooms, problems\u2026), the structure changes slightly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
a) Superiority: m\u00e1s <\/em>+ noun + que<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
– \u00bfAlguien tiene m\u00e1s suerte que<\/strong> t\u00fa?<\/em><\/mark><\/p>\n\n\n\n
b) Inferiority: menos <\/em>+ noun + que<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
– En el frigor\u00edfico hay menos cervezas que<\/strong> ayer.<\/em><\/mark><\/p>\n\n\n\n
c) Equality: tanto\/tanta\/tantos\/tantas <\/em>+ noun + como<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Agreement with the noun is essential:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
– Tengo tantos ex\u00e1menes<\/strong> aprobados como <\/strong>t\u00fa.<\/em><\/mark><\/p>\n\n\n\n
When the quantity is exactly the same, you can also use:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- \n
- la misma cantidad de <\/em>+ noun + que<\/em><\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
- el mismo n\u00famero de<\/em> + noun + que<\/em><\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
– Necesitamos la misma cantidad de vasos que de platos.<\/strong><\/em><\/mark><\/p>\n\n\n\n
4. Comparatives with adverbs<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Adverbs follow a very similar logic to adjectives: superiority, inferiority, or equality.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
a) Superiority: m\u00e1s <\/em>+ adverb + que<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
– Ana habla m\u00e1s claramente que<\/strong> Pedro.<\/em><\/mark><\/p>\n\n\n\n
b) Inferiority: menos <\/em>+ adverb + que<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
– Luc\u00eda trabaja menos eficientemente que<\/strong> Marta.<\/em><\/mark><\/p>\n\n\n\n
c) Equality: tan <\/em>+ adverb + como<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
– Mi madre cocina tan bien como<\/strong> mi padre.<\/em><\/mark><\/p>\n\n\n\n
4.1 Irregular comparatives with adverbs<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Some adverbs have irregular comparative forms:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- \n
- bien \u2192 mejor\u00a0<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
– Luis canta mejor que<\/strong> Jaime.\u00a0<\/em><\/mark><\/p>\n\n\n\n
- \n
- mal \u2192 peor\u00a0<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
– Juan cocina peor que<\/strong> Antonio.<\/em><\/mark><\/p>\n\n\n\n
5. Comparatives with verbs<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
When comparing how much or how often an action is performed, the structure is built directly around the verb.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
a) Superiority: verb + m\u00e1s <\/em>+ que<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
– Yo estudio m\u00e1s que<\/strong> t\u00fa.<\/em><\/mark><\/p>\n\n\n\n
b) Inferiority: verb + menos <\/em>+ que<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
– T\u00fa trabajas menos que<\/strong> yo.<\/em><\/mark><\/p>\n\n\n\n
c) Equality: verb + tanto como<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
– Luis come tanto como<\/strong> Felipe.<\/em><\/mark><\/p>\n\n\n\n
These structures are extremely useful when talking about habits, lifestyle, study patterns, work routines, and everyday activities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
6. Two common special cases<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Spanish often uses two additional, very frequent comparative constructions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
a) Quantitative comparatives with de<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Use de<\/em>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- \n
- when the comparison refers to a specific quantity:<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
– En casa tengo m\u00e1s de 500 revistas <\/strong>de decoraci\u00f3n.<\/em><\/mark><\/p>\n\n\n\n
- \n
- when there is a clause introduced by lo que<\/em>:<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
– El examen fue m\u00e1s f\u00e1cil de lo que<\/strong> pens\u00e1bamos.<\/em><\/mark><\/p>\n\n\n\n
b) Omitting the second part of the comparison<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
If the context makes the second element clear, it can be dropped entirely:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
– \u00c9ste es m\u00e1s bonito. (\u2026que el otro)<\/em><\/mark><\/p>\n\n\n\n
7. How to really learn Spanish comparatives<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Understanding the rules is a great start, but the real progress happens when you begin to use these structures spontaneously \u2014 without having to think about them every time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The best way to make them automatic is to see them in real sentences, hear them, repeat them, and use them yourself. For that reason, checking the full grammar sheet on comparatives<\/a> can be extremely helpful: it gathers all the forms in one place, covers special cases, and gives you plenty of extra examples.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
8. Ready to take your Spanish to the next level?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
If you\u2019re enjoying Spanish and want to finally speak naturally, stop translating in your head, and truly understand how the language works, our course \u00a1Ojal\u00e1!<\/a> is the perfect next step.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- when there is a clause introduced by lo que<\/em>:<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
- when the comparison refers to a specific quantity:<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
- mal \u2192 peor\u00a0<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
- el mismo n\u00famero de<\/em> + noun + que<\/em><\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
- la misma cantidad de <\/em>+ noun + que<\/em><\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
- peque\u00f1o \u2192 menor <\/em>(age or importance)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
- grande \u2192 mayor <\/em>(age or importance)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
- malo \u2192 peor<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
- bueno \u2192 mejor<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
- verbs<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
- adverbs<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
- nouns<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n