Comparative Adverbs

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Adverbios comparativos

Comparative adverbs are used to compare the relative superiority or inferiority of two or more things. This superior lesson will keep you from getting an inferiority complex. 😉

There are three types of comparisons:

1) Superiority indicates that something is "___er" (bigger, faster, stronger) or "more ___" (more purple, more tired, more important). The Spanish equivalent is más ___ (que).

2) Inferiority indicates that something is "less ___" (less hungry, less exciting, less complete). The Spanish equivalent is menos ___ (que).

3) Equality indicates that two or more things are "as ___" (as happy, as thirsty, as much). The Spanish equivalents are tan ___ como and tanto ___ como.

The grammar involved in using comparative adverbs is slightly different depending on whether you’re comparing adjectives, adverbs, nouns, or verbs.

1. With más and menos, the que + noun/pronoun construction is (optional). With tan and tanto como, however, the noun/pronoun is required.

Hay más naranjas (que manzanas).		There are more oranges (than apples)
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).

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).

Soy tan guapo como José.		I’m as handsome as José.
Tengo tanto dinero como Uds.		I have as much money as you.

3. Bueno and malo have irregular comparative (and superlative) forms:

	Comparative	Superlative
bueno	mejor(es)	lo(s)/la(s) mejor(es)
malo	peor(es)	lo(s)/la(s) peor(es)

 Comparatives Quizzes

Think you’ve got it? Test yourself on comparatives:

• Multiple choice
• Perito Moreno*

* Note: You must be logged into your Progress with Lawless Spanish account to take this test. If you don’t have one, sign up – it’s free!
 

 Related lessons

• Superlatives
• Adjectives
• Adverbs
• Nouns
• Pronouns
   

 Spanish lesson plans

• Comparatives & Superlatives (PPT, 6th-12th grade)
• Comparativos y superlativos (Worksheet, 6th-9th grade)
• Food and Friends (Lesson, 5th-8th grade)
   

 En français

• Adverbes comparatifs
   

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