Learning comparisons in Spanish. Comparisons of equality, inequality and superlatives
Comparisons help us to differentiate and describe people and things, comparing them with others. Basic Spanish grammar, initial Spanish
Verbs to make comparisons in Spanish
We generally use the verb SER in Spanish comparisons, because we compare characteristics:
- Yo soy más mayor que Pepito (I am older than Pepito)
- Lola es más guapa que yo (Lola is prettier than me)
But you can also compare actions using any other verb
- El tren va más rápido que el autobús (Train goes faster than bus)
- Yo canto igual de bien que Lola (I sing just as well as Lola)
- Ellos duermen más que los osos (They sleep more than bears)
When use comparisons of equality, inequality or superlatives?
When comparing two things they may be the same or unequal
- If they are equal, we use The Equality Comparisons
- If the characteristic between subjects are different we use comparisons of inequality, they could be comparison of superiority or comparison of inferiority
- We use a superlative to say that a thing or person is the most of a group, the adjective has the maximum degree: Marcos is the smartest
Comparisons of Equality in Spanish
Vídeo para aprender las comparaciones de igualdad
Video Comparisons of equility
- Level: Basic Spanish
- Topic: Spanish grammar
Sentences to make comparisons of equality in Spanish
TAN … COMO
Sujeto1 – verbo – TAN + adjetivo / adverbio + COMO – sujeto 2
- El edificio es tan alto como un árbol (The building is as tall as a tree)
- Luis es tan rubio como Marta (Luis is as blond as Marta)
IGUAL DE … QUE
Sujeto1 – verbo – IGUAL DE + adjetivo / adverbio + QUE – sujeto2
- El edificio es igual de alto que el árbol
- Luis es igual de rubio que Marta
ARTÍCULO + MISMO (con sustantivos)
Sustantivo sujeto1 + verbo + Artículo (EL LA LOS LAS) + MISMO QUE- sujeto 2
- El precio de la manzana es el mismo que el precio de la pera (The price of the apple is the same as the price of the pear)
Sustantivo sujeto1 y sujeto2 – verbo – ARTICULO + MISMO
- The price of the apple and the pear is the same
*Artículo + mismo change according to gender and number of the noun: El precio es el mismo, la altura es la misma
TANTO … COMO
Verbo – TANTO + Sustantivo + COMO
- Diego habla tantos idiomas como Juan (Diego speaks as many languages as Juan.)
- Tengo tanto dinero como tú (I have as much money as you)
Inequality comparisons in Spanish
Video to learn inequality comparisons and Spanish superlative
Inequality comparisons and superlatives in Spanish
- Level: Basic Spanish
- Topic: Spanish grammar
Sentences to make inequality comparisons in Spanish
Comparisons of superiority:: MÁS … QUE
Sujeto 1 – Verbo – MÁS + característica + QUE – sujeto2
- Carmen tiene más hermanos que Pedro (Carmen has more brothers than Pedro)
- El caracol es más lento que la tortuga (The snail is slower than the turtle)
Grammatical structure comparisons inferiority in Spanish: MENOS … QUE
Sujeto 1 – Verbo – MENOS + característica + QUE – sujeto2
- Carmen tiene menos hermanos que Pedro (Carmen has less brothers than Pedro)
- El caracol es menos rápido que la tortuga (The snail is less fast than the turtle)
When the comparison of inequality is followed by a number, it is used:
- Más/Menos DE – quantity (Positive sentences) Tengo más de 10 euros (I have more than 10 euros)
- Más/Menos + QUE – quantity (Negative sentences) No hay más que 5 mujeres aquí (There are no more than 5 woman here)
Superlatives in Spanish
Adjectives that express absolute qualities can not be formed in superlative, for example: eterno (eternal) infinito (infinite) ilimitado (unlimited) muerto (dead)…
Superlatives with MÁS
Sujeto + verbo ser + EL / LA / LOS / LAS + MÁS + ADJETIVO
- Lola es la más simpática (Lola is the friendliest)
- Madrid es la ciudad más grande de España (Madrid is the largest city in Spain)
Adjetives with -ÍSIMO
The last vowel of the adjective is removed and its added – ÍSIMO
- Guapo >>> guapisimo. Esa chica es guapísima
- lento >>> lentísimo. El coche es lentísimo
Adjectives ending in -BLE change in superlative to -BILÍSIMO:
- Amable >>> amabilísimo
- notable >>> notabilísimo
Related materials
Esta entrada también está disponible en: Spanish