Comparatives & Superlatives Flashcards
comparisons of equality, inequality, max degree quality
tan + adjective/adverb + como (comparative) (SEE BELOW FOR MORE INFO FROM STUDYSPANISH.COM
“as” + adjective + “as”
SEE BELOW MORE INFO STUDYSPANISH.COM
I am as short as my friend Marla
To form comparisons of equality with NOUNS, use the following formula:
tanto(-a,-os,-as) + noun + como
Juan tiene tanto dinero como María.
(as much money as)
(as much patience as)
(as many books as)
(as many pens as)
tanto needs to agree w/ the noun (a/os/as, etc)
***When actions (not things) are being compared, and there is NO adjective, use the following formula:
verb + tanto + como
Sus estudiantes aprenden tanto como mis estudiantes.
(learn as much as)
(cooks as much as)
(cost as much as)
***When actions (not things) are being compared, and there IS an adjective, use the following formula:
verb + tan + adjective (masculine form) + como
Aquí se trabaja tan duro como ahí.
(work as hard as)
(plays as little as)
(sleep as little as)
Soy tan baja como mi amiga Maria
Él tiene tanta paciencia como ella
Tiene tantos libros como ella.
Tiene tantas plumas como ella.
Rosario cocina tanto como Josefina
Las naranjas cuestan tanto como las manzanas.
El niño juega tan poco como la niña
Ellos duermen tan poco como ella.
I bought a coat as expensive as yours
Compre’ un abrigo tan caro como el tuyo
Mas + adjective + que (comparative)
“more” + adjective + “than”
These dishes are more delicious than Italian dishes
Estos platos son mas ricos que los platos italianos
Menos + adjective + que (comparative)
“less” + adjective + “than”
Love stories are less interesting than mystery novels
Las novelas de amor son menos interesantes que las de misterio
Mas + adjective + de (superlative: express maximum degree in comparison to others)
These are the happiest days of my life
Estos son los dias mas felices de mi vida
Menos + adjective + de : Raquel and Laura are the least appreciated students of the class
Raquel y Laura son las alumnas menos apreciadas de la clase
ABSOLUTE SUPERLATIVE: comparing max degree without comparing to others
Use muy + adjective OR add possible endings, eg, -isimo, -isima, -isimos, -isimas
The flowers are very beautiful
The young man is very intelligent
Spelling changes associated with these endings:
-co, -go, -z (comico; largo; feliz)
Las flores son muy bellas Las flores son bellisimas El joven es muy inteligente El joven es inteligentisimo Spelling changes: qu, gu, c; ex; comico = comiquisimo; largo = larguisimo; feliz = felicisimo
IRREGULAR COMPARATIVE AND SUPERLATIVE ADJECTIVES (good/bueno/a/os/as); bad/malo(a/os,as); large/grande(s); small/pequeno(a,os,as)
Comparative include better, worse, greater/older, larger, lesser/younger
Superlative include the best, the worst, the greatest/oldest, the largest, the least/youngest
COMPARATIVE: mejor(-es) = better; peor(-es) = worse; mayor(-es) = greater;older; mas grande(-s) = larger; menor(-es) = lesser; younger
SUPERLATIVE: el/la mejor de, los/las mejores de = the best; el/la peor de, los/las peores de = the worst;
el/la mayor de, los/las mayores de = the greatest, the oldest; el/la mas grande de, los/las mas grandes de = the largest; el/la menor de, los/las menores de = the least; the youngest
OTHER COMPARISONS: based on an adjective from a different Clause (translating as “than”)
de lo que
ex: This is less difficult than we thought = Esto es menos dificil de lo que pensabamos (the comparison in de lo que is based on the adjective dificil)
INFO FROM STUDYSPANISH.COM (COMPARATIVES)
más (menos) + adjective + que
más (menos) + adverb + que
más (menos) + noun + que
showing inequality with adjective/noun/adverb
If the comparative is followed by a number, use de rather than que.
There are fewer than twenty students in the class.
He is more than ninety years old. (Literally: He has more than ninety years.)
Hay menos de veinte alumnos en la clase.
Él tiene más de noventa años.
