8.5: Comparatives and superlatives
- Page ID
- 415668
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\(\newcommand{\avec}{\mathbf a}\) \(\newcommand{\bvec}{\mathbf b}\) \(\newcommand{\cvec}{\mathbf c}\) \(\newcommand{\dvec}{\mathbf d}\) \(\newcommand{\dtil}{\widetilde{\mathbf d}}\) \(\newcommand{\evec}{\mathbf e}\) \(\newcommand{\fvec}{\mathbf f}\) \(\newcommand{\nvec}{\mathbf n}\) \(\newcommand{\pvec}{\mathbf p}\) \(\newcommand{\qvec}{\mathbf q}\) \(\newcommand{\svec}{\mathbf s}\) \(\newcommand{\tvec}{\mathbf t}\) \(\newcommand{\uvec}{\mathbf u}\) \(\newcommand{\vvec}{\mathbf v}\) \(\newcommand{\wvec}{\mathbf w}\) \(\newcommand{\xvec}{\mathbf x}\) \(\newcommand{\yvec}{\mathbf y}\) \(\newcommand{\zvec}{\mathbf z}\) \(\newcommand{\rvec}{\mathbf r}\) \(\newcommand{\mvec}{\mathbf m}\) \(\newcommand{\zerovec}{\mathbf 0}\) \(\newcommand{\onevec}{\mathbf 1}\) \(\newcommand{\real}{\mathbb R}\) \(\newcommand{\twovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\ctwovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\threevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cthreevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\mattwo}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{rr}#1 \amp #2 \\ #3 \amp #4 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\laspan}[1]{\text{Span}\{#1\}}\) \(\newcommand{\bcal}{\cal B}\) \(\newcommand{\ccal}{\cal C}\) \(\newcommand{\scal}{\cal S}\) \(\newcommand{\wcal}{\cal W}\) \(\newcommand{\ecal}{\cal E}\) \(\newcommand{\coords}[2]{\left\{#1\right\}_{#2}}\) \(\newcommand{\gray}[1]{\color{gray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\lgray}[1]{\color{lightgray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\rank}{\operatorname{rank}}\) \(\newcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\col}{\text{Col}}\) \(\renewcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\nul}{\text{Nul}}\) \(\newcommand{\var}{\text{Var}}\) \(\newcommand{\corr}{\text{corr}}\) \(\newcommand{\len}[1]{\left|#1\right|}\) \(\newcommand{\bbar}{\overline{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bhat}{\widehat{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bperp}{\bvec^\perp}\) \(\newcommand{\xhat}{\widehat{\xvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\vhat}{\widehat{\vvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\uhat}{\widehat{\uvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\what}{\widehat{\wvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\Sighat}{\widehat{\Sigma}}\) \(\newcommand{\lt}{<}\) \(\newcommand{\gt}{>}\) \(\newcommand{\amp}{&}\) \(\definecolor{fillinmathshade}{gray}{0.9}\)Comparatives and Superlatives
Sometimes we want to compare and contrast things. We use a comparative to compare and contrast two things. We use a superlative when we want to compare and contrast three or more items.
To form a comparison of inequality, we use the
más (more) or menos (less) + adjective or adverb + que
Los perros son más grandes que los gatos.
El té contiene menos cafeína que el café.
José es más alto que Laura.
Juan corre menos rápidamente que Laura.
Madrid es más grande que Alicante.
To form a comparison of equality, we use
tan (so) + adjective or adverb + como
tanto(a, os, as) + noun + como
Ella es tan alta como su madre.
El estudiante tiene tantos amigos como su hermano.
El atleta corre tan rápido como el entrenador.
Yo tengo tantas plantas como mi amiga.
If we are comparing verbs, we use tanto como after the verb. This tanto will not change in gender or number. In this case, tanto como translates to as much as.
No cocino tanto como mi madre.
No cantamos tanto como la clase de música.
Estudiamos tanto como la otra clase.
To form a superlative, we use
el/la/los/las + noun + más/menos + adjective + de
El español es el idioma más importante del mundo.
Los tacos son la comida más deliciosa de todas.
El café es la bebida mejor de todas.
Sometimes the noun may be omitted the reference is obvious or has been previously mentioned. In this case, the definite article agrees in gender and number with the subject that is included.
El español es el más importante del mundo.
Los tacos son los más deliciosos de todos.
El café es el mejor de todos.
Some adjectives have irregular comparative and superlative forms.
adjective irregular comparative irregular superlative
bueno/a (good) mejor (better) el/la mejor (the best)
malo/a (bad) peor (worse) el/la peor (the worst)
joven (young) menor (younger) el/la menor (the youngest)
viejo/a (old) major (older) el/la mayor (the oldest)
When referring to age, use mayor and menor.
Comparatives and superlatives can be fun to use. So, let's practice.
Prácticas.
A. Translate the following sentences into Spanish.
1. Spanish is better than French.
2. English is more stressful than Spanish.
3. Coffee is better than water.
4. She is older than her brother.
5. We have as many books as the teacher.
6. Ana studies as much as Jorge.
7. She jumps higher than us.
8. She jumps the highest of all.
9. María speaks more quickly than Luis.
10. Navajo is less easy than Spanish.
11. They travel more than us.
12. Italian food is as delicious as Chinese food.
13. The Pit is as interesting as ER.
14. Pitbull is the craziest of all.
B. Answer the following questions.
1. ¿Estudias tanto como tus amigos?
2. ¿Trabajas más o menos que tus amigos?
3. ¿Te gusta cocinar tanto como tu madre?
4. ¿Eres más o menos alto/a que tu mejor amigo/a?
5. ¿Estudias más o menos en la universidad que en la escuela secundaria?
6. ¿Te gustan más los perros o los gatos?
7. ¿Te gusta menos la comida italiana o mexicana?
8. ¿Eres más o menos activo que tu padre?
9. ¿Eres tan inteligente como tu padre?
10. ¿Eres tan trabajador/a como tu padre?
11. ¿Quién es la persona más inteligente que conoces?
12. ¿Quién es el/la mejor cantante del mundo?
13. ¿Quién es el/la mejor deportista del mundo?
14. ¿Quién es la persona más importante en tu vida?
C. Think of three items or people you would like to compare and contrast. Some examples are family members, friends, celebrities, photos, pets, plants, clothes, places, classes, etc. Then, write the following sentences in Spanish to compare and contrast them.
* Two sentences of equality.
1.
2.
* Two sentences of inequality
1.
2.
* Two sentences with a superlative.
1.
2.
D. What is a comparative? What is a superlative? How are they the same? How are they different?