9.11.1

Adjectives for Comparing Things

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Adjectives for Comparing Things

There are three types of comparisons in Spanish; being worse to something else ('menos...que'), be better than something else ('más....que'), being the same as something else ('tan...como').

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'Menos...que'

  • 'Menos...que' is used to mean 'less than'.
    • Flora es menos amable que Bella.
      • Flora is less friendly than Bella.
    • Un límon es menos dulce que una naranja.
      • A lemon is less sweet than an orange.
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'Más...que'

  • 'Más...que' is used to mean 'more than'.
    • Una película es más interesante que un libro.
      • A film is more interesting than a book.
    • Soy más gracioso que mi hermano.
      • I am more funny than my brother.
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'Tan...como'

  • 'Tan...como' is used to mean 'as (something) as'.
    • Mi hermana es tan alta como mi madre.
      • My sister is as tall as my mum.
    • Tan pronto como sea posible.
      • As soon as possible.

Adjectives for Comparing Things

There are several ways to make comparisons in Spanish. Some adjectives change their spelling when used for comparing things.

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Menos...que and más...que

  • Menos...que is used to mean 'less than'.
    • Flora es menos amable que Bella.
      • Flora is less friendly than Bella.
    • Un límon es menos dulce que una naranja.
      • A lemon is less sweet than an orange.
  • Más...que is used to mean 'more than'.
    • Una película es más interesante que un libro.
      • A film is more interesting than a book.
    • Soy más gracioso que mi hermano.
      • I am more funny than my brother.
Illustrative background for **Tan...como**Illustrative background for **Tan...como** ?? "content

Tan...como

  • Tan...como is used to mean 'as (something) as'.
    • Mi hermana es tan alta como mi madre.
      • My sister is as tall as my mum.
    • Tan pronto como sea posible.
      • As soon as possible.
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'Bueno, a, os, as' → mejor, es'

  • When used to compare things, 'bueno' becomes 'mejor'.
  • It means 'better'.
    • El clima es mejor en España que en Inglaterra.
    • The climate in Spain is better than in England
    • El pastel es mejor que las verduras.
      • Cake is better than vegetables.
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'Malo, a, os, as' → peor, es'

  • When used to compare things, 'malo' becomes 'peor'.
  • It means 'worse'.
    • El colegio es peor que el fútbol.
      • School is worse than football.
    • La cerveza es peor que el agua.
      • Beer is worse than water.
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'Grande, es → mayor, es'

  • When used to compare things, 'grande' changes to 'mayor'.
  • It means bigger.
    • La casa es mayor que el apartamiento.
      • The house is bigger than the apartment.
    • El perro es mayor que el gato.
      • The dog is bigger than the cat.

Less, Smaller and Younger

The adjective pequeño changes its spelling when used for comparing things. It can mean less, smaller or younger.

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'Pequeño, a, os, as → menor, es'

  • When used to compare things, 'pequeño' changes to 'menor'.
  • It means less, smaller or younger.
    • Soy menor que mi hermana.
      • I am younger than my sister.
    • La diferencia será menor que nunca.
      • The difference will be less than ever.

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5Listening Practice

6Common Tenses

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9Extra Grammar

9.1Articles

9.2Negatives

9.3Nouns

9.4Asking Questions

9.5Adjectives

9.6Adverbs

9.7Conjunctions

9.8Pronouns

9.9By, With, From, Of

9.10Verbs

9.11Comparisons

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