Spanish Comparatives and Superlatives

Spanish comparatives and superlatives are fairly simple. Comparatives are the comparison of one person or thing to another (more, less, or as... as), while superlatives indicate that one person/thing is the most, best, least, or worst of all.

I. Comparatives come in three varieties:

Superiority más... (que) more... than or ____er than

Inferiority menos... (que) less/fewer... than

Equality tan... como as... as

tanto... como as much/many as

Notes

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

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).

3. Bueno and malo have irregular comparative forms (see III, below).

Tú eres más interesante (que nosotros).

You are more interesting (than we are).

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).

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

II. Superlatives are formed with the definite article + noun + más or menos + adjective. Note that when the superlative uses "in" (e.g., the tallest in the world, the happiest in the house), "in" is translated by de.

Carlos es la persona más inteligente que trabaja aquí.

Carlos is the most intelligent person who works here.

Es la ciudad menos interesante del mundo. It's the least interesting city in the world.

Es el profesor más amable de la escuela. He is the nicest teacher in the school.

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