Comparatives: more than, less than, as as

Spanish: Los comparativos: más que, menos que, tan como

Level: A2 Elementary

Category: comparisons

Explanation

Comparatives are used to compare two things based on a quality, quantity, or action. Spanish has three main types of comparison. The comparison of superiority uses the structure "más + adjective/adverb/noun + que" (for example: "Madrid es más grande que Toledo" - Madrid is bigger than Toledo). The comparison of inferiority uses "menos + adjective/adverb/noun + que" (for example: "Este café es menos caro que el otro" - This coffee is less expensive than the other). The comparison of equality has two forms. With adjectives and adverbs we use "tan + adjective/adverb + como" (for example: "Ella es tan alta como su hermano" - She is as tall as her brother). With nouns we use "tanto/tanta/tantos/tantas + noun + como", and here "tanto" must agree in gender and number with the noun (for example: "Tengo tantos libros como tú" - I have as many books as you). To compare verbs or actions, we use "más que", "menos que", and "tanto como" after the verb: "Trabajo más que antes" (I work more than before), "Como menos que mi hermano" (I eat less than my brother), "Estudio tanto como ella" (I study as much as her). In these cases "tanto" does not change because it refers to the action, not a noun. When comparing with a number or exact quantity, we use "más de" or "menos de" instead of "que": "Hay más de cien personas" (There are more than a hundred people), "Cuesta menos de veinte euros" (It costs less than twenty euros).

Examples

• Este cafe es mas caro que el otro. - This coffee is more expensive than the other.
• El te esta menos caliente que el cafe. - The tea is less hot than the coffee.
• La habitacion doble es mas grande que la individual. - The double room is bigger than the single one.
• Este hotel es tan comodo como el anterior. - This hotel is as comfortable as the previous one.
• En el mercado hay tantas frutas como verduras. - At the market there are as many fruits as vegetables.