Master Comparative Adjectives in Spanish: A Complete Guide to Making Comparisons


Have you ever found yourself trying to describe why one restaurant is better than another, or explaining that your new apartment is more spacious than your old one? Making comparisons is a fundamental part of how we communicate. In Spanish, while the logic is similar to English, the structure has its own unique rhythm.

If you have ever felt confused by when to use más, menos, or those tricky irregular words like mejor and peor, you are in the right place. This guide will break down the rules of comparative adjectives in Spanish so you can express your opinions and descriptions with total confidence.

The Basic Formula for Comparisons

In English, we often add "-er" to the end of short words (like "faster" or "taller"). In Spanish, the process is actually much simpler because the structure stays the same regardless of how long the adjective is.

To compare two things, we use these two primary formulas:

1. Comparisons of Superiority (More than)

When you want to say something is "more [adjective] than" something else:

[Subject] + [Verb] + más + [Adjective] + que + [Noun]

  • Juan es más alto que Luis. (Juan is taller than Luis.)

  • Este libro es más interesante que la película. (This book is more interesting than the movie.)

2. Comparisons of Inferiority (Less than)

When you want to say something is "less [adjective] than" something else:

[Subject] + [Verb] + menos + [Adjective] + que + [Noun]

  • La ciudad es menos tranquila que el campo. (The city is less quiet than the countryside.)

  • El invierno es menos caluroso que el verano. (Winter is less hot than summer.)

Comparisons of Equality (As... as)

Sometimes, things are equal. In English, we use "as [adjective] as." In Spanish, we use the word tan.

[Subject] + [Verb] + tan + [Adjective] + como + [Noun]

  • El chocolate es tan delicioso como la vainilla. (Chocolate is as delicious as vanilla.)

  • Mi hermana es tan inteligente como mi hermano. (My sister is as intelligent as my brother.)

Important Note: Make sure you use como for equality and que for superiority/inferiority. Mixing them up is one of the most common mistakes for learners!

The "Big Four" Irregular Comparatives

Just like in English we don't say "gooder" or "badder," Spanish has four main adjectives that change completely when used in a comparison. These do not use the word más.

AdjectiveComparative FormMeaning
Bueno (Good)MejorBetter
Malo (Bad)PeorWorse
Grande (Big)MayorOlder (usually for people)
Pequeño (Small)MenorYounger (usually for people)

Examples of Irregulars:

  • Este café es mejor que el de ayer. (This coffee is better than yesterday's.)

  • Tu coche es peor que el mío. (Your car is worse than mine.)

  • Mi hermano es mayor que yo. (My brother is older than I am.)

Pro Tip: While mayor and menor usually refer to age, if you are talking about the physical size of objects, it is perfectly fine to use the regular form: más grande (bigger) or más pequeño (smaller).

Comparing Quantities with Numbers

When you are comparing numbers or quantities specifically, the word que (than) changes to de. This is a subtle nuance that will make you sound much more like a native speaker.

  • Tengo más de diez dólares. (I have more than ten dollars.)

  • Hay menos de cinco personas en la sala. (There are fewer than five people in the room.)

However, if you are making a negative comparison to emphasize "only," you go back to using que:

  • No tengo más que cinco dólares. (I only have five dollars / I don't have more than five.)

Agreement: Don't Forget the Basics!

Even when comparing, adjectives in Spanish must still agree in gender (masculine/feminine) and number (singular/plural) with the first noun you are describing.

  • Las manzanas son más rojas que las peras. (The apples are redder than the pears.)

  • Las casas son tan caras como los apartamentos. (The houses are as expensive as the apartments.)

Summary Reference Table

To keep everything straight, you can use this quick reference whenever you are writing or speaking:

Comparison TypeStructureExample
Superioritymás + [adj] + quemás rápido que
Inferioritymenos + [adj] + quemenos caro que
Equalitytan + [adj] + comotan fuerte como
Bettermejor quemejor que nunca
Worsepeor quepeor que antes

Common Pitfalls to Watch Out For

  1. Avoid "Más Mejor": Never use más with an irregular comparative. Saying "más mejor" is like saying "more better" in English. It's simply mejor.

  2. Tan vs. Tanto: Use tan with adjectives (tan alto) and tanto with nouns (tanto dinero).

  3. Gender Check: Always look back at the subject. If you are comparing two feminine things, ensure the adjective ends in "a" or "as."

By mastering these structures, you unlock a new level of descriptive power in your Spanish. Whether you are debating the best sports team or simply describing your day, these tools will ensure you are understood clearly and correctly.

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