We compare adjectives when two or more nouns have the same

quality (height, size, color, any characteristic) and we want to indicate

that one of these nouns has a greater, lesser, or equal degree of this

quality.1

comparison of adjectives

Paul is tall but Mary is taller

adjective adjective

modifies Paul modifies Mary

In both English and Spanish there are two types of comparison: com-

parative and superlative.

Comparative

The comparative is used to compare one noun to another noun. There

are three degrees of comparison.

IN ENGLISH

GREATER DEGREE—The comparison of greater degree (more) is formed

differently depending on the length of the adjective being compared.

• short adjective + -er + than

Paul is taller than Mary.

Susan is older than her sister.

• more + longer adjective + than

Mary is more intelligent than John.

My car is more expensive than your car.

LESSER DEGREE—The comparison of lesser degree (less) is formed as

follows: not as + adjective + as, or less + adjective + than

Your car is not as expensive as my car.

John is less intelligent than Mary.

EQUAL DEGREE—The comparison of equal degree (same) is formed as

follows: as + adjective + as

Robert is as intelligent as Mary.

My car is as expensive as his car.

tIn English and in Spanish, the structure for comparing adverbs (see What is an Adverb?, p. 124) is the

same as the structure for comparing adjectives.

121

IN SPANISH

There are the same three degrees of comparison of adjectives as in

English. Remember that agreement between the adjective and noun is

always required. However, since a comparative adjective always

describes more than one noun, it always agrees in gender and number

with the subject.

GREATER DEGREE—The comparative of greater degree is formed as fol-

lows: más (more) + adjective + que (than).

Maria es más alta que Roberto.

agrees with Maria

Mary is taller than Robert

LESSER DEGREE—The comparison of lesser degree is formed as follows:

menos (less) + adjective + que (than).

Roberto es menos alto que Maria.

agrees with Roberto

Robert is less tall than Mary.

EQUAL DEGREE—The comparative of equal qualities is formed as fol-

lows: tan (as) + adjective + como (as).

Maria es tan alta como Juan.

Mary is as tall as John.

Superlative

The superlative is used to compare one noun to at least two other

nouns. There are two degrees of superlative.

IN ENGLISH

HIGHEST DEGREE—The superlative of highest degree is formed differ-

ently depending on the length of the adjectives:

• the + short adjective + -est

Mary is the smartest.

My car is the cheapest on the market.

• the most + long adjective

Mary is the most intelligent.

His car is the most expensive of all.

LOWEST DEGREE—The superlative of lowest degree degree is formed as

follows: the least + adjective.

Paul is the least active.

Your car is the least expensive of all.

IN SPANISH

There are the same two degrees of the superlative.

HIGHEST DEGREE—The superlative of highest degree is formed by el, Ia,

los, las (depending on the gender and number of the noun described) +

más (most) + adjective.

Juan es eI mis bajo de la familia.

rinse, sing.

John is the shortest in the family.

Maria es Ia mis alta.

fern, sing.

Mary is the tallest.

~ mis divertidos de la clase.

masc. p1.

Charles and Robert are the funniest in the class.

Teresa Gloria son las mis inteligentes.

fern. p1.

Teresa and Gloria are the most intelligent.

LOWEST DEGREE—The superlative of lowest degree is formed by el, la,

los, las (depending on the gender and number of the noun described) +

menos (least) + adjective.

Mi coche es el menos caro.

rnasc. sing.

My car is the least expensive.

Careful

In English and in Spanish, a few adjectives have irregular forms of

comparison which you will have to memorize individually.

This apple is good.

comparative

Esta manzana es mejor.

This apple is better.

superlative Esta manzana es Ia mejor.

This apple is the best.