Download Espanol 2 – Capitulo 1 Comparison of Adjectives

Español 2 – Capítulo 1
Comparison of Adjectives
© Sandra Hoffmann 2006
Redmond High School
In both English and Spanish, there are three categories
of comparisons:
1. Expressing Equality
Biology is as interesting as math.
2. Positive Comparisons
Biology is more interesting than math.
3. Negative Comparisons
Biology is less interesting than math.
1. Expressing Equality:
The formula we use to express that someone or
something has JUST AS MUCH of a quality as
someone
or something else is very similar to the English
as + adjective +as
tan + adjective + como
Pablo es tan gordo como Pepe.
Pablo
Pepe
2. Positive and Negative Comparisons IN ENGLISH:
In both positive and negative comparisons, we use
the comparative form of the adjective
plus “than”:
Jorge is taller than Pepe.
comparative
“than”
Jorge
Pepe
In English, we have two different forms of comparatives:
A. adjective + “er” (taller, smaller, friendlier,…)
B. “more/less” + adjective (more exciting, more intelligent,…)
In Spanish, we use a formula that is very similar
to the English “more/less” + adjective + “than”
structure:
Biology is more interesting than math.
Biología es más interesante que matemáticas.
3. In Spanish: Positive Comparisons
The formula we use to express that someone or
something has MORE of a quality than someone or
something else is
más + adjective + que
Pepe es más gordo que Jorge.
Jorge
Pepe
¡OJO!
There are some irregular comparatives in Spanish:
better = mejor
worse = peor
older = mayor
younger = menor
These comparatives are used without “más”:
La última película de Brad Pitt es mejor que la
de Tom Cruise.
4. In Spanish: Negative Comparisons:
The formula we use to express that someone or
something has LESS of a quality than someone or
something else is
menos + adjective + que
Jorge es menos gordo que Pepe.
Jorge
Pepe
5.THE SUPERLATIVE
The superlative is the form of an adjective that
expresses that someone or something has the most
of a quality:
Positive
(Basic Form)
interesante
interesting
Comparative
más interesante
menos interesante
more interesting
less interesting
Superlative
el más/menos interesante
the most/least interesting
la más/menos interesante
los más/menos interesantes
las más/menos interesantes
Examples
Jorge es alto.
Jorge is tall.
Jorge es más alto que Pepe.
Jorge is taller than Pepe.
Jorge es el (hombre) más alto de todos.
Jorge is the tallest of all.
¡Ojo!
Make sure you match the article and the
adjective ending with the person(s) or thing(s)
you are describing:
Jorge es el más alto.
Marina es la más alta.
Jorge y Hernán son los más altos.
Marina y Lidia son las más altas.
Review:
1. Expressing Equality
Biology is as interesting as math.
Biología es tan interesante como matemáticas.
2. Positive Comparisons
Biology is more interesting than math.
Biología es más interesante que matemáticas
3. Negative Comparisons
Biology is less interesting than math.
Biología es menos interesante que matemáticas.
4. The Superlative
Biology is the most interesting class.
Biología es la (clase) más interesante.