Comparisons (Edexcel GCSE Spanish): Revision Notes
Comparisons
Comparisons allow you to describe how things relate to each other in terms of qualities like size, age, or appearance. In Spanish, there are several ways to make comparisons, and it's important to understand when and how to use each form.
The two main types of comparisons in Spanish are the comparative (comparing two things) and the superlative (identifying the most or least among multiple things).
The comparative
The comparative form is used when you want to compare two things or people directly. There are three main ways to form comparatives in Spanish.
Making comparisons with "more than" and "less than"
To say something is "more than" or "less than" something else, you use these structures:
| Structure | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| más + adjective + que | more ... than | más interesante que (more interesting than) |
| menos + adjective + que | less ... than | menos alto que (less tall than) |
Remember: The adjective must agree with the noun it describes, just like any other adjective in Spanish.
Worked Examples: Comparative Forms
"More than" comparisons:
- La música es más interesante que el deporte. (Music is more interesting than sport.)
- Mi hermana es más alta que yo. (My sister is taller than me.)
"Less than" comparisons:
- Pablo es menos alto que su hermano. (Pablo is shorter than his brother.)
- Este libro es menos difícil que el otro. (This book is less difficult than the other one.)
Making equal comparisons
To say two things are equal or "as ... as", you use the structure:
tan + adjective + como = as ... as
This structure is used when comparing two things that have the same degree of a particular quality.
Equal Comparison Example:
- Mi habitación es tan pequeña como la tuya. (My bedroom is as small as yours.)
- Pedro es tan inteligente como su hermana. (Pedro is as intelligent as his sister.)
The superlative
The superlative is used when comparing more than two things to identify which one has the most or least of a particular quality.
Formation
| Structure | Meaning |
|---|---|
| el/la/los/las + (noun) + más + adjective | the most ... |
| el/la/los/las + (noun) + menos + adjective | the least ... |
The definite article and adjective must agree with the noun being described in both gender and number.
Superlative Examples:
"Most" superlatives:
- Buenos Aires es la ciudad más grande de Argentina. (Buenos Aires is the biggest city in Argentina.)
- Este es el examen más difícil del año. (This is the most difficult exam of the year.)
"Least" superlatives:
- Esta casa es la menos cara del pueblo. (This house is the least expensive in the village.)
- Juan es el menos deportista de la clase. (Juan is the least sporty in the class.)
Irregular forms
Some common adjectives have irregular comparative and superlative forms that you must memorise:
Critical Irregular Forms:
| Adjective | Comparative | Superlative |
|---|---|---|
| bueno (good) | mejor (better) | el/la mejor (the best) |
| malo (bad) | peor (worse) | el/la peor (the worst) |
These forms do NOT follow the regular más/menos + adjective pattern.
Using Irregular Forms:
- Este hotel es el mejor de la región. (This hotel is the best in the region.)
- Los restaurantes de aquí son los peores. (The restaurants here are the worst.)
- Tu idea es mejor que la mía. (Your idea is better than mine.)
Exam tip: For Higher tier, you only need to know the superlative forms of irregular adjectives.
Using -ísimo for emphasis
You can add -ísimo to the end of an adjective to mean "very" or "extremely". This ending changes to agree with the noun:
- -ísimo (masculine singular)
- -ísima (feminine singular)
- -ísimos (masculine plural)
- -ísimas (feminine plural)
-ísimo Examples:
- La chaqueta es carísima. (The jacket is very expensive.)
- El libro es malísimo. (The book is very bad.)
- La comida es riquísima. (The food is really delicious.)
- Los ejercicios son facilísimos. (The exercises are very easy.)
Key agreement rules
Essential Agreement Rule:
Don't forget that adjectives must always agree with the nouns they describe in both:
- Gender (masculine/feminine)
- Number (singular/plural)
This applies to all forms of comparison - comparative, superlative, and -ísimo forms.
Practice translation exercises
Translation Practice:
Spanish to English:
- Este partido de fútbol es el peor.
- Carmen es la mejor jugadora.
English to Spanish: 3. This floor is the prettiest in the shop. 4. My sister is funnier than my brother.
Answers:
- This football match is the worst.
- Carmen is the best player.
- Este piso es el más bonito de la tienda.
- Mi hermana es más divertida que mi hermano.
Remember!
Key Points to Remember:
- Comparative compares two things using más/menos...que or tan...como
- Superlative compares more than two things using el/la + más/menos + adjective
- Irregular forms: bueno → mejor → el mejor and malo → peor → el peor
- Add -ísimo/-ísima to adjectives for emphasis (very/extremely)
- All adjectives must agree with their nouns in gender and number