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Comparatives
To compare two or more items (lesser, equal, greater)
To express comparisons of equality use tan + adjective + como (the equivalent in English is: “as +

adjective + as”):
Compré un abrigo tan caro como tú.
I bought a coat as expensive as you (did).
To express comparisons of equality with nouns use tanta(s)/tanto(s) + noun(s) + como (the

equivalent in English is: “as many/much as”) [here tanto acts as an adjective, so it must agree in number
and gender]:
Compré tantos abrigos como tú.
I bought as many coats as you (did).
To express comparisons of equality with verbs use verb + tanto como (the equivalent in English is:

“as much as”) [here tanto acts as an adverb, so it does not change in number or gender]:
No comí tanto como tú.
I didn’t eat as much as you (did).
Comparisons of superiority are expressed with más + adjective/adverb/noun + que (the equivalent

is “more + adjective + than”):
Estas peras son más ricas que las manzanas.

These pears are more delicious than the apples.
Comparisons of inferiority are expressed with menos + adjective/adverb/noun + que (the
equivalent is “less + adjective + than”).
Esta carta es menos interesante que la otra.

This menu is less interesting than the other (one).
In comparisons that involve numerals, use de (not que):
Tienen más de diez libros.
They have more than ten books.
 If the comparison is based on an adjective from a different clause, de lo que is used instead of que to
translate than:
Esto es menos difícil de lo que pensaba.
This is less difficult than I thought.
Superlatives
To express the quality of the adjective (most, least)

To express the maximum degree in comparison to others in Spanish use article + noun +
más/menos + adjective + de (the equivalent in English is: “is + the most/least + adjective + in/of/on”):

Es el café más caro de la ciudad.
It is the most expensive café in the city.
Es el plato menos caro de la carta.
It is the least expensive dish on the menu.
The absolute superlative is the equivalent to extremely, exceptionally, super, or very before an
adjective or adverb. Like all adjectives, they must agree in gender and number. To form the absolute
superlative of most adjectives/adverbs, drop the final vowel, if there is one, and add –ísimo/a(s):
malo  malmalísimo = extremely bad
muchomuchmuchísimo = very, very much
 If the adjective ends in –n or –r, add –císimo to form the absolute superlative:
jovenjovencísimo = exceptionally young
trabajadortrabajadorcísimo = super hard working

If the adjective ends in c, g, or z change the spelling to qu, gu, and c:
cómicocomiquísimo = extremely funny
largolarguísimo = very long
felizfelicísimo = exceptionally happy
IRREGULAR COMPARATIVE / SUPERLATIVE FORMS:
Adjective
Comparative
Superlative
bueno(a) [good]
mejor [better]
el/la mejor [(the) best]
malo(a) [bad]
peor [worse]
el/la peor [(the) worst)
grande [big]
*mayor / más grande [bigger]
el/la mayor [(the) biggest]
pequeño(a) [small]
*menor / más pequeño [smaller]
el/la menor [(the) smallest]
joven [young]
menor [younger]
el/la menor [(the) youngest]
viejo(a) [old]
mayor [older]
el/la mayor [(the) eldest]
* When grande and pequeño(a) refer to age, the irregular comparative/superlative forms, mayor and
menor, are used. However, when these adjectives refer to size, the regular forms, más grande and
más pequeño(a), are used.