Introduction
In Spanish, making comparisons is essential for expressing differences between things, people, or ideas. Two fundamental structures for comparisons are "más que" (more than) and "menos que" (less than).
Structure
Comparative Formula
- [Subject] + [Verb] + más/menos + [Adjective/Noun/Adverb] + que + [Comparison]
Examples
1. Comparing Adjectives
- Más que:
- Ella es más alta que su hermano.
- (She is taller than her brother.)
- Menos que:
- Él es menos inteligente que su primo.
- (He is less intelligent than his cousin.)
2. Comparing Nouns
- Más que:
- Tengo más libros que tú.
- (I have more books than you.)
- Menos que:
- Hay menos sillas que mesas en la sala.
- (There are fewer chairs than tables in the room.)
3. Comparing Adverbs
- Más que:
- Corro más rápido que mi amigo.
- (I run faster than my friend.)
- Menos que:
- Ella habla menos claramente que el profesor.
- (She speaks less clearly than the teacher.)
Practice Sentences
Complete the following sentences using "más que" or "menos que":
- Mi coche es nuevo el tuyo.
- Juan trabaja horas María.
- Este examen es difícil el anterior.
- Luisa cocina su hermano.
- Los perros son ruidosos los gatos.
Vocabulary
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| más que | more than |
| menos que | less than |
| alto | tall |
| inteligente | intelligent |
| rápido | fast |
| claramente | clearly |
| libros | books |
| sillas | chairs |
| mesas | tables |
| hermano | brother |
| primo | cousin |
| nuevo | new |
| horas | hours |
| difícil | difficult |
| cocina | cooks |
| ruidosos | noisy |
Conclusion
Using "más que" and "menos que" allows you to create clear and effective comparisons in Spanish. Whether you're discussing height, quantity, speed, or clarity, these structures help convey precise meaning.