Las comparaciones Sentences which compare a trait or a noun.

There are two different types of comparison sentences: equality and inequality.

Comparisons of inequality are when one has more or less of a trait (characteristic) or a noun than another.

Yo soy más atrevido que ella. Mari es menos tímida que Lupe. Jorge y Paco son más perezosos que su hermana.

When making TRAIT comparisons of inequality, más … que is used to say “more than”. The más and the que are separated by an adjective.

Las chicas son más bajas que el profesor. The girls are shorter than the teacher.

Alberto es más ordenado que su hermano. Albert is more organized than his brother.

When comparing a TRAIT, the adjective will agree in number and gender with the SUBJECT ON THE LEFT, not the object on the right.

Alberto es más ordenado que su hermano.

Las chicas son más bajas que el profesor.

When making TRAIT comparisons of inequality, menos … que is used to say “less than”. The menos and the que are separated by an adjective.

Mi perro es menos feo que tu perro. My dog is less ugly than your dog.

Ustedes son menos reservados que los niños. You all are less shy than the children.

Más / Menos … que can also be used when comparing a noun.

Ella tiene más zapatos que yo. She has more shoes than me.

Mi profesor califica menos exámenes que tu profesora. My teacher grades less exams than your teacher.

There are additional phrases you can use to make comparisons. These phrases are…

Mejor que Peor que Mayor que Menor que Better than Worse than Older than Younger than You will never use “bueno”, “malo”, “viejo” nor “joven” in a comparison phrase.

Mountain View es mejor que Mesa. Mountain View is better than Mesa.

Mi horario es peor que tu horario. My schedule is worse than your schedule.

Soy mayor que ustedes. I am older than you all.

Ustedes son MENORES que yo. You all are younger than me. What changed about “menor”? Why?

Try to practice on your own: My father is older than my mother. Mi padre es _____ _____ mi madre.

Dogs runs faster than cats. Perros corren _____ _____ _____ gatos.

The movie is worse than the book. La película es _____ _____ el libro.

I study science less than her. Estudio ciencias _____ _____ ella.

How did you do? Mi padre es mayor que mi madre. Perros corren más rápidos que gatos. La película es peor que el libro. Estudio ciencias menos que ella.

But wait! ……….. There’s more!

Comparisons of equality are when one has the same amount of a trait (characteristic) or a noun as another.

To say objects are equal, tan … como is used to compare a trait, not a noun. Once again, the tan and the como are separated by an adjective.

Nuestra escuela es tan grande como la escuela de nuestro primo. Our school is as big as our cousin’s school.

La clase de La Sra. Van Voris es tan divertida como la clase de La Sra. Nyseth. Mrs. Van Voris’s class is as fun as Mrs. Nysteh’s class.

If what is being compared is a noun, tanto … como is used instead.

Would you use “tan” or a form of “tanto”? Tengo _______ hermanos como tú. Jugar ajedrez es _______ divertido como jugar deportes. Mi perro come _______ mucho como mi gato. Asisto a _______ clases como tú. TANTAS TANTOS TAN

Tanto has four forms (tanto, tanta, tantos, tantas) because it agrees in number and gender with the object compared, NOT the subject on the left.

I write as many papers as you write. Escribo tantos papeles como escribes.

They sing as many songs as we do. Cantan tantas canciones como cantamos.

There are as many tennis players as golf players. Hay tantos jugadores de tenis como jugadores de golf.

We ate as much ice cream as cake. Comimos tanto helado como pastel.

Practice! There are as many boys as girls at the party. Hay _____ _____ _____ chicas a la fiesta.

I drive as many miles as you do. Manejo _____ _____ _____ tú manejas.

We do as many math problems as your class does. Hacemos _____ _____ _____ tu clase hace.

I don’t eat as much yogurt as I should. No como _____ _____ _____ debo.

¿Cómo hiciste? Hay tantos chicos como chicas a la fiesta. Manejo tantas millas como tú manejas. Hacemos tantos problemas de matemáticas como tu clase hace. No como tanto yogur como debo.

¿Comprendes? Si no comprendes, ¿qué debes hacer? If you don’t understand, what should you do?