Comparatives ¡Avancemos! p.174

Comparatives are expressions used to compare 2 people or things. ➔ In English, you can add -er to the end of a word or by using more, less, and as. ◆ Roberto is taller than his brother. ◆ Spanish is easier than English. ◆ Cheesecake is more delicious than ice-cream. ◆ Math is as difficult as science.

In Spanish, you can use the following phrases with an adjective to compare two things. The adjectives must agree with the first noun! ➔ más + adjetivo + que (more… than) Ej: Mi tía es más baja que mi padre. My aunt is shorter than my father. ➔ menos + adjetivo + que (less… than) Ej: El jamón es menos nutritivo que la fruta. Ham is less nutritious than fruit. ➔ tan + adjetivo + como (as… as) Ej: Sara es tan bonita como Teresa.. Sara is as pretty as Teresa.

Remember that nouns and adjectives must agree in gender and number!

When a comparison does not involve an adjective, use these phrases: ➔ más que… (more than) ◆ Me gusta ir a la biblioteca más que al gimnasio. ◆ I like to go to the library more than to the gym. ➔ menos que… (less than) ◆ Me gustan las hamburguesas menos que los tacos. ◆ I like hamburgers less than tacos. ➔ tanto como… (as much as) ◆ ¿Te gusta hablar tanto como escuchar? ◆ Do you like to talk as much as (you like) to listen?

There are 4 irregular comparative words. They agree in number with the 1st noun. ❖ mayor older ➢ Mis primos son mayores que yo. My cousins are older than I. ❖ menor younger ➢ Yo soy menor que mis hermanos. I’m younger than my brothers. ❖ mejor better ➢ Los Packers son mejores que los Bears. The Packers are better than the Bears. ❖ peor worse ➢ Un examen es peor que la tarea. A test is worse than homework.

Practice p.175, Act. 12, 13 p.176 P&P