Comparatives

Superlatives


COMPARATIVES

1.- To compare two nouns using long adjectives we use "more + adj. + than " (in Spanish "más + adj. + que"). Long adjectives are those with more than 2 syllables, those derived from a verb which ends in -ed or -ing (bored, tiring) and two-syllable adjectives except those ending in -y, -ow or -er.

Technology is more interesting than Mathematics. = La tecnología es más interesante que las matemáticas.
Mathematics is more boring than Technology. = Las matemáticas son más aburridas que la tecnología.

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We also use "less + adj. + than" and "not as + adj. + as":

Maths is less interesting than Technology. = Las matemáticas son menos interesantes que la tecnología.
Technology is not as interesting as Maths. = La tecnología no es tan interesante como las matemáticas.

2.-
To compare two nouns using short adjectives we add "-er" to the adjective and we do not use "more". Short adjectives are those with one syllable, and some two-syllable adjectives ending in -y, -er, -ow:

Europe is colder than Africa. = Europa es más fría que \C1frica.
Africa is warmer than Europe. = \C1frica es más cálida que Europa.

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If the adjective ends in -y, it changes to -i-:

Maths is easier than chemistry. = Las matemáticas son más fáciles que la química.

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If the adjective ends in a consonant + vowel + consonant, we double the last consonant:

America is bigger than Europe. = América es más grande que Europa.

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The adjectives good, bad, far have an irregular comparative form:

The weather in Spain is better than in England. = El tiempo en España es mejor que en Inglaterra.
The weather in Scotland is worse than in England. = El tiempo en Escocia es peor que en Inglaterra.
London is farther than Lisbon from Spain. = Londres está más lejos que Lisboa de España.

SUPERLATIVES


 1.- To identify a noun from a group using the superlative of long adjectives we use "the most + adj." (in Spanish el/la/los/las más + adj.":

Biology is the most interesting school subject. = La biología es la asignatura más interesante.
Philosophy is the most boring. = La filosofía es la más aburrida.

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We can also use "the least + adj." (in Spanish el/la/los/las menos + adj."):

Democracy is the least bad form of government. = La democracia es la forma menos mala de gobierno.


2.-
To make the superlative of short adjectives we add "-est" to the adjective and we do not use "most":

Siberia is the coldest region in Asia. = Siberia es la regi\F3n más fría de Asia.
Mercury is the smallest planet in the Solar System. = Mercurio es el planeta más pequeño del Sistema Solar.

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Pay attention to the preposition when we mention the group where the noun is included: in Spanish we always use "de"; however, in English the most common one is "in", but sometimes we use "on":

Mount Everest is the highest mountain in the world / on Earth.
= El Everest es la montaña más alta del mundo / de la Tierra.

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If the adjective ends in -y, it changes to -i-:

History is the easiest subject. = La historia es la asignatura más fácil.

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If the adjective ends in consonant + vowel + consonant, we double the last consonant:

Is Mercury the hottest planet in the Solar System? = \BFEs Mercurio el planeta más caliente del Sistema Solar?

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The adjectives good, bad, far have an irregular superlative:

Maps are the best way to represent small regions. = Los mapas son la mejor forma de representar las regiones pequeñas.
Emperor penguins can survive in the worst conditions. = Los ping\FCinos emperador pueden sobrevivir en las peores condiciones.
Neptune is the farthest planet from the Sun. = Neptuno es el planeta más alejado del Sol.