37 Making comparisons
This chapter examines all the main constructions used by Spanish speakers to compare
things. For ease of reference, these have been grouped into three main categories:
comparisons of inequality, of equality, and comparisons involving more than two
objects.^6 (p. 28)
37.1 Comparisons of inequality
37.1.1 Más+ adjective +que/Menos+ adjective +que
Comparisons of inequality, as in ‘taller than’, ‘more expensive than’, ‘less interesting
than’, are expressed in Spanish with the word más, ‘more’, for superiority, and menos,
‘less’ for inferiority, followed by an adjective and que, ‘than’.Ignacio es más alto que Ricardo.
Ignacio is taller than Ricardo.Mi coche es más caro que el tuyo.
My car is more expensive than yours.Madrid es más grande que Valencia.
Madrid is larger than Valencia.Su última película me pareció mucho menos interesante que las
anteriores.
His/her last film seemed to me much less interesting than the previous
ones.Santiago es menos caluroso que Buenos Aires.
Santiago is not as warm as Buenos Aires.^5 (p. 24);^6 (p. 28)
Note that if the context makes it clear we may not express the full comparison.Ignacio es más alto. Ignacio is taller.
Santiago es menos caluroso. Santiago is not as warm.