Modern Spanish Grammar: A Practical Guide

(f) Common expressions of equality

Blanco como la nieve. As white as snow.

Negro como el carbón. As black as coal.

37.3 Comparing more than two objects

37.3.1 Definite article +más/menos+ adjective

To express ideas such as ‘the highest’, ‘the most beautiful’, ‘the least intelligent’, when

comparing more than two objects, Spanish uses the definite article followed by the

comparative form of the adjective.

Río es la ciudad más hermosa.

Rio is the most beautiful city.

El Aconcagua es el monte más alto de las Américas.

The Aconcagua is the tallest mountain in the Americas.

Éste es el mejor hotel de Zaragoza.

This is the best hotel in Zaragoza.

Es el mejor actor de todos.

He is the best actor of all.

Es el menos inteligente de todos.

He is the least intelligent of all.

Note the use of the preposition de in the examples above: de las Américas, de

Zaragoza, de todos. When reference is to places, de normally translates into English as

‘in’.

37.3.2 Omission of definite article

 4.2 (p. 20)

There are exceptions to the use of the definite article in sentences of this type. Among

these exceptions, the most common are:

(a) With adverbs

Cristóbal es el que se expresa mejor.

Cristóbal is the one who expresses himself best.

Fue él quien reaccionó más correctamente.

He was the one who reacted most correctly.

^14 (p. 55)

(b) Following estar

Carlos era el que estaba más/menos enfadado.

Carlos was the most/least annoyed.

 22.2 (p. 105)

MAKING COMPARISONS 37.3