Comparisons of Inequality and Equality

Comparisons of Inequality

What is a comparison of inequality in English?

• It’s when you compare two things that are not equal in some respect.

The elephant is bigger than the fish.

Elefante Pez

El elefante es más grande que el pez.

The fish is less big than the elephant.

Elefante Pez

El pez es menos grande que el elefante.

The cat is calmer than the dog.

gato

perro

El gato es más tranquilo que el perro.

The dog is less calm than the cat.

gato

perro

El perro es menos tranquilo que el gato.

Comparison of Inequality in Spanish

When you want to express more (er)…than in Spanish you use the expression más...que.

Lance is taller than Felipe.

Lance es más alto que Felipe.

Comparison of Inequality in Spanish

When you want to express more (er)…than in Spanish you use the expression más...que.

Ana is taller than Susana.

Ana es más alta que Susana.

altaRemember that there needs to be agreement when using adjectives.

Comparison of Inequality in Spanish

When you want to express less … than in Spanish you use the expression menos...que.

Cats are less friendly than dogs.

Los gatos son menos amistosos que los perros.

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Fred is taller than Felipe.

Fred es ______ alto ________Felipe. más que

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Susana and Ana are taller than Kevin.

Susana y Ana son ______ altas ________Kevin. más que

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My brother is less intelligent than his brother.

Mi hermano es _____ inteligente ___su hermano. menos que

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Carmen Electra is prettier than Britney Spears.

Carmen Electra es _____ bonita ___ Britney Spears.

más que

Comparison of Inequality in Spanish

Bueno, malo, viejo, y joven tienen formas comparativas irregulares.

Bueno Mejor Viejo Mayor

Malo Peor Joven Menor

¡OJO! We don’t use más or menos with these irregulars!

Las formas comparativas irregulares

My dad is older than my mom.

Mi papá es mayor que mi mamá.

Las formas comparativas irregulares

Spanish class is better than math class.

La clase de español es mejor que la clase de matemáticas.

Comparison of Inequality in Spanish

Both constructions, más…que and menos…que can be used with nouns.

There are more cats than dogs.

Hay más gatos que perros.

Comparison of Inequality in Spanish

Both constructions, más…que and menos…que can be used with nouns.

There are fewer pencils than pens.

Hay menos lápices que plumas.

Comparison of Inequality in Spanish

Both constructions, más…que and menos…que can be used with infinitives that function as nouns.

I like to swim more than to study.

Me gusta nadar más que estudiar.

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There are more boys than girls.

Hay ______ chicos ________chicas. más que

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There are fewer teachers than students.

Hay ______ profesores ________estudiantes. menos que

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There are fewer schools than stores.

Hay ______ escuelas ________ tiendas. menos que

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We want to swim more than to eat.

Queremos nadar ______ _____ comer.más que

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Fred is taller than Ana.

Fred es más alto que Ana.

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•There are fewer (less) books than students.

•Hay menos libros que estudiantes.

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•Baseball is more fun than soccer.

•El béisbol es más divertido que el fútbol.

>

•Television is more interesting than school.

•La televisión es más interesante que la escuela.

>

•Felipe is sadder than Miguel.

•Felipe está más triste que Miguel.

>

•María is less tired than Edweena.

•María está menos cansada que Edweena.

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•She likes swimming less than running.

•Le gusta nadar menos que correr.

<

•There are fewer cats than dogs.

•Hay menos gatos que perros.

<

Comparisons of Equality

What is a comparison of equality in English?

• It’s when you compare two things that are equal in some respect.

To say that something is as…as something else, use tan…como

El cuadro de Picasso es tan bello como el cuadro de Velázquez.

Picasso’s painting is as beautiful as Velazquez’s painting.

Be sure to watch out for adjective agreement!

Las hermanas son tan rubias como su mamá.

The sisters are as blonde as their mom.

rubias

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Fred is as tall as Felipe.

Fred es ______ _____ ______Felipe.tan alto como

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Susana and Ana are as tall as Kevin.

Susana y Ana son ______ altas ________Kevin. tan como

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My brother is as intelligent as his brother.

Mi hermano es _____ inteligente ___ su hermano.

tan como

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Carmen Electra is as pretty as Britney Spears.

Carmen Electra es _____ bonita ___ Britney Spears.

tan como

To say that something has as much or as many as something else, use tanto…como

Yo tengo tantas camisetas como mi amiga.

I have as many tshirts as my friend.

“Tanto” is an adjective in phrases like this and must agree with the noun that follows it.

Hemos ganado tanto dinero como ellos.

We have earned as much money as they have.

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There are as many girls as boys.

Hay ______ chicas ________chicos. tantas como

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There are as many teachers as students.

Hay ______ profesores ________estudiantes. tantos como

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We drink as much milk as water.

Bebemos ______ leche ________agua. tanta como