Español en serio
Spanish Irregular Comparatives: Mejor, Peor, Mayor, Menor
Dieser Beitrag erklärt ein wichtiges Thema der spanischen Grammatik (Text auf Englisch).
Irregular comparatives
Comparison has already been explained in this blog:
We will now look at four very frequently used forms that are irregular:
|
El restaurante español es bueno. The Spanish restaurant is good. |
El restaurante italiano es mejor. The Italian restaurant is better. |
El restaurante indio es el mejor. The Indian restaurant is the best. |
|
El restaurante francés es malo. The French restaurant is bad. |
El restaurante mexicano es peor. The Mexican restaurant is worse. |
El restaurante armenio es el peor. The Armenian restaurant is the worst. |
|
Mi hermano es grande. My brother is old. |
Mi hermano es mayor que yo. My brother is older than me. |
Él es el mayor. He is the oldest. |
|
Mi prima es pequeña. My cousin is young. |
Mi prima es menor que yo. My cousin is younger than me. |
Mi prima es la menor. My cousin is the youngest. |
When we refer to age, we say “grande, mayor, el mayor”, but when we refer to size, we usually say “grande, más grande, el más grande”. We can also say “más pequeña” instead of “menor” and “la más pequeña” instead of “la menor”. “Grande” and “pequeño” can refer to age or size:
La casa es grande. The house is big.
María es más grande que yo. It can mean bigger than me/older than me.
A frequent confusion is to think that the English word “mayor”, as in “the mayor of London”, is said “mayor” in Spanish. This is incorrect. The mayor of London is el alcalde de Londres (or la alcaldesa, if it is a woman).
Finally, let us remember that we do not say “más bueno” or “más malo”, because the correct comparative forms are “mejor” and “peor”, without the adverb “más” before them.
If you are learning Spanish and find explanations like this helpful, I offer personalised online Spanish lessons for students and adults worldwide, including GCSE and A-Level preparation.
Lessons are available in English or German, and I offer a free initial consultation. You can contact me at laura@spanishforlondon.com.
Example from the episode
Remember that you can read the novel that complements this blog, which I am writing alongside these grammar posts, where you can see examples in context of what we are explaining:
→ “Y no importa si soy mejor o peor”.
Read the full episode here →
Episode 28
Book your first free demo lesson, with no obligation on your behalf, at laura@spanishforlondon.com.
Bachelor’s degree in Literature (University of Buenos Aires). Spanish and Literature teacher. Researcher and author of Los premios Nobel de literatura. Una lectura crítica (University of Seville). More than 30 years’ experience teaching Spanish to international students.
One-to-one lessons via Zoom.
Abschluss in Literaturwissenschaft (Universität Buenos Aires). Lehrerin für Spanisch und Literatur. Forscherin und Autorin des Buches Los premios Nobel de literatura. Una lectura crítica (Universität Sevilla). Über 30 Jahre Erfahrung im Unterricht von Spanisch als Fremdsprache.
Einzelunterricht über Zoom.
