In the first part, we will discuss the measure of a certain quality possessed. We can divide this measure into three categories: a. The existence of a quality, e.g. ‘John is elegant’ b. The possession of a great amount of a certain quality, e.g. ‘John is very elegant’ c. The notion that someone possesses the quality in its greatest amount (superlative form), e.g. ‘John is the most elegant’
In the second part, we will discuss the comparison of the existence of a certain quality. Here too, we shall discuss three categories: a. The equivalence in the possession of a specific quality, e.g. ‘B is as elegant as A’ b. One possessing more of a quality than another, e.g. ‘B is more elegant than A’ c. One possessing less of a quality than another, e.g. ‘B is less elegant than A’
The Grammatical Structure for Qualitative Measures and Comparisons
Part One: The Measure of a Certain Quality
a. The possession of the quality: Juan is thin Juan es delgado
b. The possession of a great amount of the quality: Juan is very
thin Juan es muy delgado We can also use the suffix: -ísimo/a/os/as: Muy
delgado = delgadísimo Juan es delgadísimo
c. The possession of the greatest amount of the quality:
The structure for the superlative form of a specific quality:
Definite Article
most/least
of
+
+
Quality
+
+
Group
Lo/el/la/los/las
más/menos
de
1. Juan is the most elegant of all Juan es el más elegante de todos 2. She is the least elegant in the class Ella es la menos elegante de la clase
We use the neutral definite article ‘lo’ when the sentence doesn’t contain the subject, e.g. ‘It’s the most beautiful’ Es lo más lindo, ‘It’s the cheapest’ Es lo más barato.
Part Two: The Comparison of the Existence of a Certain Quality
a. The equivalence in the possession of a specific quality: Pedro is as elegant as Juan Pedro es tan elegante como Juan
TAN
+
(QUALITY)
+
COMO
b. The possession of a specific quality in a greater measure than another: Pedro is more elegant than Juan Pedro es más elegante que Juan
MÁS
+
(QUALITY)
+
QUE
c. The possession of a specific
quality in a lesser measure than another: Pedro is less elegant than
Juan Pedro es menos elegante que Juan
MENOS
+
(QUALITY)
+
QUE
Exceptions
Abbreviated Table of Exceptions
In the grammatical structures shown in section 2, the following words are exceptions:
The Quality
Instead of...
We Use
Bueno/a/os/as
Good
Más bueno/a/os/as*
Mejor/es
Malo/a/os/as
Bad
Más malo/a/os/as*
Peor/es
Grande/s
Big
Más grande/s*
Mayor/es
Pequeño/a/os/as
Small
Más pequeño/a/os/as*
Menor/es
* These forms are also grammatically correct.
‘Más pequeño/grande’ usually refers to size, e.g. Mi casa es más grande que la tuya (My house is bigger than yours). ‘Mayor/menor’ usually refers to age, e.g. Juan es mayor que María (Juan is older than Maria.)
Juan es delgado
