A2 Adjectives & Adverbs 17 min read Easy

Spanish Comparatives: More... than (más... que)

Construct Spanish comparisons using the más + adjective + que sandwich, remembering to match gender and handle irregulars.
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Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds

To compare two things, use 'más' + [adjective/adverb/noun] + 'que' to say one is 'more than' the other.

  • Use 'más + adjective + que' to compare qualities: 'Ella es más alta que yo' (She is taller than me).
  • Use 'más + noun + que' to compare quantities: 'Tengo más libros que tú' (I have more books than you).
  • Use 'más + adverb + que' to compare actions: 'Corres más rápido que él' (You run faster than him).
más + [adjective/noun/adverb] + que

Overview

To express that one entity possesses a certain quality to a greater degree than another, Spanish employs comparative structures. The most common and fundamental structure for expressing superiority, equivalent to "more... than" in English, is **`más...

que`**. This construction offers remarkable consistency across virtually all adjectives and adverbs, simplifying comparative statements significantly compared to English, which often uses either suffixes like '-er' (e.g., 'faster') or the separate word 'more' (e.g., 'more beautiful').

This pattern clearly establishes a hierarchy: one item, person, or concept is designated as having "more" of a particular characteristic than a second. For example, in Este libro es más interesante que la película. (This book is more interesting than the movie.), the book holds a higher degree of the quality of being interesting. The adjective within the `más...

que structure must always agree in gender and number with the noun it describes. For instance, Las nuevas ciudades son más grandes que las antiguas. (The new cities are bigger than the old ones.) correctly demonstrates agreement with the feminine plural noun ciudades`.

This grammatical tool is an essential part of daily communication, allowing you to articulate preferences, make evaluations, and describe nuanced differences. Understanding its mechanics and common pitfalls is crucial for clear and natural expression in Spanish.

How This Grammar Works

The más... que structure operates through the interplay of an adverb of quantity and a comparative conjunction. Más functions as an adverb, intensifying or quantifying the subsequent adjective, adverb, or noun.
It translates directly to "more." The word que then acts as a comparative conjunction, introducing the second term of the comparison. In essence, que serves as "than" in this context. This grammatical framework establishes a direct and unequivocal relationship of superiority between the two elements being compared.
Consider the sentence Mi trabajo es más desafiante que el tuyo. (My job is more challenging than yours.) Here, más directly modifies the adjective desafiante, indicating a heightened level of challenge associated with the first subject, mi trabajo. Subsequently, que links this intensified quality to el tuyo (yours), clarifying what mi trabajo is being compared against. This precise and consistent pattern enables you to articulate relative attributes with clarity and grammatical correctness.
While predominantly used with adjectives (El café es más fuerte que el té. – Coffee is stronger than tea.) and adverbs (Ella habla más rápido que él. – She speaks faster than he does.), the más... que construction can also implicitly compare actions or ideas. For example, Estudiar es más difícil que jugar. (Studying is more difficult than playing.) In this instance, the infinitives Estudiar and jugar function as nominalized subjects, comparing the inherent difficulty of two activities.
The underlying linguistic principle involves the adverbial modification of a descriptive term, followed by a conjunction that introduces the comparative element. This mechanism allows for sophisticated comparisons across various grammatical categories, forming a flexible and powerful comparative tool in Spanish.

Formation Pattern

1
Mastering the más... que comparative structure involves understanding its core patterns and how agreement works. The basic formation is highly regular, but you must pay close attention to the category of the word being modified (adjective, adverb, or noun).
2
1. Comparing Adjectives and Adverbs:
3
This is the most common application. The structure places más directly before the adjective or adverb, followed by que and the second term of comparison.
4
General Structure:
5
[Subject 1] + [Verb (e.g., ser, estar, parecer)] + más + [Adjective/Adverb] + que + [Subject 2/Clause]
6
El coche nuevo es más cómodo que el viejo. (The new car is more comfortable than the old one.)
7
Ella escribe más cuidadosamente que su colega. (She writes more carefully than her colleague.)
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Adjective Agreement:
9
When comparing adjectives, it is critical that the adjective agrees in gender and number with Subject 1. This is a frequent point of error for learners. If Subject 1 is plural, the adjective must be plural; if feminine, the adjective must be feminine. Adverbs, however, are invariable and do not change form.
10
| Subject Gender/Number | Adjective Form Example | Sentence Example (Adjective) | Meaning | Error Example | Correct Example |
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|:----------------------|:-----------------------|:-----------------------------------------------------|:--------|:--------------|:----------------|
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| Singular Masculine | simpático | Mi amigo es más simpático que el tuyo. | My friend is nicer than yours. | Mi amigo es más simpática... | Mi amigo es más simpático... |
13
| Singular Feminine | simpática | Mi amiga es más simpática que la tuya. | My friend is nicer than yours. | Mi amiga es más simpático... | Mi amiga es más simpática... |
14
| Plural Masculine | simpáticos | Los chicos son más simpáticos que las chicas. | The boys are nicer than the girls. | Los chicos son más simpático... | Los chicos son más simpáticos... |
15
| Plural Feminine | simpáticas | Las chicas son más simpáticas que los chicos. | The girls are nicer than the boys. | Las chicas son más simpático... | Las chicas son más simpáticas... |
16
2. Comparing Nouns (Quantities):
17
When you want to state that there is a greater quantity of a specific noun, the structure changes slightly. Más precedes the noun, and que still introduces the second term. Note that the noun itself does not change its form due to más; it simply indicates "more of [noun]".
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Structure for Nouns:
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[Subject 1] + [Verb] + más + [Noun] + que + [Subject 2/Clause]
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Tengo más libros que tú. (I have more books than you.)
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Ella compra más ropa que su hermana. (She buys more clothes than her sister.)
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Hay más estudiantes que profesores en la sala. (There are more students than teachers in the room.)
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3. Irregular Comparatives:
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While más... que is highly regular, a small but important set of adjectives and adverbs have irregular comparative forms. These forms replace the más + adjective/adverb structure entirely. You must never combine más with these irregular forms (e.g., más mejor is incorrect, akin to "more better" in English). These are linguistic relics that you must memorize.
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| Adjective/Adverb Base | Irregular Comparative | Meaning | Usage Nuance | Example |
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|:----------------------|:----------------------|:-----------|:-----------------------------------------------------------------|:----------------------------------------------------|
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| bueno (good) | mejor (better) | Better | Used for quality. | Este restaurante es mejor que aquel. |
28
| malo (bad) | peor (worse) | Worse | Used for quality. | La situación es peor de lo que esperábamos. |
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| grande (big/old) | mayor (older/bigger)| Older/Bigger | Primarily for age (older). Less commonly for size (for objects, más grande is preferred). | Mi hermano es mayor que yo. (My brother is older than me.) Ella tiene una mayor responsabilidad. (She has greater responsibility.) |
30
| pequeño (small/young)| menor (younger/smaller)| Younger/Smaller | Primarily for age (younger). Less commonly for size (for objects, más pequeño is preferred). | Mi hermana es menor que yo. (My sister is younger than me.) Esta es la opción menor. (This is the lesser option.) |
31
| bien (well) | mejor (better) | Better | Adverbial form. | Ella canta mejor que antes. |
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| mal (badly) | peor (worse) | Worse | Adverbial form. | Hoy me siento peor que ayer. |
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It is particularly important to distinguish mayor and menor when referring to physical size versus age or importance. For inanimate objects, más grande and más pequeño are almost always the natural and correct choices. For example, Mi casa es más grande que la tuya. (My house is bigger than yours.) not Mi casa es mayor que la tuya. The latter would imply your house is older.

When To Use It

The más... que structure is fundamental for expressing any form of superiority or greater degree in Spanish. Its versatility extends across various communicative contexts, allowing you to articulate nuanced comparisons in both concrete and abstract terms.
1. Comparing Qualities or Characteristics:
This is the most direct and frequent application. You use más... que to state that one item, person, or concept possesses a quality to a higher extent than another. This enables precise descriptions and distinctions.
  • La ciudad de Barcelona es más vibrante que la de Sevilla. (The city of Barcelona is more vibrant than that of Seville.)
  • El examen de hoy fue más complicado que el de la semana pasada. (Today's exam was more complicated than last week's.)
  • Mi coche es más eficiente que el tuyo. (My car is more efficient than yours.)
2. Expressing Preferences and Opinions:
Más... que is an indispensable tool for articulating what you prefer, what you find superior, or how you rank various options. It forms a cornerstone of everyday conversational Spanish and allows you to clearly state your subjective evaluations.
  • Para mí, el verano es más agradable que el invierno. (For me, summer is more pleasant than winter.)
  • Creo que leer en papel es más relajante que en una pantalla. (I believe reading on paper is more relaxing than on a screen.)
  • Me gusta este café más que el otro. (I like this coffee more than the other one.)
3. Evaluating Actions, Concepts, or Quantities (with Nouns):
You can employ más... que to compare the inherent qualities or impacts of different actions, activities, abstract ideas, or to compare quantities of nouns. This broadens its utility significantly.
  • Trabajar desde casa es más flexible que ir a la oficina. (Working from home is more flexible than going to the office.)
  • Aprender un idioma es más gratificante de lo que parece. (Learning a language is more rewarding than it seems – this uses a slightly different construction, más... de lo que, for comparing to an abstract idea/clause, which we’ll cover more in FAQ.)
  • Tenemos más tiempo que dinero. (We have more time than money.)
In Spanish-speaking cultures, there's a common inclination to directly compare and evaluate things in conversation. Whether discussing the merits of two football teams, the quality of coffee at different cafés, or the features of a new gadget, más... que facilitates this evaluative discourse.
It allows speakers to clearly articulate their stance and express nuances in preference, making it a highly practical and frequently used grammatical tool in social interactions, academic discussions, and professional settings alike.

Common Mistakes

Learners frequently encounter specific pitfalls when mastering más... que. Awareness of these common errors, and understanding why they are incorrect, will significantly accelerate your fluency and precision.
1. Applying English '-er' Suffixes to Spanish Adjectives:
This is perhaps the most common error for English speakers. In English, many adjectives form comparatives by adding '-er' (e.g., 'tall' -> 'taller', 'fast' -> 'faster'). Spanish does not work this way. You will never attach a comparative suffix to a Spanish adjective.
  • Incorrect: Juan es altocer que Pedro. (alto + -cer is not a thing.)
  • Correct: Juan es más alto que Pedro. (Juan is taller than Pedro.)
2. Forgetting Adjective Agreement:
The adjective within the más... que structure must always agree in gender and number with the first subject (Subject 1). Neglecting this leads to grammatical errors that sound unnatural to native speakers.
  • Incorrect: La casa es más viejo que el apartamento. (The house is more old (masc. singular) than the apartment.)
  • Correct: La casa es más vieja que el apartamento. (The house is older (fem. singular) than the apartment.)
  • Incorrect: Mis hermanas son más rápido que mi hermano. (My sisters are more fast (masc. singular) than my brother.)
  • Correct: Mis hermanas son más rápidas que mi hermano. (My sisters are faster (fem. plural) than my brother.)
3. Confusing más que with más de:
This is a critical distinction that can significantly alter the meaning of your sentence. While both involve más, their usage is context-specific:
  • más... que: Used for comparing qualities, actions, or non-specific quantities of nouns.
  • más de: Strictly used when comparing or referring to a specific numerical quantity or an amount of something that can be quantified precisely.
| Structure | Usage | Example | Meaning |
|:-----------|:--------------------------------------------------------------------|:-----------------------------------------------------------------------|:------------------------------------------------------|
| más... que | Comparing qualities (adjectives/adverbs) or non-quantifiable nouns/actions. | Ella es más creativa que su hermana. | She is more creative than her sister. |
| | | Trabajar es más importante que dormir. | Working is more important than sleeping. |
| más de | Exceeding a specific numerical quantity (numbers, percentages, ages). | Hay más de cien estudiantes en la clase. | There are more than one hundred students in the class. |
| | | Necesito más de dos horas para terminar esto. | I need more than two hours to finish this. |
| | | Tiene más de treinta años. (She is more than thirty years old.) | She is over thirty years old. |
4. Using como instead of que for Comparison:
The word como translates to 'as' or 'like' and is used for comparisons of equality (tan... como – as... as). For comparisons of superiority (más... que) or inferiority (menos... que), que is the correct conjunction.
  • Incorrect: Es más alto como yo.
  • Correct: Es más alto que yo. (He is taller than I.)
5. Double Comparatives (Using más with Irregular Forms):
As noted in the Formation Pattern section, irregular comparatives (mejor, peor, mayor, menor) already inherently express a comparative meaning. Adding más before them is grammatically redundant and incorrect, similar to saying "more better" in English.
  • Incorrect: Este vino es más mejor que el otro.
  • Correct: Este vino es mejor que el otro. (This wine is better than the other one.)
6. Omitting que when comparing two distinct elements:
While más can sometimes stand alone to mean "more" generally, when you are making a direct comparison between two specific items or people, the que is essential to introduce the second term.
  • Incorrect: Mi casa es más grande la tuya.
  • Correct: Mi casa es más grande que la tuya. (My house is bigger than yours.)

Real Conversations

Understanding más... que in a theoretical sense is one thing; observing its use in authentic, modern contexts helps solidify your grasp. Here's how native speakers integrate this comparative structure into various forms of daily communication, from informal chats to more formal exchanges.

1. Social Media & Texting (Informal, Concise):

In digital communication, brevity is key. Más... que is used efficiently to express quick opinions or observations.

- Tweet: Esta playlist es más bailable que la de ayer! 🕺 #fiesta (This playlist is more danceable than yesterday's! #party)

- WhatsApp: Llego tarde, el tráfico está más horrible que nunca 😩 (I'm late, the traffic is more horrible than ever 😩)

- Instagram Caption: Mis vacaciones fueron más relajantes que el trabajo. Obvio. (My vacation was more relaxing than work. Obviously.)

2. Casual Conversation (Everyday Dialogue):

In spoken Spanish, más... que flows naturally to discuss preferences, current events, or personal feelings.

- Friend A: ¿Te gusta más esta cafetería o la de la esquina? (Do you like this coffee shop more or the one on the corner?)

- Friend B: Uf, esta es más tranquila que la otra, y el café es más fuerte que el de allí. (Ugh, this one is calmer than the other, and the coffee is stronger than the one there.)

- Mi hermana pequeña es más responsable que yo a su edad. (My little sister is more responsible than I was at her age.)

- La comida mexicana es más picante que la española, ¿verdad? (Mexican food is spicier than Spanish food, right?)

3. Work or Academic Contexts (More Formal/Descriptive):

Even in professional or academic settings, where language might be more structured, más... que is indispensable for objective comparisons and analysis.

- Meeting: Nuestro nuevo plan de marketing es más ambicioso que el anterior, pero también más costoso que esperábamos. (Our new marketing plan is more ambitious than the previous one, but also more costly than we expected.)

- Report: Los resultados de la encuesta indican que la satisfacción del cliente es más alta que en el trimestre pasado. (The survey results indicate that customer satisfaction is higher than last quarter.)

- Presentation: La hipótesis B es más sólida que la hipótesis A, dado el volumen de evidencia. (Hypothesis B is more solid than Hypothesis A, given the volume of evidence.)

Notice how the structure remains consistent, adapting only the adjective or adverb to the specific context. This consistent pattern across formality levels underscores its foundational role in Spanish grammar.

Quick FAQ

As you navigate the nuances of Spanish comparatives, certain questions frequently arise. Here are some quick answers to common queries to help solidify your understanding.
1. Can más stand alone without que?
Yes, más can be used alone to mean "more" without a direct comparison being stated, or when the second term is implied or understood from context.
  • Quiero más café. (I want more coffee.) – No comparison, just "more."
  • ¿Quieres más? (Do you want more?) – The item is implied.
  • Ella trabaja más. (She works more.) – The comparison is implicit (than someone else, than before, etc.).
2. What about más... de lo que? When do I use it?
This is a more advanced construction used to compare a quantity or quality to an idea, a concept, or a clause rather than a specific noun or pronoun. It translates roughly to "more... than what/it seems/it was expected."
  • Es más difícil de lo que pensaba. (It's more difficult than I thought.) – Comparing difficulty to an idea (what you thought).
  • Hay más gente de la que creímos. (There are more people than we believed.) – Comparing quantity to an idea (what you believed).
  • Gasta más dinero de lo que gana. (He spends more money than he earns.) – Comparing money spent to an action (what he earns).
3. Are mayor and menor always for age?
No, but they are predominantly used for age, especially when referring to people. When talking about objects, or even people in contexts other than age, mayor can mean "greater" or "principal," and menor can mean "lesser" or "minor." However, for physical size of inanimate objects, más grande and más pequeño are far more common and natural.
  • Él es mi hermano mayor. (He is my older brother.) – Age.
  • Ella tiene una mayor influencia. (She has greater influence.) – Importance/degree.
  • Esta es la menor de mis preocupaciones. (This is the least of my worries.) – Importance/degree.
  • Mi casa es más grande que la tuya. (My house is bigger than yours.) – Physical size, preferred over mayor.
4. What if I don't want to specify the second term of comparison?
You can omit the que clause if the second term is clear from context or if you're making a general statement of superiority without a direct counterpart.
  • Este pastel está más rico. (This cake is tastier.) – Implied: than the last one, than it usually is, etc.
  • Me siento más feliz hoy. (I feel happier today.) – Implied: than yesterday, than I have been.
5. Does más always come immediately before the adjective/adverb/noun?
Yes, for the más... que comparative structure, más almost always immediately precedes the word it modifies (adjective, adverb, or noun). This tight coupling is essential for the comparative meaning.
Any separation would typically alter the meaning or make the sentence ungrammatical in this context.

Comparative Structure Formula

Element Role Example
más
Comparative marker
más
adjective/noun/adverb
Core quality/quantity
grande/dinero/rápido
que
Comparison connector
que
noun/pronoun
Comparison target
tú/él/la casa

Meanings

This structure is used to express that one entity possesses a greater degree of a quality or a larger quantity of an item compared to another.

1

Adjectival Comparison

Comparing qualities of nouns.

“Él es más inteligente que su hermano.”

“La película es más interesante que el libro.”

2

Quantitative Comparison

Comparing the amount of something.

“Tengo más dinero que tú.”

“Comemos más fruta que verdura.”

3

Adverbial Comparison

Comparing the manner of an action.

“Hablas más despacio que yo.”

“Trabajan más duro que nosotros.”

Reference Table

Reference table for Spanish Comparatives: More... than (más... que)
Form Structure Example
Affirmative
más + adj + que
Es más alto que yo.
Quantity
más + noun + que
Tengo más amigos que tú.
Adverbial
más + adv + que
Corre más rápido que él.
Negative
no es más + adj + que
No es más caro que el otro.
Question
¿es más + adj + que...?
¿Es más grande que tu casa?
Comparison with clause
más + noun + del que
Tiene más dinero del que gasta.

Formality Spectrum

Formal
El automóvil es más veloz que la bicicleta.

El automóvil es más veloz que la bicicleta. (Describing transport)

Neutral
El coche es más rápido que la bicicleta.

El coche es más rápido que la bicicleta. (Describing transport)

Informal
El carro es más rápido que la bici.

El carro es más rápido que la bici. (Describing transport)

Slang
La nave es más rápida que la bici.

La nave es más rápida que la bici. (Describing transport)

Comparative Map

más... que

Adjectives

  • alto tall
  • caro expensive

Nouns

  • dinero money
  • tiempo time

Adverbs

  • rápido fast
  • bien well

Equality vs Inequality

Inequality
más... que more than
Equality
tan... como as... as

Decision Flow

1

Is it a quality?

YES
Use más + adj + que
NO
Check if it is a quantity
2

Is it a quantity?

YES
Use más + noun + que
NO
Use más + adv + que
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Examples by Level

1

Mi coche es más rápido que tu coche.

My car is faster than your car.

2

Ella es más alta que yo.

She is taller than me.

3

Tengo más dinero que tú.

I have more money than you.

4

Hoy hace más calor que ayer.

Today it is hotter than yesterday.

1

Este libro es más interesante que la película.

This book is more interesting than the movie.

2

Hablas más despacio que tu hermano.

You speak slower than your brother.

3

Comemos más fruta que verdura.

We eat more fruit than vegetables.

4

La ciudad es más cara que el pueblo.

The city is more expensive than the town.

1

El proyecto requiere más tiempo del que pensábamos.

The project requires more time than we thought.

2

Es más inteligente de lo que parece a primera vista.

He is smarter than he seems at first glance.

3

Hay más opciones de las que imaginaba.

There are more options than I imagined.

4

Trabaja más horas de las que debería.

He works more hours than he should.

1

La situación es más compleja de lo que se admite públicamente.

The situation is more complex than is publicly admitted.

2

Tiene más influencia en la empresa de la que le corresponde.

He has more influence in the company than he is entitled to.

3

Es más fácil decirlo que hacerlo.

It is easier said than done.

4

La realidad es más cruda de lo que nos cuentan.

Reality is harsher than what they tell us.

1

Resulta más gratificante de lo que cabría esperar.

It turns out to be more rewarding than one might expect.

2

Su retórica es más persuasiva de lo que parece.

His rhetoric is more persuasive than it seems.

3

Es más que evidente que no está de acuerdo.

It is more than evident that he does not agree.

4

Posee más conocimientos de los que demuestra.

He possesses more knowledge than he shows.

1

La obra es más que un simple relato histórico; es una crítica social.

The work is more than a simple historical account; it is a social critique.

2

Su elocuencia es más que notable en situaciones de crisis.

His eloquence is more than remarkable in crisis situations.

3

Es más de lo que podría haber soñado jamás.

It is more than I could have ever dreamed of.

4

La discrepancia es más profunda de lo que sugieren los datos.

The discrepancy is deeper than the data suggests.

Easily Confused

Spanish Comparatives: More... than (más... que) vs Más... que vs Tan... como

Learners mix up inequality and equality.

Spanish Comparatives: More... than (más... que) vs Más... que vs Mejor/Peor

Learners use 'más bueno' instead of 'mejor'.

Spanish Comparatives: More... than (más... que) vs Que vs De lo que

Learners use 'que' when a verb follows.

Common Mistakes

✗

Es más alto como yo.

✓

Es más alto que yo.

Use 'que' for comparisons, not 'como'.
✗

Es más altor que yo.

✓

Es más alto que yo.

Spanish adjectives do not take '-er'.
✗

Es mas alto que yo.

✓

Es más alto que yo.

Missing the accent on 'más'.
✗

Tiene más dinero de yo.

✓

Tiene más dinero que yo.

Use 'que' to connect the comparison.
✗

La casa es más grande que el mío.

✓

La casa es más grande que la mía.

Adjectives must agree with the noun.
✗

Comemos más que ellos comen.

✓

Comemos más que ellos.

Avoid repeating the verb if unnecessary.
✗

Es más bueno que yo.

✓

Es mejor que yo.

Use 'mejor' instead of 'más bueno'.
✗

Es más grande de lo que pensaba.

✓

Es más grande de lo que pensaba.

Actually correct, but often confused with 'que'.
✗

Tiene más libros de los que necesito.

✓

Tiene más libros de los que necesito.

Correct, but learners often use 'que' here.
✗

Es más que mejor.

✓

Es mucho mejor.

Redundant comparative.
✗

Es más que evidente.

✓

Es más que evidente.

Correct, but often used incorrectly in formal contexts.
✗

Más de lo que yo creía.

✓

Más de lo que yo creía.

Correct, but watch for agreement.
✗

Más que nada, es importante.

✓

Más que nada, es importante.

Correct, but watch for register.
✗

Es más de lo que parece.

✓

Es más de lo que parece.

Correct, but ensure the verb matches.

Sentence Patterns

Mi ___ es más ___ que el tuyo.

Tengo más ___ que ___.

Hablas más ___ que ___.

Es más ___ de lo que ___.

Real World Usage

Social Media very common

¡Este video es más gracioso que el anterior!

Texting constant

Llego más tarde que tú.

Job Interview common

Tengo más experiencia que otros candidatos.

Ordering Food common

Quiero más salsa que carne.

Travel common

El hotel es más barato que el hostal.

Academic Debate occasional

La teoría es más compleja de lo que parece.

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💡

Accent Matters

Always write 'más' with an accent. 'Mas' without an accent means 'but'.
⚠️

No '-er'

Spanish doesn't add '-er' to adjectives. Use 'más' instead.
🎯

Use 'que'

Always use 'que' for 'than'. Never use 'como' for comparisons of inequality.
💬

Regional Variations

In some regions, people might use 'más' in unique ways, but the core rule remains the same.

Smart Tips

Ensure the adjective agrees with the subject.

Ella es más alto que yo. → Ella es más alta que yo.

Use 'de lo que' if a verb follows.

Es más grande que pensaba. → Es más grande de lo que pensaba.

Don't use 'más' with 'mejor'.

Es más mejor. → Es mejor.

Don't forget the accent on 'más'.

Tengo mas dinero. → Tengo más dinero.

Pronunciation

/mas/

Accent mark

The accent on 'más' distinguishes it from 'mas' (but).

/ke/

Que

The 'u' is silent in 'que'.

Statement

Es más grande ↑ que el mío ↓.

Neutral declarative intonation.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Think of a sandwich: 'Más' is the top bread, the quality is the meat, and 'Que' is the bottom bread.

Visual Association

Imagine a giant scale. On the left side, you put a small apple. On the right, you put a giant watermelon. The watermelon side is 'más' and the connector to the apple is 'que'.

Rhyme

Para comparar lo que ves, usa más y después que.

Story

Juan wanted to be taller. He stood on a chair and shouted, '¡Soy más alto que tú!'. His friend laughed and said, 'Tienes más imaginación que altura'. Juan realized he needed to practice his grammar more than his acting.

Word Web

másquealtogranderápidodinerocomparar

Challenge

Write 5 sentences comparing items in your room right now using 'más... que'.

Cultural Notes

People often use 'carro' instead of 'coche' for car.

People use 'coche' for car and 'ordenador' for computer.

The use of 'vos' changes the comparison target pronoun.

Comes from the Latin 'magis', meaning 'more'.

Conversation Starters

“

¿Qué es más importante para ti: el dinero o el tiempo?

“

¿Es tu ciudad más grande que la capital?

“

¿Crees que el español es más difícil que el inglés?

“

¿Qué es más gratificante: trabajar o estudiar?

Journal Prompts

Describe your best friend using three comparisons.
Compare your current job/studies with your past ones.
Write about a city you visited and compare it to your hometown.
Discuss the pros and cons of living in a city vs the countryside.

Common Mistakes

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

Sign up free to see all tips

Test Yourself

Fill in the blank with 'más' or 'que'.

Ella es ___ alta ___ yo.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: a
The structure is más + adj + que.
Choose the correct sentence. Multiple Choice

Which is correct?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: a
Adjectives don't change and use 'que'.
Find the error. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

Mi coche es más rápido como el tuyo.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: c
Should be 'que'.
Transform to a comparison. Sentence Transformation

Juan es alto. Pedro es muy alto.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: a
Pedro is taller.
Match the comparative. Match Pairs

Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: a
All are correct.
Order the words. Sentence Building

que / es / más / ella / alta / yo

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: a
Correct word order.
Choose the correct form. Multiple Choice

Tengo ___ dinero ___ tú.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: a
Quantity comparison.
Fill in the blank.

El examen es ___ difícil ___ pensaba.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: a
Use 'de lo que' before a verb.

Score: /8

Practice Exercises

8 exercises
Fill in the blank with 'más' or 'que'.

Ella es ___ alta ___ yo.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: a
The structure is más + adj + que.
Choose the correct sentence. Multiple Choice

Which is correct?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: a
Adjectives don't change and use 'que'.
Find the error. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

Mi coche es más rápido como el tuyo.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: c
Should be 'que'.
Transform to a comparison. Sentence Transformation

Juan es alto. Pedro es muy alto.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: a
Pedro is taller.
Match the comparative. Match Pairs

Match the phrase.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: a
All are correct.
Order the words. Sentence Building

que / es / más / ella / alta / yo

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: a
Correct word order.
Choose the correct form. Multiple Choice

Tengo ___ dinero ___ tú.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: a
Quantity comparison.
Fill in the blank.

El examen es ___ difícil ___ pensaba.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: a
Use 'de lo que' before a verb.

Score: /8

Practice Bank

10 exercises
Fill in the blank for quantity comparison. Fill in the Blank

Tengo ___ diez euros en mi cartera.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: más de
Translate to Spanish. Translation

This coffee is more expensive than the tea.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Este café es más caro que el té.
Select the correct plural agreement. Multiple Choice

Las casas en Madrid son ___ (expensive) que en Valencia.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: más caras
Put the words in the correct order. Sentence Reorder

que / mi hermano / inteligente / más / Yo / soy

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Yo soy más inteligente que mi hermano.
Correct the comparative for 'bad'. Error Correction

Este examen es más malo que el anterior.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Este examen es peor que el anterior.
Match the adjective to its irregular comparative. Match Pairs

Match the terms:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Bueno - Mejor
Compare two actions. Fill in the Blank

Bailar es ___ (fun) que correr.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: más divertido
Translate: 'He is younger than his friend.' Translation

Translate the sentence.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Both are correct.
Identify the correct use of 'que'. Multiple Choice

Which one is right?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Eres más alto que yo.
Fill in the adverb comparative. Fill in the Blank

Ella habla ___ (more clearly) que tú.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: más claramente

Score: /10

FAQ (8)

It is a diacritic accent to distinguish it from 'mas' (but).

Yes, but usually with 'de lo que' when comparing actions.

It is better to use 'mejor' for quality.

When the comparison involves a verb clause.

Yes, it must agree with the subject.

Yes, it is standard in all registers.

It functions as an adverb of quantity here.

Use 'menos... que'.

Scaffolded Practice

1

1

2

2

3

3

4

4

Mastery Progress

Needs Practice

Improving

Strong

Mastered

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In Other Languages

English high

more... than

English changes adjectives (taller), Spanish does not.

French high

plus... que

Pronunciation of 'plus' can vary.

German moderate

mehr... als

German uses 'als' instead of 'que'.

Japanese low

A no hou ga B yori...

Japanese places the comparison marker after the noun.

Arabic moderate

akthar min

Arabic is a Semitic language with different root structures.

Chinese low

bi

Chinese does not use a 'more' word in the same way.

Learning Path

Prerequisites

Previous
Spanish Comparisons: Better, Worse, and As Much As
Next
Spanish Equality: Being 'As... As' (Tan... como)

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