Chapter in 30 Seconds
Master the art of comparing things in Portuguese using natural, irregular forms instead of clunky phrases.
- Replace 'mais bom' with the native 'melhor'.
- Differentiate between physical size and age using 'maior' and 'menor'.
- Express preferences and qualities confidently in everyday conversations.
你将学到什么
Ready to take your Portuguese descriptions to the next level? In this super practical chapter, we're diving into how to compare things like a pro – but with a fun twist! You know how in English, you don't say 'more good,' you say 'better'? Well, Portuguese has its own special words for 'better,' 'worse,' 'bigger,' and 'smaller,' and they don't always follow the simple 'mais' pattern. We'll tackle four essential irregular forms: you'll master melhor (better), pior (worse), maior (bigger), and menor (smaller or younger). Forget 'mais bom' – it's always melhor! You'll also learn why you say maior instead of 'mais grande' for bigger, and how menor is your go-to for smaller or younger, especially in Brazil. Don't worry, these aren't tricky; they're just different, and once you get them, they'll sound totally natural. Why does this matter? Imagine you're at a Lisbon market, comparing prices or trying on clothes – 'This one is melhor!' or 'Do you have this menor?' Or maybe you're describing two friends: 'She's maior than him' (taller). By the end of these lessons, you won't just know the words; you'll intuitively use the correct irregular comparisons. You'll be able to confidently express preferences, describe differences, and sound much more like a native speaker. It's a small step that makes a *huge* difference in your conversations!
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如何说“更好” (千万别说 Mais Bom!)就像英语里的 'good' 变成 'better'，葡语里的
bom永远要变成melhor。 -
不规则比较级：更差 (`pior`)想表达“更糟”或“更坏”时，请使用
pior；它是mau和ruim的不规则变身版。 -
不规则比较级：`grande` → `maior` (更大)记住这个公式：用
maior代替mais grande来表示“更大”，除非你在对比同一个物体的两种属性。 -
不规则比较级：Menor（更小）在巴西千万别说
mais pequeno或mais menor，直接用menor就能搞定“更小”或“更年轻”。
Learning Objectives
By the end of this chapter, you will be able to:
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1
By the end you will be able to: Correctly identify and use 'melhor', 'pior', 'maior', and 'menor' in simple sentences.
章节指南
Overview
mais (more) to compare things, just like in English we don't say more good, Portuguese has its own special, irregular forms for common comparisons. Mastering these isn't just about memorizing words; it's about unlocking a more natural and fluent way to express yourself, boosting your CEFR A1 Portuguese proficiency significantly. We'll dive into four essential irregular comparative adjectives: melhor (better), pior (worse), maior (bigger, taller, older), and menor (smaller, younger).mais bom – it’s always melhor! You'll discover why maior is your go-to for bigger instead of mais grande, and how menor covers both smaller and younger, especially in Brazilian Portuguese. By the end of this guide, you’ll confidently compare prices at a market, describe family members, and express preferences with ease, making a huge difference in your Portuguese conversations!How This Grammar Works
better, worse, bigger, or smaller, you usually don't just add mais (more) to the adjective. Instead, you use special, irregular forms. This is a key part of Portuguese grammar A1 that helps you sound truly authentic.- 1Melhor (Better): This word is used instead of
mais bom(more good).
- 1Pior (Worse): This word replaces
mais mau(more bad).
- 1Maior (Bigger, Taller, Older): You use maior instead of
mais grande(more big). This adjective is versatile and can refer to size, height, or age.
- 1Menor (Smaller, Younger): This word replaces
mais pequeno(more small). Like maior, menor can refer to size or age, particularly in Brazilian Portuguese.
[noun] é [comparative adjective] que [noun/pronoun]. These irregular forms are crucial for mastering comparative adjectives in A1 Portuguese.
Common Mistakes
- 1✗ Wrong: *Este livro é mais bom.*
good has an irregular comparative form (better). You should always use melhor instead of mais bom.- 1✗ Wrong: *A minha cidade é mais grande que a sua.*
bigger or larger, the correct irregular comparative is maior, not mais grande. It applies to size, height, or even age.- 1✗ Wrong: *O meu cão é mais pequeno que o teu.*
smaller, the correct irregular comparative is menor, not mais pequeno. This also applies to age (younger).
Real Conversations
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Quick FAQ
Can I ever use mais bom or mais mau in Portuguese?
No, you should always use melhor for better and pior for worse. These are fixed irregular forms in Portuguese grammar.
Is maior only for physical size?
No, maior can mean bigger (size), taller (height), or older (age). For example, *Ele é maior que eu* can mean
He is taller than meor
He is older than me.
What's the difference between mais pequeno and menor?
While mais pequeno is sometimes heard in very informal contexts or when referring to literal smallness, the correct and natural comparative for smaller is menor. It's also used for younger, especially in Brazil.
Are there other irregular comparatives I should know for A1 Portuguese?
For A1 Portuguese, melhor, pior, maior, and menor are the most crucial irregular comparatives. You've got the essentials covered!
Cultural Context
关键例句 (6)
技巧与窍门 (4)
红色警报
成对记忆
bom 变成 melhor (更好)。mau 变成 pior (更坏) 的逻辑是一模一样的，只是方向相反！Este é melhor, aquele é pior.
纠结的时候，选 "maior"
mais grande 的例外情况非常少见。99% 的情况下，用 maior 绝对没错。比如： Este bolo é maior.拒绝“叠Buff”错误
mais 和 menor 连用。说 mais menor 就像在说“更加更小”，是语法大忌：Meu quarto é menor.核心词汇 (5)
Real-World Preview
Market Shopping
Review Summary
- X + é + melhor + do que + Y
- X + é + pior + do que + Y
- X + é + maior + do que + Y
- X + é + menor + do que + Y
常见错误
Learners often try to apply the 'mais' rule to everything. Remember that 'bom' is irregular.
Even though 'grande' is a regular adjective, its comparative form is irregular. Avoid 'mais grande'.
Using 'mais' with an already irregular comparative is redundant. 'Pior' already includes the comparative meaning.
本章规则 (4)
Next Steps
You have done an excellent job mastering these tricky forms. Keep practicing, and you will be sounding fluent in no time!
Compare items in your room aloud.
快速练习 (10)
Find and fix the mistake:
As mesas desta loja são menor.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 不规则比较级：Menor（更小）
Find and fix the mistake:
As minhas notas são mais ruins este semestre.
piores，而不是 mais ruins。frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 不规则比较级：更差 (`pior`)
选择最自然的句子：
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 不规则比较级：Menor（更小）
O Brasil é ___ que a Argentina.
maior。frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 不规则比较级：`grande` → `maior` (更大)
O tempo hoje está ___ que ontem.
pior，不能说 mais ruim。frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 不规则比较级：更差 (`pior`)
选择正确的句子：
cidades（城市），必须使用复数形式的比较级 maiores。frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 不规则比较级：`grande` → `maior` (更大)
Este vestido é ___ que o azul.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 不规则比较级：Menor（更小）
选择正确的句子：
pior 是 mau 或 ruim 的正确比较级。mais mau 在此语境下错误，而 mais pior 永远是错的。frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 不规则比较级：更差 (`pior`)
Este computador é mais grande que o meu.
maior que。frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 不规则比较级：`grande` → `maior` (更大)
O meu carro é ___ (better) que o teu.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 如何说“更好” (千万别说 Mais Bom!)
Score: /10
常见问题 (6)
O homem é melhor 和 A mulher é melhor 是一样的。muito melhor。千万别说 mais melhor，那是重复啰嗦且错误的。pior 在葡萄牙语里是“更糟”或“更坏”的意思。当你觉得一个东西比另一个更差时就用它。mau 是“坏”，而 pior 是它的比较级，意思是“更坏”。比如：O filme é mau (电影很烂)，但 Este filme é pior (这部电影更烂)。maior。单词 grande 的比较级是不规则的，所以不说 mais grande，而说 maior。例如： Minha casa é maior que a sua.
maior 是中性的，不论修饰阳性名词（如 o carro）还是阴性名词（如 a casa）都一样，非常简单！
