LAS COMPARACIONES Y LOS SUPERLATIVOS

Español II

Los superlativos

Los superlativos

Superlatives are used to state the idea of very, super, or extremely

Los superlativos

To form a superlative: If the adjective ends in a vowel: take off the

last vowel and add ísimo Bueno → buen → buenísimo

If the adjective ends in a consonant: add the ísimo right to the end of the word Trabajador → trabajadorísimo

Make sure the adjective agrees with the noun Dora era gordísima y sus hermanas eran

delgadísimas.

Los superlativos

There are three types of irregulars/spelling changes Adjectives ending in C → QU

Rico → riquísimo Adjectives ending in G → GU

Largo → larguísimo Adjectives ending in Z → C

Feliz → felicísmo

Los comparativos de desigualdad

Comparative Adjectives

We compare adjectives when two or more nouns have the same quality (height, size, color, any characteristic) and we want to indicate that one of these nouns has a greater, lesser, or equal degree of this quality. Example: Mr. Miga is smart but the class is

smarter. In English and Spanish, there are two

types of comparisons: comparatives and superlatives.

Comparative Adjectives (English) The comparative is used to compare one noun

to another noun. You can do this in three ways: Greater →“greater degree (more)” (1 way to

form in English) Mr. Miga is smarter than the class. The class is more intelligent than Mr. Miga.

Lesser → “lesser degree (less)” (2 ways to form in English) Mr. Miga is less intelligent than the class. Mr. Miga is not as smart as the class.

To be discussed later… mwa ha ha!

Comparative Adjectives (Español) There are also the same three ways to

compare in Spanish as in English. But, there are a couple things to remember:

Adjectives must always agree with the noun they are describing

Comparative adjectives always describe more than one noun

Nevertheless, the adjective you will use in your comparison always agrees in gender and number with the first noun.

Comparative Adjectives (Español) Greater→ “more than”

Lesser → “less than”

AGREEMENT

más

que

AGREEMENT

menos

que

Comparative Adjectives (Español) Irregulars

better mejor que

worse peor queolder mayor

queyoung

ermenor que

Comparative Adjectives (Español) ¡Pruébalo! Mr. Miga is more curious than a

Smurf. Mr. Miga es … Smurf. more than → más (adjective) que.. Curious → curioso Which subject must our adjective

agree with? Mr. Miga → curious Curioso

Mr. Miga es más curioso que un Pitufo.

Comparative Adjectives (Español) ¡Pruébalo! The boys are more obedient than a dog.

Los chicos son más obedientes que un perro. We are better than Mrs. Mitchell’s class.

(Nosotros) Somos mejores que la clase de Sra. Mitchell.

You are less selfish than Brad Pitt. (Tú) Eres menos egoísta que Brad Pitt.

She is older than Elmo. Ella es mayor que Elmo.

You girls are less quiet than me. Vosotras sois menos calladas que yo.

Los comparativos de igualdad

Equal comparisons

In English and Spanish, remember there are three types of comparatives:

Greater than to be + -er more than

Less than not as ... as less than

Equal comparisons

Equality (equal to) as … as

These can be comparisons of adjectives or things.

Examples: Mr. Miga is as smart as a dog. (adjective) The class has as many students as desks.

(things)

Equal comparisons

Remember when we do adjectives in Spanish…

Adjective must agree in gender and number

In comparatives, the adjective must agree with the first noun of the sentence

Equal comparisons

1. If you are comparing adjectives or adverbs…

AGREEMENT

tan como

Equal comparisons

Ejemplo: The movie is as interesting as the book.

Start with what we know: La película es … el libro.

What part of speech is interesting? Adjective Adjective → tan como

What does interesting agree with? La película Interesante

La película es tan interesante como el libro.

Equal comparisons

2. If you are comparing nouns…

tantotantatantostantas

Equal comparisons

Ejemplo: The class has as many boys as girls. Start with what we know:

La clases tiene … chicos … chicas. What parts of speech are boys and girls?

nouns Nouns → tanto/a/os/as como

What does tanto agree with? los chicos tantos

La clase tiene tantos chicos como chicas.

Equal comparisons

¡Pruébalo! Delgado

What does delgado mean? Skinny

What part of speech is skinny? Adjective

What formula will we use? Adjective → tan como

Equal comparisons

¡Pruébalo! Delgado

What will delgado agree with? Carlota Carlota → delgada

Put the sentence together.Carlota es tan delgada como Luis.

Equal comparisons

Amigos Carlota tiene tantos amigos como Luis.

Popular Carlota es tan popular como Luis.

Inteligente Carlota es tan inteligente como Luis.

Clases Carlota tiene tantas clases como Luis.

Actividades Carlota tiene tantas actividades como Luis.