Comparative adverbs in the Spanish language are used as in the English language. They’re used to compare the way and action is performed. It’s used to compare two things or two people. In the case of superlative adverbs, they’re used to indicate that something or someone es el mejor or the best, el peor or the worst, el menor or the least.
Table of Contents |
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| 1. How Comparative Adverbs Are Formed? | |
| 2. How Superlative Adverbs Are Formed? | |
| 3. What are Irregular Comparative and Superlative Adverbs? | |
In most cases, comparative adverbs in the English language are formed and used in the same way as comparative adjectives. You simply add -er at the end of one syllable adverb and more/less before two or more syllable adverbs. In the case of the Spanish language, you simply add más/menos which means more/less before any adverb and que or than after the adverb. |
Examples for How Comparative Adverbs are Formed.
| Hoy la clase es más temprano que ayer | The lesson today is earlier that yesterday |
| El chita es más rápido que el leopardo | The cheetah is faster than the leopard |
| Trabaja más eficientemente que su compañera | She works more efficiently than her coworker |
| Juan trabaja menos rápidamente que Roberto | Juan works less rapidly than Roberto |
| Sally conduce más cuidadosamente que Patricio | Sally drives more carefully than Patricio |
| Él habla más claramente que su hermano | He speaks more clearly than his brother |
In the English language, superlative adverbs are formed by adding -est to the adverb or most/least before more than two syllable adverbs. In the Spanish language, you don’t have to add anything to the adverb. You simply say el/la más or the most, el/la menos or the least.
Superlative adverbs are used to talk about a thing, a person or group of things or people which are the most, the least or worst of all. It means that something or someone is put at the top or bottom of their category.
Examples of Superlative Adverbs
| Ella es la que corre más rápido en su clase | She’s the one who runs the fastest in her class |
| La panadería es la tienda que está más cerca de mi casa | The bakery is the shop which is the nearest to my home |
| Es la que llegó lo más tarde a la reunión | She’s the one who arrived the latest to the meeting |
| Él es el que trabaja menos rápido en su oficina | He’s the one who works the least fast in his office |
| Soy la que duermo menos bien de mi familia | I’m the one who sleeps the least good in my family |
| Mi amiga es la que sabe menos del grupo | My friends is the one who knows the least |
As in the English language, in Spanish there are some comparative and superlative adverbs which are irregular. This means, you don’t have to add -er or -est. You simply have to learn by heart and recognize these exceptions.
The most common irregular superlative adverbs are el/la mejor or the best, el/la peor or the worst, el/la más or the most, el/la menos or the least. As regards irregular comparative adverbs you simply say mejor or better, más or more, menos or less, peor or worse.
Bear in mind that in the Spanish language you need to distinguish between the femenine and male gender. You simply say La mejor to say She’s the best or El mejor to indicate He’s the best.
Examples of Irregular Comparative and Superlative Adverbs.
| Lo conozco mejor que nadie | I know him better than anyone |
| Lee mejor que todos sus hermanos | He reads better than all his siblings |
| Cocina mejor que su madre | She cooks better than her mother |
| Yo lo hago mejor que tú | I do it better than you do |
| Es el mejor de su clase | He’s the best in his class |
| Es el peor libro que leí | It’s the worst book I’ve ever read |
