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Use [verb] más [adjective/noun] que / menos [adjective/noun] que = more...than / less... than (comparatives)

Written by qualified Spanish expert Silvia Piriz BA
Last updated: 2024-05-18
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To say more [+ adjective/noun] than, or less/fewer [+ adjective/noun] than, we use más...que or menos...que if the thing we are comparing is a noun or an adjective.

Más...que/ menos...que with nouns

¡Yo nunca he tenido más dinero que tú!I've never had more money than you!

Rafael tiene más amigas que Luis.Rafael has more friends than Luis.

Nosotros metimos en la maleta menos regalos que Jorge.We put fewer presents in the suitcase than Jorge.

Los adolescentes estudian menos horas que los adultos.Teenagers study fewer hours than adults.

Notice on the examples above that más/menos...que doesn't change when comparing singular/plural or masculine/feminine nouns. It remains the same. Whereas in English less is used for singular and uncountable nouns and fewer is used for plural and countable nouns.

 

Más...que/menos...que with adjectives

El viaje en avión es menos cómodo que el viaje en tren.Travelling by plane is less comfortable than travelling by train.

La camisa de seda parece ser más cara que la de algodón.The silk shirt seems to be more expensive than the cotton one.

Mis niños son más altos que los tuyos.My children are taller than yours.

Esas pinturas eran menos valiosas que las esculturas.Those paintings were worth less than the sculptures.

Pay special attention to comparisons with adjectives as the adjective always agrees in number and gender with the noun it refers to, unlike in English. For example:

Las chicas son más rápidas que los chicos. 

The girls are faster than the boys.

Los chicos son más rápidos que las chicas.

The boys are faster than the girls.

See also Comparativo

Bear in mind that when it's obvious, we sometimes omit the second part of the comparative "que...". For example:

Hemos recibido muchos regalos pero yo tengo menos cosas [que tú].We've received lots of presents but I have fewer things [than you].

Me gustan la falda y el vestido, pero la falda es más colorida [que el vestido].I like the skirt and the dress, but the skirt is more colourful [than the dress].

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Examples and resources

Esas pinturas eran menos valiosas que las esculturas.Those paintings were worth less than the sculptures.
Hemos recibido muchos regalos pero yo tengo menos cosas [que tú].We've received lots of presents but I have fewer things [than you].
Me gustan la falda y el vestido, pero la falda es más colorida [que el vestido].I like the skirt and the dress, but the skirt is more colourful [than the dress].
Mis niños son más altos que los tuyos.My children are taller than yours.
La camisa de seda parece ser más cara que la de algodón.The silk shirt seems to be more expensive than the cotton one.
Rafael tiene más amigas que Luis.Rafael has more friends than Luis.
Los adolescentes estudian menos horas que los adultos.Teenagers study fewer hours than adults.
El viaje en avión es menos cómodo que el viaje en tren.Travelling by plane is less comfortable than travelling by train.
¡Yo nunca he tenido más dinero que tú!I've never had more money than you!
Nosotros metimos en la maleta menos regalos que Jorge.We put fewer presents in the suitcase than Jorge.
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