"More" and "less" in Spanish
The words más and menos (more and less/fewer) can have different functions in a sentence:
An adjective accompanying a noun
No tengo más dinero.I haven't got more money.
Yo tengo menos dinero.
I have less money.
Esta pulsera tiene más plata.This bracelet has more silver.
Aquí hay más platos.There are more dishes here.
Aquí hay menos sillas.There are fewer chairs here.
Notice how both más and menos are invariable in the examples above, whether they are accompanying masculine, feminine, singular or plural nouns.
A pronoun referring to a mentioned or known noun
-Quiero comida. -Aquí hay más.-I want food. - Here is more [food].
-No encuentro papel. -Aquí hay más.-I can't find any paper. -Here is more [paper].
-Necesito otras botas. -Tienes más en el garaje.-I need another pair of boots. -You have more [boots] in the garage.
-Usas mucho maquillaje. -Vale, voy a usar menos.-You use a lot of make-up. -OK, I will use less. [make up]
Notice again how both más and menos are invariable in the examples above.
An adverb modifying the verb, an adjective or another adverb
Ahora como menos por la dieta.I eat less now because of the diet.
Ella corre más por la mañana.She runs more in the morning.
Yo estudio más en la biblioteca.I study more at the library.
Yo soy más inteligente.I am more intelligent.
Carlos es menos serio.Carlos is less serious.
Vamos a llegar más temprano.We're going to arrive earlier.
Remember that más has a written accent [´]
For other uses of más and menos see also Use [verb] más [adjective/noun] que / menos [adjective/noun] que = more...than / less... than (comparatives).
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