In a textbook a sentence was given as:
“ Es muy gordo; come más que dos hombres ordinaries.”
My question is why is it not más de because of the “dos” being a quantitative factor. Is it a comparison?
In Spanish there are two ways to say "More/less than":
1. Using DE
Más de = More than
Menos de = Less/Fewer than
These forms will be used when we talk about quantities.
Have a look and listen to the following examples:
Tengo más de diez caramelos en mi bolso.
I have more than ten sweets in my handbag.
He tardado menos de una hora en llegar.
It took me less than one hour to get here.
2. Using QUE
Más que = More than
Menos que = Less/Fewer than
These forms will be used when we talk about comparisons.
Have a look and listen to the following examples:
See also Using más/menos for more/less/fewer as adjectives, pronouns and adverbs
Learn more about these related Spanish grammar topics
Examples and resources
Q&A Forum 1 question, 2 answers
Hola Sherri,
Yes, exactly. Although there is a number after que, it is expressing a comparison. He is comparing that man's eating to that of two men together. See how this would not work if we change the que for a "de":
"Es muy gordo; come más de dos hombres ordinarios."
This wouldn't make sense because it'd mean that he eats more than two men.
This other one would make for sense with "de":
"Es muy gordo; come más de dos kilos de patatas fritas cada semana."
(He is very fat; he eats more than 2 kilos of fries every week.)
I understand though, that finding this kind of sentence you found could be a bit confusing so I will add a note to the lesson.
I hope that helps.
Un saludo
Inma
Sherri asked:View original
más que vs. más de
In a textbook a sentence was given as:
“ Es muy gordo; come más que dos hombres ordinaries.”
My question is why is it not más de because of the “dos” being a quantitative factor. Is it a comparison?
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