DELE A2 Guide: Spanish Comparatives and Superlatives
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Key Takeaways
- Master basic comparative structures: más/menos…que, tan…como
- Learn irregular comparative forms: mejor, peor, mayor, menor
- Understand how to form and use Spanish superlatives
- Practice with real-life DELE A2 scenarios and examples
Welcome to your complete guide to Spanish Comparatives and Superlatives. This essential grammar topic allows you to compare people, places, and things – a crucial skill for the DELE A2 exam. You’ll use these structures in speaking tasks to express opinions and in writing to describe differences.
What are Comparatives and Superlatives?
Comparatives compare two things, while superlatives describe the highest or lowest degree of something.
Basic Comparative Structures
1. Más…que (More…than)
Used to say something has more of a quality:
- “Madrid es más grande que Barcelona.” (Madrid is bigger than Barcelona.)
- “Mi coche es más rápido que el tuyo.” (My car is faster than yours.)
2. Menos…que (Less…than)
Used to say something has less of a quality:
- “Este libro es menos interesante que ese.” (This book is less interesting than that one.)
- “El invierno es menos caluroso que el verano.” (Winter is less hot than summer.)
3. Tan…como (As…as)
Used to say two things are equal:
- “Juan es tan alto como Pedro.” (Juan is as tall as Pedro.)
- “Esta película es tan buena como la otra.” (This movie is as good as the other one.)
Irregular Comparatives
These four common adjectives have special comparative forms:
| Adjective | Comparative | English |
|---|---|---|
| bueno | mejor | better |
| malo | peor | worse |
| grande | mayor | older/greater |
| pequeño | menor | younger/smaller |
Examples:
- “Mi español es mejor que ayer.” (My Spanish is better than yesterday.)
- “El tiempo está peor que la semana pasada.” (The weather is worse than last week.)
- “Mi hermano es mayor que yo.” (My brother is older than me.)
- “Esta casa es menor que nuestra anterior.” (This house is smaller than our previous one.)
Superlatives
Formation: definite article + más/menos + adjective
- “el/la/los/las + más/menos + adjective”
Examples:
- “Juan es el más alto de la clase.” (Juan is the tallest in the class.)
- “Esta es la menos cara.” (This is the least expensive.)
- “Madrid es la ciudad más grande de España.” (Madrid is the largest city in Spain.)
Irregular Superlatives:
- “el/la mejor” (the best)
- “el/la peor” (the worst)
DELE A2 Practical Scenarios
Comparing Cities/Places:
- “Barcelona es más turística que Valencia.” (Barcelona is more touristy than Valencia.)
- “Mi ciudad es tan bonita como la tuya.” (My city is as pretty as yours.)
Comparing People:
- “Mi hermana es menos sociable que yo.” (My sister is less sociable than me.)
- “Somos tan trabajadores como ellos.” (We are as hardworking as them.)
Daily Life Comparisons:
- “Este restaurante es mejor que el otro.” (This restaurant is better than the other.)
- “El autobús es más barato que el taxi.” (The bus is cheaper than the taxi.)
Common DELE A2 Exam Topics
- Comparing family members
- Describing preferences between options
- Talking about your city vs other cities
- Comparing past and present situations
Important Notes
1. Gender and Number Agreement:
- “Mi hermana es la más inteligente.” (My sister is the most intelligent.)
- “Mis amigos son los más divertidos.” (My friends are the most fun.)
2. Using “DE” with Superlatives:
- “Es el mejor restaurante de la ciudad.” (It’s the best restaurant in the city.)
- “Soy el más joven de la familia.” (I’m the youngest in the family.)
3. Equal Comparisons with Nouns:
- “Tengo tantos libros como tú.” (I have as many books as you.)
- “Hay tanta gente como ayer.” (There are as many people as yesterday.)
DELE A2 Exam Tips
- Speaking Section: Use comparatives when expressing preferences
- Writing Section: Show you can use different comparative structures
- Listening Section: Recognize comparisons in conversations
- Key Areas: Describing people, places, preferences, changes
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Don’t forget “que” after “más/menos”
- Remember gender/number agreement in superlatives
- Don’t confuse “mayor/menor” with “más/menos grande/pequeño”
- Practice the irregular forms – they’re very common
Memory Tips
- Más/Menos always need que
- Tan always needs como
- Four irregulars: good, bad, big, small
- Superlatives need el/la/los/las
Next Step: Test Your Knowledge!
Ready to master comparatives and superlatives?
Take our DELE A2 Comparatives and Superlatives Quiz here to ensure you’re prepared for the exam.
What’s Next in Your DELE A2 Journey?
- Need more adjective practice? Review DELE A2 Adjectives
- Ready for more grammar? Study DELE A2 Verbs with Prepositions
- Want related topics? Learn DELE A2 Object Pronouns
- Practice all A2 grammar? Return to DELE A2 Grammar Hub
Looking for a deeper dive?
This guide covers the essentials for the DELE A2 exam. If you want to explore more complex comparative structures, additional irregular forms, and nuanced usage rules, check out our complete guide: Spanish Comparatives and Superlatives: The Complete Guide
Master comparatives and superlatives and you’ll be able to express detailed opinions and comparisons in Spanish!
