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Spanish grammar - Comparison of quantities of nouns - más, menos and tanto

Comparison of quantities of nouns - más, menos and tanto

The comparative adverbs más ('more'), menos ('less') and tanto ('as much') are used to talk about quantities of nouns.

When used to make comparisons, a conjunction (que or como) is added.

• más que means 'more than'

• menos que means 'less than'

• tanto como means 'as much as'

Usage notes:

1. When used with numerals, the preposition de is used.

2. When used with a noun, an adjective or an adverb, the compara-tive adverb and que or como are separated. For example más sal que ('more salt than').

3. When comparing against a pronoun, a subject pronoun (e.g., yo, tú, él, ella, etc.) is used.

4. When comparing two quantities, we use the preposition twice.
Examples:
Tengo más de un libro.
(I) have more than one book.

With numerals, use the preposition de
Ella tiene menos de un euro.
She has less than one euro.

With numerals, use the preposition de
Hay tanto de eso como de aquello.
There is as much of this as of that.

eso means 'this'

aquello means 'that'
El profesor tiene más de una respuesta.
The teacher has more than one answer.

With numerals, use the preposition de
Compramos menos de una docena de huevos.
(We) buy less than a dozen eggs.

With numerals, use the preposition de

docena (f) means 'dozen'

huevo (m) means 'egg'
Hay tanto de esto como de aquello en la tienda.
There is as much of this as of that in the store.
Pedro tiene más de una idea.
Pedro has more than one idea.

With numerals, use the preposition de
(Nosotros) encontramos menos de una solución.
(We) found less than one solution.

With numerals, use the preposition de
Juan tiene más libros que María.
Juan has more books than María.

With a noun separate the comparative and que
El profesor tiene menos paciencia que los estudiantes.
The teacher has less patience than the students.

With a noun separate the comparative and que
Nosotros compramos más frutas que verduras.
(We) buy more fruits than vegetables.

With a noun separate the comparative and que

verdura (f) means 'vegetable'
Ella bebe menos café que té.
She drinks less coffee than tea.

With a noun separate the comparative and que
Ellos comieron más pan que arroz.
They ate more bread than rice.

With a noun separate the comparative and que

arroz (m) means 'rice'
(Nosotros) tenemos menos tiempo que antes.
(We) have less time than before.

With a noun separate the comparative and que
María compró más ropa que zapatos.
María bought more clothes than shoes.

With a noun separate the comparative and que

ropa (f) means 'clothing' or 'clothes'
La tienda tiene menos clientes que antes.
The store has fewer customers than before.

With a noun separate the comparative and que

cliente means 'customer'
¿Tienes tanto dinero como él?
Do (you, familiar) have as much money as him?

Use the subject pronouns

él means 'him'
¿Lees tanto como tu hermana?
Do (you, familiar) read as much as your sister?
Ellos tienen más suerte que nosotros.
They are luckier than us.

Use the subject pronouns
¿Compraron tantos regalos como nosotros?
Did (they) buy as many gifts as us?

Use the subject pronouns
¿Has hecho tanto ejercicio como él?
Have (you, familiar) done as much exercise as him?

Use the subject pronouns
Pedro tiene más ideas que ella.
Pedro has more ideas than her.

Use the subject pronouns
Ellos tienen menos paciencia que nosotros.
They have less patience than us.

Use the subject pronouns
¿Tú tienes tantos problemas como yo?
Do (you, familiar) have as many problems as me?

Use the subject pronouns

yo means 'me'
Hay más libros de historia que de matemáticas.
There are more history books than math books.

Comparing two quantities use the preposition twice
¿Hay menos estudiantes de arte que de ciencias?
Are there fewer art students than science students?

Comparing two quantities use the preposition twice

ciencia (f) means 'science'
Vendimos más entradas de cine que de teatro.
(We) sold more movie tickets than theater tickets.

Comparing two quantities use the preposition twice
Hay menos agua de manantial que de grifo.
There is less spring water than tap water.

Comparing two quantities use the preposition twice

manantial (m) means 'spring'

grifo (m) means 'tap'
Compré más ropa de invierno que de verano.
(I) bought more winter clothes than summer clothes.

Comparing two quantities use the preposition twice
Tenemos más clases de matemáticas que de inglés.
(We) have more math classes than English classes.

Comparing two quantities use the preposition twice

inglés means 'English'
Mis padres tienen menos tiempo libre que yo.
My parents have less free time than (I) do.

tiempo libre means 'free time'
Tengo más paciencia que mis hermanos.
(I) have more patience than my siblings.

hermanos (pl.) means 'siblings'