Comparative Adverbs in SpanishA2

Comparative adverbs serve to compare how an action is performed. They do not compare the subject, but rather the manner, quantity, frequency or intensity with which it acts. In corre rápido the adverb rápido describes the way of running; in corre más rápido que su hermano, the comparison is made about that way of running. If the adverb is changed or removed, the idea about the action changes, not the idea about the person. To better understand the general structure of the sentence, it is useful to keep Introduction to Grammar and Verbs - Simple Tenses in mind, because the comparative adverb usually accompanies and specifies the verb. It is also related to Adverbs and Adjectives in Contexts, where we see how these words change according to the function they fulfill in the sentence.

Comparative function of adverbs

Idea
Comparative adverbs compare how an action is performed and not the person or thing that performs it.
They are used to compare degree, frequency, or intensity of an action.

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Superiority in an action is expressed with más + adverbio + que. The comparison indicates that an action occurs with greater speed, greater frequency or greater intensity. Corre más rápido que yo compares the speed of running. Viene más a menudo que antes compares the frequency. Habla más claramente que su hermano compares the way of speaking. The second element of the comparison appears after que and completes the idea with the person, place or situation against which the action is measured. In contexts such as trabaja más despacio que ayer, the adverb continues to describe the verb and does not change according to gender or number.

Use of superiority in actions

Usage	Explanation
Greater speed	Use more + adverb + than when one action is performed with greater speed than another.
Greater frequency	Use more + adverb + than when one action occurs more frequently than another.
Greater intensity	Use more + adverb + than when one action is performed with greater intensity than another.

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Inferiority is formed with menos + adverbio + que. The structure indicates that the action occurs with less intensity, lower frequency or a lesser degree of a quality. Duerme menos profundamente que su hermano compares the intensity of sleep. Llega menos seguido que antes compares the frequency. Conduce menos rápido que yo compares the speed. After que comes the term with which the comparison is established. The adverb keeps its fixed form because it continues to modify the verb. To compare actions with another related idea, the structures in Comparisons of Actions are also useful, where we see how the contrast between two facts is organized.

Use of inferiority in actions

Usage	Explanation
Lower speed	Use less + adverb + than when one action is performed with less speed than another.
Lower frequency	Use less + adverb + than when one action occurs less frequently than another.
Lower intensity	Use less + adverb + than when one action is performed with less intensity than another.

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Equality in an action is expressed with tan + adverbio + como. The structure says that two actions are performed to the same degree. Canta tan bien como su madre makes the way of singing equal. Llegó tan pronto como pudo makes the time or speed of arrival equal. Trabaja tan cuidadosamente como su compañera compares the way of working. The second element enters with como, not with que. The adverb keeps its form because it describes the action and not the subject. This construction frequently appears when one wants to balance two ways of doing something, as in habla tan despacio como tú.

Use of equality in actions

Usage	Explanation
Equal speed	Use as + adverb + as to say that two actions have the same speed.
Equal frequency	Use as + adverb + as to say that two actions occur with the same frequency.
Equal intensity	Use as + adverb + as to say that two actions are performed with the same intensity.

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Mejor and peor function as irregular comparatives of bien and mal when they describe actions. Habla mejor means that the way of speaking has improved. Trabaja peor indicates that the action is performed with less effectiveness or quality. In comparison, más bien and más mal do not replace these forms in the natural use of the language for comparing actions. One says cocina mejor que yo and duerme peor que antes. These irregular comparatives are used with verbs just like other comparative adverbs, and they can appear with que when the complete contrast is established.

Irregular comparatives of well and badly

Idea
Better functions as the comparative of well when comparing how an action is performed.
Worse functions as the comparative of badly when comparing how an action is performed.
Do not use more well or more badly as action comparatives in these cases.

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Comparative adverbs do not change according to gender or number. Más rápido, más rápido que ella and más rápido que ellos keep the same form because rápido functions as an adverb when it modifies the action. This differentiates them from comparative adjectives, which do agree with the noun when they describe it. In un examen más fácil a noun is compared with an adjective; in resuelve el examen más fácilmente the way of solving it is compared with an adverb. The form of the adverb remains fixed even when the person, object or number of elements being compared changes. This stability makes it possible to use it clearly in sentences such as camina más lentamente que sus amigos or responde menos claramente que ayer.

Difference between comparative adverbs and adjectives

Idea
Comparative adverbs do not change according to gender or number.
Comparative adjectives agree with the noun.
Use the adverb when comparing the way an action is performed.

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