Comparative Adverbs
Adverbs modify verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs, and comparative adverbs show how one action or quality measures against another. This guide goes over the key comparative adverbs in Spanish and how to use them with clear examples.
Key Comparative Adverbs
Comparative adverbs tell you whether something happens more, less, or as much relative to something else. The main ones to know are más, menos, and tan when modifying adverbial expressions.
Más / Menos
Use más to indicate a greater degree and menos for a smaller degree when modifying an adverb or an adverbial phrase. They typically come before the adverb.
| Spanish Example | English Translation |
|---|---|
| 🌱 Ella come más para crecer. | She eats more to grow. |
| 🍂 Él come menos antes de la tormenta. | He eats less before the storm. |
Tan
Use tan to express equality when modifying an adverb, and it is followed by the adverb itself. Tan pairs well with adverbs to show that two actions are alike in degree.
| Spanish Example | English Translation |
|---|---|
| ☀️ Hoy brilla tan fuerte como ayer. | Today it shines as brightly as yesterday. |
| 🌕 La luna está tan clara como un farol. | The moon is as clear as a lantern. |
Expressions with De
When making comparisons that involve an amount, time, or manner, Spanish often uses de after más, menos, or an expression like más de to link to the noun or number.
| Spanish Example | English Translation |
|---|---|
| 🐝 Vuela más rápido de lo que pensé. | It flies faster than I thought. |
| 🐦 Canta menos de lo que suele. | It sings less than usual. |
| 🌸 Hay más flores de las que conté. | There are more flowers than I counted. |
| 🪨 Hay menos piedras de las que parece. | There are fewer stones than it seems. |
Using Que
Use que to introduce the second element in a comparison when you are comparing actions, qualities, or amounts. Que follows más, menos, or tan when needed.
Using Como
Use como to introduce the second element in an equal comparison, especially after expressions of equality. Como pairs with tan for adjectives and adverbs, and with tanto for nouns and verbs.
Summary
Comparative adverbs modify the degree of an action or quality relative to another, using más, menos, tan, and sometimes de, que, or como to link the elements of the comparison.
Last updated: Sun Sep 14, 2025