In this lesson, we’re going to talk about how to make comparisons of equality, superiority, and inferiority in Brazilian Portuguese. You’re going to learn essential structures that you need to know to express yourself naturally in Portuguese.
👉 This lesson includes a free worksheet with a detailed summary of the lesson, many example sentences, and exercises for you to practice. Click here to download your free worksheet.
Part one: comparison of superiority
To make a comparison of superiority, we’re going to use the following structure:
MAIS … QUE (MORE … THAN)
MAIS … DO QUE (MORE … THAN)
For example:
João é mais alto que Maria. (João is taller than Maria.)
João é mais alto do que Maria. (João is taller than Maria.)
The word “do” is optional.
This structure can be used with adjectives and nouns.
A) Comparison of superiority using adjectives
Let’s see how to make a comparison of superiority using adjectives, which are words we use to describe things or people.
For example:
Maria é mais baixa que João. (Maria is shorter than João.)
Maria é mais baixa do que João. (Maria is shorter than João.)
Esta casa é mais bonita que aquela. (This house is more beautiful than that one.)
Esta casa é mais bonita do que aquela. (This house is more beautiful than that one.)
Attention!
The adjectives “bom” (good), “ruim” (bad), “grande” (big) and “pequeno” (small) are not used with the word “mais” (more).
Just like in English, we can’t say “more good.” It sounds strange, right? We should say “better.” The same thing happens in Portuguese, but only with these four adjectives.
MAIS BOM = MELHOR
MAIS RUIM = PIOR
MAIS GRANDE = MAIOR
MAIS PEQUENO = MENOR
See some examples in sentences:
Este carro é melhor que o outro. (This car is better than the other one.)
Este computador é pior que aquele. (This computer is worse than that one.)
A casa da Ana é maior que a da Maria. (Ana’s house is bigger than Maria’s.)
O apartamento do Pedro é menor que o do Carlos. (Pedro’s apartment is smaller than Carlos’s.)
An interesting detail is that, in Portugal, it’s common to say “mais pequeno” (more small), but in Brazil, that sounds very strange. We always say “menor” (smaller).
B) Comparison of superiority using nouns
Now let’s see how to make a comparison of superiority using nouns, which are words that give names to things.
For example:
Maria tem mais livros que João. (Maria has more books than João.)
Maria tem mais livros do que João. (Maria has more books than João.)
Once again, the word “do” is optional.
Let’s see one more example:
Ana tem mais paciência que Carolina. (Ana has more patience than Carolina.)
Ana tem mais paciência do que Carolina. (Ana has more patience than Carolina.)
C) Comparison of superiority using verbs
Now let’s see how to make a comparison of superiority using verbs, which are terms that indicate an action or state.
In this case, the structure is a little different. The verb must come before the expression “mais que” (more than).
For example:
Maria trabalha mais que João. (Maria works more than João.)
Maria trabalha mais do que João. (Maria works more than João.)
Ana estuda mais que Carolina. (Ana studies more than Carolina.)
Ana estuda mais do que Carolina. (Ana studies more than Carolina.)
Part two: comparison of inferiority
To make a comparison of inferiority, we’re going to use a structure that is very similar to a comparison of superiority. We’re going to say:
MENOS … QUE (LESS … THAN)
MENOS … DO QUE (LESS … THAN)
A) Comparison of inferiority using adjectives
Let’s see how to make a comparison of inferiority using adjectives:
Este livro é menos interessante que o outro. (This book is less interesting than the other one.)
Este livro é menos interessante do que o outro. (This book is less interesting than the other one.)
Carol é menos organizada que Fernanda. (Carol is less organized than Fernanda.)
Carol é menos organizada do que Fernanda. (Carol is less organized than Fernanda.)
B) Comparison of inferiority using nouns
Now let’s see how to make a comparison of inferiority using nouns:
Maria tem menos sapatos que João. (Maria has fewer shoes than João.)
Maria tem menos sapatos do que João. (Maria has fewer shoes than João.)
Carolina tem menos paciência que Ana. (Carolina has less patience than Ana.)
Carolina tem menos paciência do que Ana. (Carolina has less patience than Ana.)
C) Comparison of inferiority using verbs
Now let’s see how to make a comparison of inferiority using verbs:
Once again, notice that we must place the verb before the expression “menos que” (less than).
Maria viaja menos que João. (Maria travels less than João.)
Maria viaja menos do que João. (Maria travels less than João.)
Carolina estuda menos que Ana. (Carolina studies less than Ana.)
Carolina estuda menos do que Ana. (Carolina studies less than Ana.)
Part three: comparison of equality
Comparisons of equality are a little more complex than the previous ones because we use three different structures, one with adjectives, another with nouns, and another with verbs. Don’t worry. We’re going to work with examples, so it becomes very clear.
A) Comparison of equality using adjectives
To make a comparison of equality using adjectives, which are those words we use to describe things or people, we’re going to use the following structure:
TÃO + ADJETIVO + QUANTO (AS + ADJECTIVE + AS)
For example:
O meu computador é tão bom quanto o seu. (My computer is as good as yours.)
Marina é tão carismática quanto Luísa. (Marina is as charismatic as Luísa.)
B) Comparison of equality using nouns
To make a comparison of equality using nouns, which are words that give names to things or people, we’re going to use the following structure:
TANTO + SUBSTANTIVO + QUANTO (AS MANY + NOUN + AS)
For example:
Ana tem tantos livros quanto Carolina. (Ana has as many books as Carolina.)
Pedro tem tantas responsabilidades quanto João. (Pedro has as many responsibilities as João.)
Notice that, in this case, the word “tanto” must agree in gender and number with the noun:
tantos livros (as many books)
tantas responsabilidades (as many responsibilities)
C) Comparison of equality using verbs
To make a comparison of equality using verbs, which are terms that indicate an action or state, we’re going to use the following structure:
VERBO + TANTO QUANTO (VERB + AS MUCH AS)
For example:
Ana trabalha tanto quanto Carolina. (Ana works as much as Carolina.)
Pedro viaja tanto quanto João. (Pedro travels as much as João.)
Now, let’s recap everything.
To make a comparison of inferiority or superiority, we use the expressions:
MAIS … QUE (MORE … THAN)
MENOS … QUE (LESS … THAN)
João é mais alto que Maria. (João is taller than Maria.)
Carolina tem menos paciência que Ana. (Carolina has less patience than Ana.)
Ana estuda mais que Carolina. (Ana studies more than Carolina.)
Maria viaja menos que João. (Maria travels less than João.)
To make a comparison of equality, we use three different structures.
With adjectives, we say:
TÃO + ADJETIVO + QUANTO (AS + ADJECTIVE + AS)
O meu computador é tão bom quanto o seu. (My computer is as good as yours.)
With nouns, we say:
TANTO + SUBSTANTIVO + QUANTO (AS MANY + NOUN + AS)
Ana tem tantos livros quanto Carolina. (Ana has as many books as Carolina.)
With verbs, we say:
VERBO + TANTO QUANTO (VERB + AS MUCH AS)
Ana trabalha tanto quanto Carolina. (Ana works as much as Carolina.)
Free worksheet!
👉 This lesson includes a free support material with a detailed summary of the lesson, many examples in sentences and exercises for you to practice. Click here to download your free support material.
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