Comparisons
Look at the following chart to see how to compare things. *Remember – articles, nouns, and adjectives need to agree with each other. Pay attention to your endings!
positive | alto/a/os/as | tall |
comparative | más (menos) alto/a/os/as | taller |
superlative | el/la/los/las … más alto/a/os/as | tallest |
Este edificio es alto. This building is tall.
Esa casa es más alta. That house is taller.
When you want to talk about something being the best or the most, then use this simple formula.
el / la / los / las + más + adjective
Esos edificios son los más altos. Those building are the tallest.
Absolute Superlatives
Sometimes you want to say something is the most _____ without comparing it to other things. That is called an absolute superlative and this is how they work.
–ísimo
You can add -ísimo/a/os/as to adjectives to instead of muy. *Remember that adjectives that end in -co, -go, or z have a change in spelling ) just like -car, -gar, -zar verbs.
muy caro / carísimo | very expensive |
muy fresco / fresquísimo | very fresh |
muy largo / larguísimo | very long |
muy feroz / ferocísimo | very ferocious |
-ísimo with adverbs
You can even add -mente to your superlative adjective to have a superlative adverb. *Remember to keep the accents in the original spot!
rico (rich) | riquísimo (very rich) |
ricamente (richly) | riquísamente (very richly) |
lento (slow) | lentísimo (very slow) |
lentamente (slowly) | lentísimamente (very slowly) |
There are some adjectives that are irregular.
Irregular Superlatives
Adjective | Comparative | Superlative |
viejo (old) | mayor (older) | el mayor (oldest) |
joven (young) | menor (younger) | el menor (youngest) |
bueno (mejor) | mejor (mejor) | el mejor (best) |
mal (bad) | peor (worse) | el peor (worst) |


