Learning a new language is a thrilling journey, and one of the milestones in mastering Portuguese is understanding how to compare things using adjective forms. Just like in English, Portuguese has a structured way of making comparisons, and learning these rules can significantly enhance your ability to communicate effectively. Whether you’re comparing the size of two objects, the age of two people, or the quality of two experiences, knowing how to use comparative adjectives correctly will add depth and precision to your Portuguese language skills.
Understanding Adjectives in Portuguese
Before diving into comparatives, it’s essential to grasp the basics of adjectives in Portuguese. Adjectives in Portuguese, much like in English, are words that describe or modify nouns. They agree in gender and number with the nouns they describe. For instance, if you’re describing a masculine noun, the adjective must be in its masculine form. Similarly, if the noun is plural, the adjective must also be plural.
For example:
– O carro vermelho (The red car) – “vermelho” is the masculine singular form.
– A casa vermelha (The red house) – “vermelha” is the feminine singular form.
– Os carros vermelhos (The red cars) – “vermelhos” is the masculine plural form.
– As casas vermelhas (The red houses) – “vermelhas” is the feminine plural form.
Comparative Forms in Portuguese
Comparatives are used to compare two things. In Portuguese, there are three main forms of comparatives: equality, superiority, and inferiority.
Comparatives of Equality
To express that two things are equal in some way, you use the structure “tão… quanto/como” (as… as) with adjectives.
For example:
– Ele é tão inteligente quanto ela. (He is as intelligent as she is.)
– A casa é tão grande como o apartamento. (The house is as big as the apartment.)
Note that “quanto” and “como” are interchangeable in this structure.
Comparatives of Superiority
When you want to say that one thing is more of a certain quality than another, you use “mais… do que” (more… than).
For example:
– Ele é mais inteligente do que ela. (He is more intelligent than she is.)
– A casa é mais grande do que o apartamento. (The house is bigger than the apartment.)
In spoken Portuguese, “do que” is often shortened to “que”:
– Ele é mais inteligente que ela. (He is more intelligent than she is.)
Comparatives of Inferiority
To express that something is less of a certain quality than something else, you use “menos… do que” (less… than).
For example:
– Ele é menos inteligente do que ela. (He is less intelligent than she is.)
– A casa é menos grande do que o apartamento. (The house is less big than the apartment.)
Again, in spoken Portuguese, “do que” can be shortened to “que”:
– Ele é menos inteligente que ela. (He is less intelligent than she is.)
Irregular Comparatives
Just like in English, there are some adjectives in Portuguese that have irregular comparative forms. These don’t follow the standard “mais… do que” or “menos… do que” structures.
Here are a few common irregular comparatives:
– Bom (good) becomes melhor (better).
– Este livro é melhor do que aquele. (This book is better than that one.)
– Mau (bad) becomes pior (worse).
– Este filme é pior do que aquele. (This movie is worse than that one.)
– Grande (big) becomes maior (bigger).
– Este prédio é maior do que aquele. (This building is bigger than that one.)
– Pequeno (small) becomes menor (smaller).
– Este quarto é menor do que aquele. (This room is smaller than that one.)
Superlatives in Portuguese
Superlatives are used to express the highest degree of a quality. In Portuguese, there are two types of superlatives: relative and absolute.
Relative Superlatives
Relative superlatives are used to express that something has the highest or lowest degree of a quality in a particular group. The structure is similar to comparatives but includes a definite article.
For example:
– Ele é o mais inteligente da turma. (He is the most intelligent in the class.)
– Ela é a menos rápida do grupo. (She is the least fast in the group.)
Absolute Superlatives
Absolute superlatives express a high degree of a quality without comparing to a group. In Portuguese, this is usually done by adding the suffix “-íssimo” to the adjective’s root.
For example:
– Ele é inteligentíssimo. (He is very intelligent.)
– A casa é grandíssima. (The house is very big.)
Some adjectives have irregular absolute superlative forms:
– Amigo (friendly) becomes amicíssimo (very friendly).
– Antigo (old) becomes antiquíssimo (very old).
Practical Examples and Exercises
To solidify your understanding, let’s practice with some examples and exercises.
1. Translate the following sentences to Portuguese using the correct comparative forms:
– She is as tall as her brother.
– This book is more interesting than that one.
– My car is less expensive than yours.
– This cake is better than the one I made last week.
– He is the tallest in the team.
2. Create sentences using the adjectives provided in their comparative forms:
– Rápido (fast)
– Difícil (difficult)
– Barato (cheap)
– Quente (hot)
3. Form absolute superlatives for the following adjectives:
– Feliz (happy)
– Interessante (interesting)
– Fácil (easy)
– Frio (cold)
Answers:
1.
– Ela é tão alta quanto o irmão.
– Este livro é mais interessante do que aquele.
– Meu carro é menos caro do que o seu.
– Este bolo é melhor do que o que fiz na semana passada.
– Ele é o mais alto do time.
2.
– Ele corre mais rápido do que eu. (He runs faster than I do.)
– Este exercício é menos difícil do que aquele. (This exercise is less difficult than that one.)
– Esta loja é mais barata do que a outra. (This store is cheaper than the other one.)
– O verão aqui é mais quente do que em Portugal. (The summer here is hotter than in Portugal.)
3.
– Felizíssimo (very happy)
– Interessantíssimo (very interesting)
– Facílimo (very easy)
– Frigidíssimo (very cold)
Common Mistakes and Tips
As you practice using comparative and superlative forms in Portuguese, you may encounter some common mistakes. Here are a few tips to help you avoid them:
1. **Agreement in Gender and Number**: Remember that adjectives must agree in gender and number with the nouns they describe. This rule also applies to comparative and superlative forms.
– Incorrect: Ele é mais inteligente do que ela. (He is more intelligent than she is.)
– Correct: Ele é mais inteligente do que ela. (He is more intelligent than she is.)
2. **Using the Correct Form of “do que”**: In comparative structures, use “do que” or the shortened form “que” correctly.
– Incorrect: Este livro é mais interessante que aquele. (This book is more interesting that that one.)
– Correct: Este livro é mais interessante do que aquele. (This book is more interesting than that one.)
3. **Irregular Comparatives**: Pay attention to irregular comparative forms, as they don’t follow the standard rules.
– Incorrect: Este bolo é mais bom do que aquele. (This cake is more good than that one.)
– Correct: Este bolo é melhor do que aquele. (This cake is better than that one.)
4. **Avoiding Redundancy**: In superlative forms, don’t use “mais” or “menos” with absolute superlatives.
– Incorrect: Ele é o mais inteligentíssimo da turma. (He is the most very intelligent in the class.)
– Correct: Ele é o inteligentíssimo da turma. (He is the very intelligent in the class.)
Conclusion
Mastering the use of comparative and superlative forms in Portuguese is a crucial step toward fluency. By understanding the rules and practicing regularly, you’ll be able to make accurate and nuanced comparisons in your conversations. Remember to pay attention to gender and number agreement, use the correct comparative structures, and familiarize yourself with irregular forms. With time and practice, you’ll find that making comparisons in Portuguese becomes second nature, enhancing your overall language proficiency and confidence. Happy learning!
