menos + Adjective + que
Comparatives with Menos
Use menos + adjective + que to say something is 'less [adjective] than' something else.
How It Works
In Spanish, comparisons of inequality (less than) are formed with a simple and consistent structure. This pattern is the direct opposite of más...que (more...than).
The Formula:
- Subject + Verb +
menos+ Adjective +que+ Noun/Pronoun
Let's break it down:
1. menos means 'less'. It never changes.
2. Adjective: This is the quality you are comparing (e.g., rápido, grande, importante). It must agree with the subject in gender and number. This is a key rule of adjective agreement.
3. que means 'than'. It never changes in this structure.
For example:
El gato es menos grande que el perro.
(The cat is less big than the dog.)
Here, 'grande' describes 'el gato' (the cat).
This structure is fundamental for making basic comparisons in Spanish, alongside más...que (more...than) and tan...como (as...as).
Examples (4)
- Mi coche es menos rápido que el tuyo.
My car is less fast than yours.
Word by Word: My car is less fast than the yours.
- Esta silla es menos cómoda que el sofá.
This chair is less comfortable than the sofa.
Word by Word: This chair is less comfortable than the sofa.
The adjective 'cómoda' is feminine to agree with 'silla'.
- Los inviernos aquí son menos fríos que en Canadá.
The winters here are less cold than in Canada.
Word by Word: The winters here are less cold than in Canada.
The adjective 'fríos' is masculine and plural to agree with 'los inviernos'.
- Ella parece menos preocupada que él.
She seems less worried than him.
Word by Word: She seems less worried than he.
'Preocupada' is feminine to agree with 'ella'.
Common Mistakes
Forgetting to use 'que' after the adjective.
El té está menos caliente el café.El té está menos caliente que el café.The word 'que' means 'than' and is essential for completing the comparison. Always place it after the adjective.
Forgetting to make the adjective agree with the subject.
La bicicleta es menos caro que el coche.La bicicleta es menos cara que el coche.The adjective must agree in gender and number with the noun it describes. Since 'bicicleta' is a feminine noun, the adjective must also be feminine ('cara').
How It Connects
Learn This First
To form comparisons of inferiority using 'menos + adjective + que', you first need to understand how adjectives agree with nouns in Spanish. It is also helpful to be familiar with the 'más + adjective + que' structure, as 'menos' simply replaces 'más' while maintaining the same sentence structure. Finally, knowing how to use 'ser' with adjectives allows you to create complete sentences like 'El libro es menos interesante que la película'.
Related Patterns
- tan + Adjective + comoEquality Comparisons
This pattern is used for comparisons of equality, to say something is 'as...as'. It's another fundamental comparative structure used alongside 'más...que' and 'menos...que'.
Level 1 - Adjective Agreement
This is a core concept in Spanish. The adjective in the
Foundationsmenos...questructure must always agree in gender and number with the noun it is describing. - ser + AdjectiveSer for Characteristics
The verb
Level 1seris frequently used withmenos...queto compare permanent characteristics or inherent qualities of two things, like size or color. - estar + AdjectiveEstar for Conditions
The verb
Level 1estaris often used withmenos...queto compare temporary states or conditions, such as emotions (less happy) or physical states (less tired).
Learn Next
Patterns that build on this one.
Words in This Pattern
Practice menos + Adjective + que in Bubblegum
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