mejor/peor/mayor/menor
Irregular Comparatives
Use 'mejor' for 'better', 'peor' for 'worse', 'mayor' for 'older/bigger', and 'menor' for 'younger/smaller'.
How It Works
In Spanish, just like in English, some of the most common adjectives have irregular comparative forms. Instead of using the standard más...que structure, you use a single, special word.
Here are the four main irregular comparatives you need to know:
- bueno/a (good) → mejor (better)
- malo/a (bad) → peor (worse)
- grande (big) → mayor (bigger, older)
- pequeño/a (small) → menor (smaller, younger)
Key Points:
1. Gender: These four words do not change for gender. It's 'mejor' for both masculine and feminine nouns.
2. Number: They do change for plural nouns. Just add an '-es': mejores, peores, mayores, menores.
3. Age vs. Size: While 'mayor' can mean 'bigger' and 'menor' can mean 'smaller', they are most commonly used to talk about age ('older' and 'younger'). For physical size, it's often more common to use 'más grande' or 'más pequeño'.
Examples (5)
- Este libro es mejor que el otro.
This book is better than the other one.
Word by Word: This book is better than the other.
- El clima hoy está peor que ayer.
The weather today is worse than yesterday.
Word by Word: The climate today is worse than yesterday.
- Mi hermano es mayor que yo.
My brother is older than me.
Word by Word: My brother is older than I.
'Mayor' is used here to compare age.
- Mi hermana es menor que yo.
My sister is younger than me.
Word by Word: My sister is younger than I.
'Menor' is used here to compare age, which is its most common use.
- Estas manzanas son mejores que esas.
These apples are better than those.
Word by Word: These apples are better than those.
Note the plural form 'mejores' to agree with 'manzanas'.
Common Mistakes
Using 'más bueno' instead of 'mejor'.
Este restaurante es más bueno que el otro.Este restaurante es mejor que el otro.When you compare quality or skill, use 'mejor' (better) and 'peor' (worse) rather than 'más bueno' or 'más malo'. One nice exception: 'más bueno' and 'más malo' are correct when you describe a person's kindness or wickedness, as in 'Es más bueno que el pan' (He is very kind).
Saying 'más mayor' instead of just 'mayor'.
Mi abuela es más mayor que mi mamá.Mi abuela es mayor que mi mamá.'Mayor' already means 'older', so adding 'más' is redundant — say 'mayor', not 'más mayor'. Note that 'mayor' is the standard word for comparing ages, but 'más grande' and 'más chico' are widely used for 'older' and 'younger' in much of Latin America.
How It Connects
Learn This First
To use irregular comparatives, you first need to understand how standard comparisons are formed in Spanish. You also need to know how to link these adjectives to subjects using 'ser' and how to make them plural to match the nouns they describe.
- más + Adjective + queComparatives with Más
Irregular comparatives replace the standard 'más + adjective' structure, so understanding the basic comparative framework is essential.
Level 1 - -s/-esPlural Formation
Irregular comparatives must agree in number with the nouns they modify (e.g., mejores, peores).
Foundations
Related Patterns
- menos + Adjective + queComparatives with Menos
This pattern is used to form comparisons of inferiority ('less...than'), complementing the regular and irregular comparisons of superiority.
Level 1 - el/la más + AdjectiveSuperlatives
After learning comparatives (better), the next step is superlatives (the best). 'Mejor' and 'peor' are also used in superlatives, as in 'el mejor' (the best) and 'el peor' (the worst).
Level 1 - Adjective Agreement
These irregular comparatives are still adjectives and must agree in number with the nouns they describe. For example, 'mejor' becomes 'mejores' to agree with a plural noun like 'manzanas'.
Foundations
Words in This Pattern
Practice mejor/peor/mayor/menor in Bubblegum
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