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This lesson covers irregular Spanish comparatives like mejor (better), peor (worse), mayor (older/greater), and menor (younger/lesser), used for comparing quality and age without using más or menos.
  1. Mejor and peor compare quality.
  2. Mayor and menor indicate size or age.
  3. They do not need "más" and "menos" before the adjective.
Adjetivo (Adjective)Comparativo (Comparative)Ejemplo (Example)
BienMejorEl servicio del hotel es mejor que antes. (The hotel service is better than before.)
MalPeorEste desayuno es peor que el de ayer. (This breakfast is worse than yesterday's.)
ViejoMayorCuando estás mayor, podemos ir juntos de vacaciones. (When you are older, we can go on holiday together.)
JovenMenorCuando eres menor, no puedes viajar solo. (When you are minor, you cannot travel alone.)

Exercise 1: Los comparativos irregulares: Mejor, Peor, Mayor, Menor

Instruction: Fill in the correct word.

Show translation Show answers

mayor, menor, mejor, peor

1.
Mal: La habitación es ... que la que reservamos.
(The room is worse than the one we booked.)
2.
Joven: Porque eres ... que yo, tienes el descuento.
(Young person: Because you are younger than me, you get the discount.)
3.
Joven: El recepcionista es ... que en otros hoteles.
(Young man: The receptionist is better than in other hotels.)
4.
Bien: El hotel tiene un servicio ... que el anterior.
(Okay: The hotel has better service than the previous one.)
5.
Bien: La habitación es ... que la que reservamos el año pasado.
(Okay: The room is better than the one we booked last year.)
6.
Viejo: Mi hermano es ... que yo, así que no tiene descuentos.
(Older: My brother is older than me, so he doesn't get any discounts.)
7.
Bien: El alojamiento con desayuno incluido es ... que sin él.
(Good: Accommodation with breakfast included is better than without it.)
8.
Bien: El desayuno de este hotel es ... que el de ayer.
(Good: The breakfast at this hotel is better than yesterday's.)

Exercise 2: Multiple Choice

Instruction: Select the correct sentence that properly uses the irregular comparatives: better, worse, older, younger. Remember that they do not take 'more' or 'less' before the adjective, and that 'better' and 'worse' compare quality, while 'older' and 'younger' indicate size or age.

1.
'Better' is an irregular comparative and should not have 'more' before it.
'Worse' indicates quality but with a negative sense; here it is meant to express that the service is better.
2.
'Worse' does not need 'more' before it; this is a common mistake.
Incorrect order and improper use of 'more' before 'worse'.
3.
'Older' should not have 'more' before it; it is an irregular comparative.
Incomplete phrase and incorrect use of 'older' without a comparative complement.
4.
'Smaller' should not have 'more' before it; it is an irregular comparative.
In this context, 'smaller than' is incorrect without an explicit comparison.

Irregular Comparatives in Spanish: Mejor, Peor, Mayor, Menor

This lesson focuses on irregular comparatives in Spanish, which are adjectives used to compare qualities such as quality, size, or age without adding the words "más" (more) or "menos" (less) before them.

Key Irregular Comparatives and Their Uses

  • Mejor (better) – compares quality in a positive sense.
    Example: El servicio del hotel es mejor que antes.
  • Peor (worse) – compares quality in a negative sense.
    Example: Este desayuno es peor que el de ayer.
  • Mayor (older/greater) – indicates age or size, often referring to people.
    Example: Cuando estás mayor, podemos ir juntos de vacaciones.
  • Menor (younger/lesser) – shows smaller age or size.
    Example: Cuando eres menor, no puedes viajar solo.

Important Characteristics

  • These comparatives are irregular because they do not need the words "más" or "menos" before them, unlike regular comparatives.
  • They directly replace regular comparative forms to express comparisons.
  • Mejor and peor refer strictly to quality differences.
    Mayor and menor refer to size or age differences.

Comparison with English

While English uses "better," "worse," "older," and "younger" as irregular comparative forms, Spanish irregular comparatives also avoid additional words like "more" or "less." For example, in English, we say "better service," not "more better service," which corresponds to Spanish "mejor servicio" without "más."

Note that mayor and menor in Spanish often refer to age or rank rather than just simple size or quantity, which can differ from the English use of "bigger" or "smaller." For instance, mayor can mean "older," and menor can mean "younger."

Useful Words and Phrases

  • Mejor – better (quality)
  • Peor – worse (quality)
  • Mayor – older, bigger, greater (age or size)
  • Menor – younger, smaller, lesser (age or size)
  • Use without "más" or "menos" before the adjective.

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