Unit 11.2
Comparative Superiority Subordinate Sentences
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Introduction
The subordinate clause [oración subordinada] is a compound sentence structurally dependent on another sentence’s nucleus, called the main sentence [oración principal].
There are three types of subordinate clauses: noun, adjective (or relative clauses) and adverbial [sustantivas, adjetivas (o de relativo) y adverbiales].
Comparative adverbial subordinate clauses [oraciones subordinadas adverbiales comparativas] indicate a comparison of equality, inferiority or superiority [igualdad, inferioridad o superioridad] concerning what is expressed in the main sentence, to which they are connected through nexuses. Comparative subordinate clauses of superiority [oraciones subordinadas comparativas de superioridad] indicate superiority concerning what is expressed in the main sentence.
Form
Comparative subordinate clauses of superiority can begin with several nexuses:
- más… que… is an invariable form and is formed by nouns with a determiner or subject pronouns:
… + más + adjective/adverb/noun + que + …
… + verb + más que + noun with determiner/subject pronoun; - mejor/mayor… que which are synthetic irregular comparatives:
- … + mejor… que…:
can be replaced by más bien or más bueno (alternation between the two forms); - … + mayor… que…:
can be replaced by más grande(alternating between the two forms).
- … + mejor… que…:
Example
- más… que…:
- Einstein era más inteligente que cualquier niño de su clase;
- Yo de en el instituto tenía más revistas de moda que mi vecina;
- Se escucha en la radio que esta canción está siendo más aclamada que su single.
- synthetic irregular comparatives:
- Mi padre sacaba mejores notas que mi madre en la universidad;
- Leí en el periódico que la naranja sin exprimir es más buena que en zumo;
- Si quieres sacar un diez en el trabajo tendrás que buscar mayor contenido del que tienes en la página web;
- Su quiosco es más grande que el tuyo, pero el tuyo es más moderno.
Use
Comparative subordinate clauses of superiority are used to indicate superiority concerning what is expressed in the main sentence and when one term is superior to the other by quality:
- más… que…:
- más + adjective/adverb + que + … is used to compare qualities;
- más + noun + que + … is used to compare quantity of objects;
- más + verb + que + … is used to compare frequency or intensity of actions.
- Synthetic irregular comparatives:
- mejor… que… can be replaced by más bien/más bueno;
- mayor… que… can be replaced by más grande.
Summary
Comparative subordinate clauses of superiority are used when one term is superior to the other in terms of quality, quantity, frequency, intensity…
In Spanish, the structures of comparative sentences of superiority are:
… + más + adjective/adverb + que + …;
… + más + noun + que + …;
… + más + verb + que + …;
… + mejor… que…;
… + mayor… que…
For example:
— «Soy más rápida que la chica de mi clase» = indicates that I am superior to the girl in my class in terms of speed.;
— «Soy mejor corredora que la chica de mi clase» = indicate that I am superior to the girl in my class in running.
Check the contents of the {Form} section. Then move on to the {Example} section, which shows you the usage in context.
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