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

Understanding comparatives is crucial for expressing comparisons in any language. Spanish, like English, has regular and irregular forms. While regular comparatives follow predictable patterns, irregular comparatives such as mejor (better), peor (worse), mayor (older/greater), and menor (younger/smaller) require special attention. Mastering these forms will significantly enhance your ability to express nuanced comparisons and improve your overall fluency in Spanish. This article provides a comprehensive guide to these irregular comparatives, suitable for learners of all levels.

Introduction
Definition of Irregular Comparatives
Structural Breakdown
Types and Categories
- Mejor and Peor
- Mayor and Menor
Examples
Usage Rules
Common Mistakes
Practice Exercises
Advanced Topics
- Superlatives
- Nuanced Comparisons
FAQ
Conclusion

Definition of Irregular Comparatives

Irregular comparatives are words that express comparison but do not follow the standard patterns of adding más (more) or menos (less) before an adjective or adverb. Instead, they have unique forms. The primary irregular comparatives in Spanish are mejor (better), peor (worse), mayor (older/greater), and menor (younger/smaller). These words are used to compare qualities, ages, sizes, or importance between two or more entities.

These irregular forms replace the expected “más bueno/a” with mejor and “más malo/a” with peor when referring to quality or goodness. Similarly, “más viejo/a” is replaced with mayor, and “más joven” or “más pequeño/a” is replaced with menor when comparing age, size, or importance. Understanding when and how to use these irregular forms is crucial for accurate and natural Spanish communication.

Structural Breakdown

The basic structure for using irregular comparatives is similar to regular comparatives, but with the irregular word replacing the más/menos + adjective structure. The general pattern is: [Noun/Pronoun] + [Verb] + [Irregular Comparative] + que + [Noun/Pronoun/Clause].

The word que (than) is essential in forming the comparison. It links the two elements being compared. For example, in the sentence “Mi coche es mejor que el tuyo” (My car is better than yours), mejor is the irregular comparative, and que connects the two cars being compared. The verb used often depends on the context, with ser (to be) and estar (to be) being common choices, but other verbs can be used to express different relationships.

Types and Categories

Mejor and Peor

Mejor and peor are used to compare the quality or goodness of something. Mejor means “better,” and peor means “worse.” These words replace the constructions más bueno/a and más malo/a, respectively. It’s important to remember that although bueno/a and malo/a mean “good” and “bad,” you should use mejor and peor for comparisons.

For example, instead of saying “Este libro es más bueno que aquel” (which is grammatically incorrect, although understandable), you would say “Este libro es mejor que aquel” (This book is better than that one). Similarly, instead of “Esa película es más mala que la otra,” you would say “Esa película es peor que la otra” (That movie is worse than the other one).

Mayor and Menor

Mayor and menor are used to compare age, size, or importance. Mayor can mean “older” or “greater,” and menor can mean “younger” or “smaller.” When comparing age, mayor and menor replace más viejo/a (older) and más joven (younger). When comparing size or importance, they replace más grande (bigger) and más pequeño/a (smaller).

For example, “Mi hermano es mayor que yo” (My brother is older than me) uses mayor to compare age. “Este problema es menor que el anterior” (This problem is smaller than the previous one) uses menor to compare the size or importance of problems. It’s crucial to understand the context to determine whether mayor and menor refer to age, size, or importance.

Examples

Examples with Mejor and Peor

The following table provides examples of using mejor and peor in various contexts. Observe how these irregular comparatives replace the más bueno/a and más malo/a constructions, making the sentences more natural and grammatically correct.

Spanish	English
Este café es mejor que el de ayer.	This coffee is better than yesterday’s.
La salud es mejor que la riqueza.	Health is better than wealth.
Es mejor llegar tarde que nunca.	It’s better to arrive late than never.
Su actuación fue peor de lo esperado.	His performance was worse than expected.
Este examen es peor que el anterior.	This exam is worse than the previous one.
Es peor mentir que decir la verdad.	It’s worse to lie than to tell the truth.
La vida en el campo es mejor que en la ciudad.	Life in the countryside is better than in the city.
Este coche es mejor que el mío.	This car is better than mine.
Ese restaurante es peor que el que fuimos ayer.	That restaurant is worse than the one we went to yesterday.
Es mejor prevenir que curar.	It’s better to prevent than to cure.
Su situación económica es peor que antes.	Their economic situation is worse than before.
Este libro es mejor que la película.	This book is better than the movie.
La contaminación en esta ciudad es peor que en la otra.	The pollution in this city is worse than in the other one.
Es mejor estar solo que mal acompañado.	It’s better to be alone than in bad company.
Su ortografía es peor que la mía.	His/Her spelling is worse than mine.
Este teléfono es mejor que el que tenía.	This phone is better than the one I had.
La comida de mi madre es mejor que la de cualquier restaurante.	My mother’s food is better than any restaurant’s.
El tráfico hoy es peor que ayer.	The traffic today is worse than yesterday.
Es mejor intentarlo y fallar que no intentarlo.	It’s better to try and fail than not to try.
Su actitud es peor que la de su hermano.	His/Her attitude is worse than his brother’s.
Este hotel es mejor que el anterior.	This hotel is better than the previous one.
La situación política es peor que nunca.	The political situation is worse than ever.
Es mejor ser honesto que inteligente.	It’s better to be honest than intelligent.
Su pronunciación es peor que la de los demás estudiantes.	His/Her pronunciation is worse than the other students’.
Este ordenador es mejor que el antiguo.	This computer is better than the old one.
La crisis económica es peor de lo que pensábamos.	The economic crisis is worse than we thought.

Examples with Mayor and Menor

The following table illustrates the use of mayor and menor to compare age, size, and importance. Pay attention to the context to understand which meaning of mayor and menor is being used in each sentence.

Spanish	English
Mi hermana es mayor que yo.	My sister is older than me.
Este edificio es mayor que el de al lado.	This building is bigger than the one next door.
Su preocupación es menor que la mía.	His/Her concern is smaller than mine.
Soy mayor de edad.	I am of legal age.
El riesgo es menor de lo que creíamos.	The risk is smaller than we thought.
Este problema es mayor de lo que parece.	This problem is bigger than it seems.
Mi hijo menor tiene cinco años.	My youngest son is five years old.
La importancia de este proyecto es mayor que la del anterior.	The importance of this project is greater than the previous one.
El impacto ambiental es menor en esta área.	The environmental impact is smaller in this area.
Mi abuela es mayor que mi abuelo.	My grandmother is older than my grandfather.
Este árbol es mayor que aquel.	This tree is bigger than that one.
Su contribución fue menor de lo esperado.	His/Her contribution was smaller than expected.
La diferencia de edad es menor.	The age difference is smaller.
Este país es mayor que España.	This country is bigger than Spain.
Su influencia es menor en esta empresa.	His/Her influence is smaller in this company.
Soy menor que mi esposo.	I am younger than my husband.
La deuda pública es mayor que nunca.	The public debt is greater than ever.
Este error es menor en comparación con el otro.	This error is smaller compared to the other one.
Mi hija mayor está en la universidad.	My oldest daughter is in college.
El desafío es mayor de lo que imaginábamos.	The challenge is greater than we imagined.
La probabilidad de éxito es menor.	The probability of success is smaller.
Mi hermano mayor trabaja como ingeniero.	My older brother works as an engineer.
La superficie de este lago es mayor que la del otro.	The surface area of this lake is bigger than the other one.
La cantidad de lluvia este año es menor que el año pasado.	The amount of rain this year is less than last year.

Mixed Examples

This table combines examples using all four irregular comparatives: mejor, peor, mayor, and menor. This will help you see how they are used in different contexts and how they compare to each other.

Spanish	English
Es mejor ir en tren que en autobús, aunque es mayor el precio.	It’s better to go by train than by bus, although the price is higher.
La situación es peor ahora, pero la esperanza es mayor.	The situation is worse now, but the hope is greater.
Este modelo es mejor, aunque el tamaño es menor.	This model is better, although the size is smaller.
Es peor llegar tarde, pero es mejor no llegar nunca.	It’s worse to arrive late, but it’s better not to arrive at all.
Mi hijo menor es mejor en matemáticas que mi hijo mayor.	My younger son is better at math than my older son.
La calidad es mejor, pero el precio es mayor.	The quality is better, but the price is higher.
Es peor estar enfermo, pero es mejor cuidarse.	It’s worse to be sick, but it’s better to take care of yourself.
Este coche es mejor, pero el consumo de gasolina es mayor.	This car is better, but the gasoline consumption is higher.
La película es peor que el libro, aunque la producción es mayor.	The movie is worse than the book, although the production is bigger.
Es mejor prevenir, aunque el costo sea mayor.	It’s better to prevent, even if the cost is higher.
La situación económica es peor, pero la inversión es mayor.	The economic situation is worse, but the investment is greater.
Este proyecto es mejor, aunque el riesgo es mayor.	This project is better, although the risk is higher.
Es peor ignorar el problema, pero es mejor buscar una solución.	It’s worse to ignore the problem, but it’s better to look for a solution.
La tecnología es mejor, pero el precio es mayor.	The technology is better, but the price is higher.
La contaminación es peor, pero la conciencia es mayor.	The pollution is worse, but the awareness is greater.
Es mejor ser honesto, aunque el castigo sea mayor.	It’s better to be honest, even if the punishment is greater.
La crisis es peor, pero la oportunidad es mayor.	The crisis is worse, but the opportunity is greater.
Este producto es mejor, aunque el tamaño es menor.	This product is better, although the size is smaller.
Es peor vivir con arrepentimiento, pero es mejor aprender de los errores.	It’s worse to live with regret, but it’s better to learn from mistakes.
La inversión es mejor, aunque el riesgo es mayor.	The investment is better, although the risk is higher.

Usage Rules

General Rules

When using irregular comparatives, remember to always use que (than) to connect the two elements being compared. The verb used in the sentence should agree with the subject. Also, ensure that you understand the context to correctly interpret whether mayor and menor refer to age, size, or importance.

For example, “Mi casa es mejor que la tuya” (My house is better than yours) follows the basic structure. “El problema es menor de lo que pensábamos” (The problem is smaller than we thought) demonstrates the use of menor to compare size or importance. “Juan es mayor que Pedro” (Juan is older than Pedro) shows the comparison of ages.

Age Comparisons

When comparing ages, always use mayor and menor instead of más viejo/a and más joven. This rule is strictly followed in Spanish.

For instance, instead of saying “Ella es más joven que él,” say “Ella es menor que él” (She is younger than him). Similarly, instead of “Él es más viejo que yo,” say “Él es mayor que yo” (He is older than me).

This is a fundamental rule for accurate age comparisons in Spanish.

Size and Importance Comparisons

Mayor and menor are also used to compare the size or importance of things. In these cases, they replace más grande (bigger) and más pequeño/a (smaller). When comparing the size of physical objects or abstract concepts, mayor and menor are the preferred choices.

For example, “Este río es mayor que aquel” (This river is bigger than that one) compares the size of rivers. “La importancia de la educación es mayor que la del dinero” (The importance of education is greater than that of money) compares the importance of abstract concepts.

Understanding this usage is essential for expressing nuanced comparisons.

Exceptions

While mejor, peor, mayor, and menor are the primary irregular comparatives, there are some related exceptions to keep in mind. While you use mejor and peor for comparisons, the adjectives bueno/a and malo/a still exist and are used in other contexts. Similarly, grande and pequeño/a are still used outside of direct comparisons of size or importance.

For example, you would say “Este es un buen libro” (This is a good book), not “Este es un mejor libro” unless you are comparing it to another book. Also, “Es una casa grande” (It’s a big house) is correct, but “Es una casa mayor” would only be correct if you are comparing it to another house.

Remember to use the appropriate form based on the context.

Common Mistakes

One of the most common mistakes is using más bueno/a instead of mejor and más malo/a instead of peor. These constructions are grammatically incorrect, although they might be understood by native speakers. Another common mistake is using más viejo/a and más joven when comparing ages instead of mayor and menor.

For example:

Incorrect: Este pastel es más bueno que el otro.
Correct: Este pastel es mejor que el otro. (This cake is better than the other one.)
Incorrect: Mi hermano es más viejo que yo.
Correct: Mi hermano es mayor que yo. (My brother is older than me.)

Another mistake is failing to use que after the irregular comparative. Remember that que (than) is essential for making the comparison.

Incorrect: Mi coche es mejor el tuyo.
Correct: Mi coche es mejor que el tuyo. (My car is better than yours.)

Practice Exercises

Exercise 1: Fill in the Blanks

Fill in the blanks with the correct irregular comparative (mejor, peor, mayor, menor).

Question	Answer
Este restaurante es ______ que el de la semana pasada.	mejor
Mi hermana es ______ que yo.	mayor
La situación económica es ______ ahora que antes.	peor
Este problema es ______ de lo que pensábamos.	menor
Es ______ prevenir que curar.	mejor
Mi hijo ______ tiene 3 años.	menor
Este coche es ______ que el anterior.	mejor
El tráfico hoy está ______ que ayer.	peor
La casa de Juan es ______ que la mía.	mayor
Este examen es ______ que el del año pasado.	peor

Exercise 2: Translation

Translate the following sentences into Spanish using the correct irregular comparatives.

English	Spanish
This coffee is better than the one I had yesterday.	Este café es mejor que el que tomé ayer.
My brother is older than me.	Mi hermano es mayor que yo.
The movie was worse than the book.	La película fue peor que el libro.
The risk is smaller than we anticipated.	El riesgo es menor de lo que anticipamos.
It’s better to be early than late.	Es mejor llegar temprano que tarde.
My youngest daughter is five years old.	Mi hija menor tiene cinco años.
This phone is better than my old one.	Este teléfono es mejor que el que tenía antes.
The traffic is worse today than it was yesterday.	El tráfico está peor hoy que ayer.
The importance of education is greater than money.	La importancia de la educación es mayor que la del dinero.
This test is worse than the last one.	Este examen es peor que el anterior.

Exercise 3: Error Correction

Correct the errors in the following sentences. Identify the incorrect usage of comparatives, and rewrite the sentences with the correct forms.

Incorrect Sentence	Correct Sentence
Este pastel es más bueno que aquel.	Este pastel es mejor que aquel.
Mi hermana es más joven que yo.	Mi hermana es menor que yo.
La situación está más malo ahora.	La situación está peor ahora.
El problema es más pequeño de lo que creíamos.	El problema es menor de lo que creíamos.
Es más bueno ser honesto.	Es mejor ser honesto.
Mi hijo es más joven que mi hija.	Mi hijo es menor que mi hija.
La comida de este restaurante es más bueno que el otro.	La comida de este restaurante es mejor que el otro.
El trafico hoy es más malo que ayer.	El tráfico hoy es peor que ayer.
La casa de mi abuela es más grande que la mía.	La casa de mi abuela es mayor que la mía.
Este examen fue más malo que el anterior.	Este examen fue peor que el anterior.

Advanced Topics

Superlatives

The irregular comparatives mejor, peor, mayor, and menor also have corresponding superlative forms. The superlative form of mejor is el/la mejor (the best), of peor is el/la peor (the worst), of mayor is el/la mayor (the oldest/greatest), and of menor is el/la menor (the youngest/smallest). These forms are used to indicate the highest or lowest degree of a quality among a group.

For example, “Este es el mejor libro que he leído” (This is the best book I have read). “Ella es la peor estudiante de la clase” (She is the worst student in the class).

“Él es el mayor de mis hermanos” (He is the oldest of my brothers). “Este es el menor de los problemas” (This is the smallest of the problems).

Nuanced Comparisons

Sometimes, you may want to express more nuanced comparisons than simply “better” or “worse.” In these cases, you can use adverbs like mucho (much), poco (little), or ligeramente (slightly) to modify the irregular comparatives.

For example, “Este café es mucho mejor que el otro” (This coffee is much better than the other one). “La situación es ligeramente peor que antes” (The situation is slightly worse than before).

“Mi hermano es poco mayor que yo” (My brother is a little older than me). “El riesgo es poco menor de lo que pensábamos” (The risk is a little smaller than we thought).

FAQ

Q: Can I use más bueno/a instead of mejor?
A: While understandable, using más bueno/a instead of mejor is grammatically incorrect in standard Spanish. Always use mejor for comparisons of quality.
Q: When do I use mayor and menor instead of más grande and más pequeño/a?
A: Use mayor and menor when comparing ages or when referring to the size or importance of something in a more abstract or general sense. Más grande and más pequeño/a are more appropriate for physical sizes.
Q: What is the difference between viejo and mayor?
A: Viejo means “old,” while mayor means “older.” Use mayor when comparing ages. Viejo is used to describe something that is old in general, not in relation to something else.
Q: How do I form the superlative of these irregular comparatives?
A: To form the superlative, use el/la/los/las + irregular comparative. For example, el mejor (the best), la peor (the worst), los mayores (the oldest/greatest), las menores (the youngest/smallest).
Q: Can I modify these comparatives with adverbs?
A: Yes, you can use adverbs like mucho, poco, or ligeramente to add nuance to the comparison. For example, “Es mucho mejor” (It’s much better).
Q: Is it okay to use “más joven” instead of “menor” when referring to age?
A: No, it is not standard. While “más joven” is understandable, “menor” is the correct and preferred way to express that someone is younger when making a direct comparison of age.
Q: Does “mayor” always mean older?
A: No, the meaning of “mayor” depends on the context. It can mean “older” when referring to age, but it can also mean “greater” or “larger” when referring to size, importance, or quantity.
Q: What is the correct word order when using irregular comparatives?
A: The standard word order is: [Subject] + [Verb] + [Irregular Comparative] + “que” + [Object of Comparison]. For example, “Mi coche es mejor que el tuyo” (My car is better than yours).

Conclusion

Mastering the irregular comparatives mejor, peor, mayor, and menor is essential for expressing nuanced comparisons in Spanish. These words replace the standard más/menos constructions, making your Spanish sound more natural and grammatically correct. Remember to always use que (than) when forming comparisons and to pay attention to the context to determine the correct meaning of mayor and menor. Practice using these forms in various contexts to improve your fluency and accuracy.

By understanding the usage rules, avoiding common mistakes, and practicing with exercises, you can confidently use these irregular comparatives in your Spanish conversations and writing. Continue to expand your knowledge of Spanish grammar to enhance your overall language skills.

Happy learning!