Comparisons in Portuguese

Overview

Comparisons (Os Comparativos) is a elementary (CEFR A2) topic in Portuguese grammar. Comparative forms: mais...do que (more than), menos...do que (less than), tão...como (as...as), tanto/a/os/as...como (as much/many as). Irregulars: melhor, pior, maior, menor.

Understanding comparisons is essential for building correct Portuguese sentences and communicating effectively. This concept is introduced at the A2 level and forms part of the foundation for more advanced grammar structures.

Whether you are learning Brazilian or European Portuguese, mastering comparisons will significantly improve your ability to express yourself naturally and accurately in a variety of contexts.

How It Works

Comparison types:

Type	Structure	Example
Superiority	mais + adj + do que	Ele e mais alto do que eu.
Inferiority	menos + adj + do que	Menos grande do que Toquio.
Equality	tao + adj + como	Tao bom como isso.
Equality (noun)	tanto/a + noun + como	Tantos livros como tu.

Irregular comparatives: bom -> melhor (better), mau -> pior (worse), grande -> maior (bigger), pequeno -> menor (smaller).

Examples in Context

Portuguese	English	Note
Ele é mais alto do que eu.	He is taller than me.
Lisboa é menos grande do que Tóquio.	Lisbon is smaller than Tokyo.
Ela canta melhor do que eu.	She sings better than me.
É tão bom como isso.	It's as good as that.
Sou mais velho.	I am older.
Ela e menos alta.	She is less tall.
Tenho tantos livros como tu.	As many books as you.	equality
E pior do que pensava.	Worse than I thought.	irregular
O Rio e maior.	Rio is bigger.	irregular

Common Mistakes

Incorrect form usage

• Wrong: Applying rules from English or other languages directly
• Right: Follow Portuguese-specific patterns for comparisons
• Why: Portuguese has its own rules that do not always align with English or other Romance languages.

Forgetting agreement rules

• Wrong: Not matching gender, number, or person correctly
• Right: Ensure all elements in the sentence agree with each other
• Why: Portuguese requires strict agreement between subjects, verbs, articles, adjectives, and pronouns.

Mixing formal and informal registers

• Wrong: Using tu forms with voce verb conjugations, or vice versa
• Right: Be consistent with your chosen register throughout a conversation
• Why: Register consistency is important for natural-sounding Portuguese.

Usage Notes

This concept appears across both Brazilian and European Portuguese, though specific usage patterns may differ between the two variants. At the A2 level, focus on understanding the core patterns before worrying about regional differences.

In everyday conversation, comparisons is used frequently in both formal and informal contexts. Pay attention to how native speakers use it in the media you consume, and note any differences between Brazilian and Portuguese sources.

Practice Tips

1. Practice comparisons with authentic Portuguese texts, listening for how native speakers use these forms in context.
2. Create flashcards with complete example sentences rather than isolated words to reinforce natural patterns.
3. Write short paragraphs using comparisons and compare them with native-written texts to identify areas for improvement.

Related Concepts

• Prerequisite: Regular Adjectives -- provides the foundational knowledge needed for comparisons
• Next steps: Superlative -- builds on comparisons concepts