Italian comparative – comparativo di minoranza e uguaglianza

In a past article I introduced the Italian comparative, talking about the comparative of superiority – il comparativo di maggioranza.

Today, I explain instead the formation rules of the Italian comparative of minority and equality – il comparativo di minoranza e uguaglianza.

COMPARATIVO DI MINORANZA – EXPRESSING MINORITY

FORMATION

To express minority Italian uses the same rules as those applied to express superiority but it replaces the word più with meno.

1ST TERM OF COMPARISON + VERB + MENO + ADJECTIVE + DI + 2ND TERM OF COMPARISON

Examples: Lucia è meno intelligente di Angela –> Lucia is less bright than Angela; Martina è meno contenta di prima -> Martina is less happy than before; Or

1ST TERM OF COMPARISON + VERB + MENO + ADJECTIVE + CHE + 2ND TERM OF COMPARISON

Examples: Francesco è meno bravo in matematica che in latino -> Francesco is worse at maths than at latin; Camminare è meno faticoso che correre -> Walking is less tiring than running;

COMPARATIVO DI UGUAGLIANZA – EXPRESSING EQUALITY

FORMATION

To express equality Italian uses tanto before an adjective and quanto before the 2nd term of comparison.

1ST TERM OF COMPARISON + VERB + TANTO + ADJECTIVE + QUANTO + 2ND TERM OF COMPARISON

Example: Nicola è tanto veloce quanto Paolo -> Nicola is as fast as Paolo;              The word tanto can be omitted. In this case, the 2nd term of comparison can be preceded either by quanto or by come.

1ST TERM OF COMPARISON + VERB + ADJECTIVE + QUANTO/COME + 2ND TERM OF COMPARISON

Example: Francesca è magra quanto/come Sofia -> Francesca is as slim as Sofia;

If you need to master or revise basic Italian grammar, have a look at my book Sos Italian grammar A1-A2.

Now that you’ve learnt the Italian comparative of minority, equality and superiority, try to do some sentences on your own using the comparative. Feel free to post them below.