A2 (Elementary)Lesson 7: Comparisons & Connectors
Portuguese comparatives use mais/menos + adjective/adverb/noun + do que for formal comparisons, while colloquial Brazilian Portuguese favors simpler structures and the unique "que nem" for equality comparisons.
mais... do que = more... than
menos... do que = less/fewer... than
que nem = just like/the same as (colloquial)
"Do" often dropped in speech: mais que, menos que
Irregular comparatives: melhor, pior, maior, menor
Mais/menos work with adjectives, adverbs, nouns, verbs
Tão... quanto/como for equality (formal)
"Que nem" uniquely Brazilian
Comparisons are how we navigate choices and express opinions – from "Esse restaurante é mais barato que o outro" (This restaurant is cheaper than the other) to "Ela fala que nem carioca" (She talks just like a Carioca). Brazilian Portuguese simplified comparisons by often dropping "do" and creating "que nem" for everyday equality comparisons. Master these patterns to discuss prices, make decisions, and join the national pastime of comparing everything from soccer teams to açaí quality.
mais/menos + adjective/adverb/noun + (do) que OR que nem + comparison term
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| Element | Formal | Colloquial | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adjective | mais ADJ do que | mais ADJ que | mais alto (do) que |
| Adverb | mais ADV do que | mais ADV que | mais rápido (do) que |
| Noun | mais NOUN do que | mais NOUN que | mais dinheiro (do) que |
| Verb | VERB mais do que | VERB mais que | trabalha mais (do) que |
"Esse vestido é mais barato que aquele" (This dress is cheaper than that one)
"O mercado tem menos opções que o shopping" (The market has fewer options than the mall)
"Essa loja é melhor que a outra" (This store is better than the other)
"Comprei mais coisas do que precisava" (I bought more things than I needed)
"Meu irmão é mais alto que eu" (My brother is taller than me)
"Ela fala inglês melhor que português" (She speaks English better than Portuguese)
"Tenho menos paciência que você" (I have less patience than you)
"Ele age que nem o avô" (He acts just like his grandfather)
Both exist with different uses:
Maior = standard comparative
Mais grande = emphatic/colloquial
"Mais grande que" common in speech
Questions often keep "do que":
"Mais caro do que o quê?" (More expensive than what?)
Not: "Mais caro que o quê?"
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