Unit 4B Labolengua

Comparatives and superlatives, tener and

soler

Unit 4B: Labolengua

© Oxford University Press 2012

A Comparatives and superlativesWhen you’re talking about one thing, it’s ‘easy’ – fácil (adjective):La tarea es fácil – The task is easy.

When you’re comparing it to something else, it’s ‘easier than’ – más fácil que (comparative): La tarea 2 es más fácil que la 3 – Task 2 is easier than 3.

Unit 4B: Labolengua

© Oxford University Press 2012

Or you can also say ‘it’s less complicated than’ – menos complicado que (comparative): El ejercicio 3 es menos complicado que el ejercicio 2 – Exercise 3 is less complicated than exercise 2.

At times you want to say that something is ‘the most/the least’ (superlative): the easiest = el/la más fácil. La tarea 4 es la más fácil – Task 4 is the easiest.

Unit 4B: Labolengua

© Oxford University Press 2012

B Idiomatic uses of tener Besides when expressing your age, e.g. tengo catorce años, there are many occasions where in English we use the verb ‘to be’ + adjective and in Spanish we use the verb tener + noun. Here are some common examples:

tener hambre/sed – to be hungry/thirstytener éxito – to be successfultener razón – to be righttener calor/frío – to be hot/coldtener miedo – to be scaredtener suerte – to be lucky

Unit 4B: Labolengua

© Oxford University Press 2012

C Soler + infinitiveThe structure soler + infinitive is used to refer to what is usually done or, when used in the imperfect, what one used to do in the past.

Suelo ir a Argentina en verano – I usually go to Argentina in summer.Imperfect:

Solía ir a Argentina en verano – I used to go to Argentina in summer.

solía solíamos

solías solíais

solía solían