Comparatives and superlatives

[laepelba]

My workbook gives the following chart:




Several questions:

1) Is the table more or less accurate?
2) What other (common) comparatives/superlatives could/should be added to the list?
3) Should there be a "el/la" under the "superlative" column for "menor"?
4) I have the following questions about the exercise that was included with this particular chart. It is "fill in the blank", using the English word provided:
- La casa del vicepresidente es ___________ (bigger than) una mansión. [My answer was "mayor de", but the book had "más grande que".]
- No, tú eres ______________ (the oldest) de tu familia. [My answer was "la más vieja", but the book had "el mayor".]
Please help me to understand my errors in these two exercises.

Thank you!!

[AngelicaDeAlquezar]

"Viejo" in Spanish is not as freely used as it's "old" in English.
"Viejo" means that someone (or something) has reached senility and its meaning implies decrepitude. That is why it's pejorative when it is addressed to healthy or young people and that is why it makes no sense to talk about "un niño viejo".

- Mi perro tiene 15 años, ya no sale ni al jardín.
My dog is 15 years old, he doesn't even go to the garden.

- Esos documentos tienen como 15 años, ya no sirven para nada.
These documents must be about 15 years old, they're useless.

- Mi lavadora tiene 15 años, y el técnico ya no la quiso reparar.
My washing machine is 15 years old and the technician wouldn't repair it.

- Mi hijo mayor tiene 15 años y tiene toda la energía para ir a la escuela y hacer deportes.
My oldest son is 15 years old and has all the energy to go to school and practice sports.

- Mi hijo ya es grande pero aún tiene mucha energía, tiene 70 años y cuida a sus tres nietos.
My son is already old, but he still has much energy, he's 70 years old and takes care of his three grandchildren.

- El señor López ya es muy viejo para este trabajo. Hay que contratar a alguien más.
Mr. López is already old for this job. We must hire someone else.



Sorry, I can't go through comparisons with "más que" and "más de" again, but hopefully an old discussion about it will help.

[laepelba]

Thanks. My question isn't about the use of "que" vs. "de", but about "mayor" vs. "grande"....

[Perikles]

Originally Posted by AngelicaDeAlquezar

"Viejo" in Spanish is not as freely used as it's "old" in English.
"Viejo" means that someone (or something) has reached senility and its meaning implies decrepitude..

So how would you say "the eldest of three sisters" for a young adult where they are all the same height? Or even when a younger sister is actually taller?

[chileno]

En Chile usamos grande para denominar tamaño y edad.

Estás grandecito para estar haciendo tonteras - You're grown up to be doing foolish things.

¡Que grande que estás! - How big you are! (No ocupamos grande para decir viejo) (la única instancia en que ocupamos grande para decir viejo es "eres el más grande del grupo" cuando se les dice a lo niños, por ejemplo)

La más vieja = the oldest (polite "la de más edad")

[AngelicaDeAlquezar]

@Perikles: It would be something like:
- La mayor de las tres hermanas es menos alta que la menor.
- La menor de las hermanas es más alta que la mayor.
- Mira qué curioso: Marianita, la hermanita menor, se ve más grande que Lupita, que es mayor.


@Lou Ann: In that case, it's much more simple: it's because of the size of the house, not greatness.

[laepelba]

Originally Posted by AngelicaDeAlquezar

@Lou Ann: In that case, it's much more simple: it's because of the size of the house, not greatness.

So their table is inaccurate?

[Perikles]

Originally Posted by AngelicaDeAlquezar

@Perikles: It would be something like:
- La mayor de las tres hermanas es menos alta que la menor.
- La menor de las hermanas es más alta que la mayor.
- Mira qué curioso: Marianita, la hermanita menor, se ve más grande que Lupita, que es mayor.

Thanks

[AngelicaDeAlquezar]

@Lou Ann: you know I'm useless with tables, but maybe there should be some note on different meanings of "grande".


@Perikles:

[chileno]

Originally Posted by AngelicaDeAlquezar

@Lou Ann: you know I'm useless with tables, but maybe there should be some note on different meanings of "grande".


@Perikles:

That's why I decided to shut up.