Comparisons in Portuguese: Mais, Menos, and Tão… Quanto — Practice

Use mais… do que for “more… than”

To compare two things with an adjective or adverb, use mais + description + do que. For example, mais tranquilo do que means more relaxed than. The adjective changes to agree with the person or thing it describes.

For a quantity, use mais + noun + do que: Tenho mais tempo do que ontem (I have more time than yesterday). The phrase after do que gives the point of comparison.

Use menos… do que for “less… than”

Replace mais with menos to say less…than: menos caro do que (less expensive than), menos longe do que (less far than). The rest of the comparison pattern stays similar.

For equality, use tão + adjective or adverb + quanto: tão fácil quanto (as easy as). With a noun, use tanto/tanta/tantos/tantas quanto to agree with the quantity word.

Keep the two things being compared clear

Name both sides of the comparison when the listener might not know what you mean. If the second side is obvious, speakers may shorten the sentence, but a complete comparison is helpful while you are learning.

Do not confuse tão… quanto (as…as) with tanto… quanto for quantity. Compare the description with tão tranquila quanto; compare the number or amount with tantos dias quanto.

Remember: Choose two real things you know and compare them once with mais, once with menos, and once with tão… quanto.

Check your understanding

Choose the English meaning of each Portuguese example. Answer before looking back at the tables. These questions check the written examples in this guide; they are not a listening or proficiency test.

Recall the Portuguese, then say it

Read the English prompt and say a Portuguese version before opening the answer. The answer shows the example from the lesson; other natural translations may also work. Compare the meaning and the situation rather than counting a different word as automatically wrong.

1. This route is shorter than the other one.

   Show a Portuguese answer

   Este caminho é mais curto do que o outro.

2. Today I’m more relaxed than yesterday.

   Show a Portuguese answer

   Hoje estou mais tranquilo do que ontem.

3. She speaks more slowly than I do.

   Show a Portuguese answer

   Ela fala mais devagar do que eu.

4. The second exercise is less difficult than the first.

   Show a Portuguese answer

   O segundo exercício é menos difícil do que o primeiro.

5. The trip was as long as I expected.

   Show a Portuguese answer

   A viagem foi tão longa quanto eu esperava.

6. I have as many books as you.

   Show a Portuguese answer

   Tenho tantos livros quanto você.

Make the phrase useful to you

Choose one example you could actually use. Say it once from memory, then change one detail that fits your life, such as the person, place, time, or object. Check whether your change also needs a different verb form, article, or adjective ending. If it does, compare it with the pattern in the explanation.

Choose two real things you know and compare them once with mais, once with menos, and once with tão… quanto.

Return to two prompts tomorrow without opening the answers first. If a phrase still feels difficult, shorten it to a useful chunk and build the complete sentence again.

Sources and your next lesson

This I Speak Portuguese practice guide builds on our Comparisons in Portuguese: Mais, Menos, and Tão… Quanto lesson on Real Life Portuguese, with written recall tasks and additional speaking practice. The explanations and examples are teaching material; the practice questions are exercises, not a transcript of a recording.

To add Brazilian audio to your routine, choose a lesson in the Real Life Portuguese app. The app offers its own lessons and practice; this page does not imply that every example here has an app recording.