Comparatives and Superlatives

 

1.X は Y より + Adjective 　　
       X is more Adjective than Y
2.X は Y より + Adverb + Verb　　
    X does...more Adverb than Y    

(or you can think よりthis way:  Concerning X, comparing with Y, is more …) 

(Refer to DBJG Yori 1 pp.564 – 567 for more sample sentences.)

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 気候は、北海道は、九州より、寒いです。　　（北海道は、九州より、寒いです。　） In terms of climate, Hokkaido is colder than Kyushu.

                     

Adverbs can be made from many adjectives:

い-Adj.:  Change い intoく+ verb
  E.g. おおきく　します。 (Make/do big)

な-Adj. :  な-Adj.+ に + verb.
　E.g. きれいに　たべました。(ate cleanly = ate up everything)


 

 

3.X と Y と（では）、
   どちらのほうが + Adjective ですか
   X と Y と（では）、
   どちらのほうが+ Adverb + Verb  か
  X or Y, which (of the two alternatives) is more  Adjective  
   X or Y, which (of the two alternatives) does more Adverb + Verb  

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A: 北海道と九州と（では）、どちらの方が寒いですか。　B: 北海道の方が、寒いです。 A: Hokkaido or Kyushu, which one (of the two) is colder? B: Hokkaido is colder.

A: 北海道と九州と（では）、どちらの方が暑いですか。　B: 九州の方が、暑いです。A: Hokkaido or Kyushu, which one (of the two) is warmer? B: Kyushu is warmer.

 

 

4.X のほうが + Y より+ Adjective        
  X のほうが + Y より+ Adverb + Verb 
   X is more  Adjective than Y          
    X does more Adverb + Verb than Y  
Note: This structure is very similar to the first one above. The only difference is  that  is は replaced by のほうが .

 

(Refer to DBJG Ho ga pp.140 – 144 for more sample sentences.)

 

Practice this structure Click here.  (Sorry that aduio files in each page are not available at this time.)
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気候は、北海道の方が、九州より、寒いです。　　（北海道は、九州より、寒いです。　）In terms of climate, Hokkaido is colder than Kyushu (or Hokkaido is colder, comparing with Kyushu.)

海外旅行の方がゴルフよりたくさんお金がかかります。Oversea Traveling costs more money than golf.
海外旅行の方がゴルフより高いです。Oversea Traveling is more expensive than golf.

 

5.X は Y ほど negative + Adjective
  X は Y ほど negative + Adverb + Verb
   X  is  not  as much Adjective as Y
    X does not + Verb as much Adverb as Y   


ほど is used only in the negative sentences. You can say that ほどis the negative version of より.       

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More Practice this structure.  Click here.
More Practice this structure.  Click here.

北海道は、九州ほど、暑くないです。　Hokkaido is not as hot as Kyushu.　　

九州は、北海道ほど、寒くないです。　Kyushu is not as cold as Hokkaido.


 

6.X と Y と Z のなかで（or のうちで）、
                    X が一番 + Adjective.

　X と Y と Z のなかで（or のうちで）、
                    X が一番+ Adverb + Verb
  Among X,Y,Z, X is the most Adjective
  Among X,Y,Z, X does the most Adverb + Verb     


(Refer to DBJG Ichiban pp.148 – 149 for more sample sentences.)   

 A:九州と北海道と四国の中で、どこが一番寒いですか。　B:北海道が一番寒いです。A: Among Kyushu, Hokkaido, and Shikoku, where is the coldest?  B: Hokkaido is the coldest.

 

Click here to practice all the above. 

 

7.X は Y と おなじくらい + Adjective            
  X は Y と おなじくらい + Adverb + Verb 
   X is about the same as Y with regard to Adjective
    X is about the same as Y with regard to Adverb + Verb        

九州は四国と、同じぐらいあたたかいです。
Kyushu is as warm as Shikoku.
本州の北は北海道と同じぐらい寒いです。　
Noth of Honshu is as cold as Hokkaido.
本州の南は九州と同じぐらいあたたかいです。
South of Honshu is as warm as Kyushu.

 

Click here (PDF format) for handouts to practice comparative and superlative structure.  This is from a book for Japanese children preparing for entrance exams of private elementary schools.