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--- en:grammar:comparisons [2022-01-23 10:21] – Explain 'mas ... mas ...', add section titles christian
+++ en:grammar:comparisons [2023-01-08 12:50] (current) – Switch to possessive pronouns; "nuespos" exists now christian
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+{{page>nav}}
 ====== Comparisons ======
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 To express that something has a certain property to a higher degree than something else, place the quantifier **mas** 'more' before an adjective or adverb. The compared entity is introduced using the preposition **cem** 'than, as'.
-**Ya mas silni cem makika (ya).** – She is stronger than her brother.\\
+**Ya (xi) mas kavi cem (yas) makika.** – She is stronger than her brother.\\
-**Bal makika i [run] mas ku [fast] cem ya.** – But the brother runs faster than she.
+**Bal makika lari mas ku sari cem ya.** – But the brother runs faster than she.
+Determiners such as **mas** are placed before the adverb marker **ku** (just as they are placed before verb markers).
 **Mas** can also be used before nouns:
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 To express the superlative – a higher degree than everything else – **ol mas** 'most' is used. This can be considered an abbreviation of **mas ... cem ol otra** 'more than all others'.
-**Ya ol mas silni.** – She is the strongest.
+**Ya (xi) ol mas kavi.** – She is the strongest.
 ===== men, ol men =====
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 The opposite of **mas** is **men** 'less, fewer'.
-**Ya men [intelligent] cem [wife] (ya).** – He's less intelligent than his wife.\\
+**Ya (xi) men daki cem (yas) nuespos.** – He's less intelligent than his wife.\\
 **Men jen li lai cem nas (li) [expect].** – Fewer people came than we had expected.
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 For expressions of equality, **tan ... cem** 'as ... as' is used:
-**Ya tan gau cem makika (ya).** – She's as tall as her brother.\\
+**Ya (xi) tan gau cem (yas) makika.** – She's as tall as her brother.\\
-**Ya pia [run] tan ku [fast] cem makika.** – She also runs as fast as her brother.
+**Ya lari pia tan ku sari cem makika.** – She also runs as fast as her brother.
 As usual, **tan** can also be used before nouns:
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 **Mas garam, mas hau.** – The hotter, the better.\\
-**Mas mala jen ga miru si, mas hau.** – The fewer people will see this, the better.
+**Mas malo jen ga miru si, mas hau.** – The fewer people will see this, the better.
 Either or both instances of **mas** can be replaced by **men** as appropriate.
-**Men [money], men [trouble].** – Less money, fewer problems.
+**Men [money], men [problem/trouble].** – Less money, fewer problems.