en:grammar:comparisons
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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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====== Comparisons ====== | ====== Comparisons ====== | ||
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To express that something has a certain property to a higher degree than something else, place the quantifier **mas** ' | To express that something has a certain property to a higher degree than something else, place the quantifier **mas** ' | ||
- | **Ya mas silni cem makika | + | **Ya (xi) mas kavi cem (yas) makika.** – She is stronger than her brother.\\ |
- | **Bal makika | + | **Bal makika |
+ | |||
+ | 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: | **Mas** can also be used before nouns: | ||
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To express the superlative – a higher degree than everything else – **ol mas** ' | To express the superlative – a higher degree than everything else – **ol mas** ' | ||
- | **Ya ol mas silni.** – She is the strongest. | + | **Ya (xi) ol mas kavi.** – She is the strongest. |
===== men, ol men ===== | ===== men, ol men ===== | ||
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The opposite of **mas** is **men** 'less, fewer' | The opposite of **mas** is **men** 'less, fewer' | ||
- | **Ya men [intelligent] | + | **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. | **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: | For expressions of equality, **tan ... cem** 'as ... as' is used: | ||
- | **Ya tan gau cem makika | + | **Ya (xi) tan gau cem (yas) makika.** – She's as tall as her brother.\\ |
- | **Ya pia [run] tan ku [fast] | + | **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: | As usual, **tan** can also be used before nouns: | ||
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**Mas garam, mas hau.** – The hotter, the better.\\ | **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. | 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. |
en/grammar/comparisons.1642929697.txt.gz · Last modified: 2022-01-23 10:21 by christian