-ago ... baino
More than: -ago
Add -ago for "more" or "-er", and put baino right after the thing you compare with: Ane Mikel baino altuagoa da (Ane is taller than Mikel).
How It Works
1. Making the form. Add -ago to the adjective or adverb: handiago (bigger), garestiago (more expensive), politago (prettier), lehenago (earlier), beranduago (later), polikiago (more slowly). A final -r usually doubles before the vowel: zahar → zaharrago, azkar → azkarrago (see words ending in -r).
2. The article. At the end of a noun phrase the comparative takes -a or -ak: etxe handiagoak (bigger houses). With izan it usually takes the article too: Autobusa merkeagoa da. You may also see it without the article: Autobusa merkeago da.
3. Where baino goes. The usual order is thing compared + baino + adjective-ago: Ane Mikel baino altuagoa da. The baino phrase can also come at the end: Ane altuagoa da Mikel baino. Either way, baino always follows the word it belongs to.
4. How much more. askoz or askoz ere (much), pixka bat (a little), or an exact amount: bi urte zaharragoa (two years older).
5. Special forms. on (good) gives hobe and asko gives gehiago; see better, more, less. For "the most", see the superlative.
Examples (6)
- Ane Mikel baino altuagoa da.
Ane is taller than Mikel.
- Autobusa trena baino merkeagoa da.
The bus is cheaper than the train.
- Nire etxea zurea baino askoz txikiagoa da.
My house is much smaller than yours.
askoz makes the difference bigger.
- Gaur lehenago etorri naiz.
I came earlier today.
lehen (before) + -ago: earlier.
- Mesedez, hitz egin polikiago.
Please speak more slowly.
poliki (slowly) + -ago.
- Nire anaia ni baino bi urte zaharragoa da.
My brother is two years older than me.
zahar doubles its r: zaharragoa.
Common Mistakes
Using gehiago before the adjective, as in Spanish "más alto".
Ane Mikel baino gehiago altua da.Ane Mikel baino altuagoa da.Basque makes the comparative with the ending -ago on the adjective itself.
Putting baino before the thing compared, like English "than".
Ane altuagoa da baino Mikel.Ane altuagoa da Mikel baino.baino always follows the word it goes with: Mikel baino.
Forgetting to double the final r.
Nire anaia zaharagoa da.Nire anaia zaharragoa da.zahar becomes zaharr- before a vowel: zaharra, zaharrago.
How It Connects
Learn This First
The comparative builds on describing with adjectives.
Related Patterns
- hobe / gehiagoBetter, More, Less
The special forms for good, well, much and little.
Level 2 - -enThe Most: -en
The next step: the tallest, the cheapest.
Level 2 - bezainAs ... as: Bezain
Comparing things that are equal: as tall as.
Level 2 - gero eta -agoMore and More
Saying "more and more" with the same -ago.
Level 3 - Words Ending in -r
Why zahar becomes zaharrago.
Level 2
Learn Next
Patterns that build on this one.
Words in This Pattern
Practice -ago ... baino in Bubblegum
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