uste baino
Than Expected
To say than I thought, put the verb of thinking before baino: Uste nuen baino zailagoa da (It is harder than I thought). Short version: uste baino zailagoa (harder than expected).
How It Works
Two ways to say it. This is the comparative with -ago ... baino, with a clause where the second term would be:
- Short, with no auxiliary: uste baino, espero baino, pentsatu baino, nahi baino, behar baino. Espero baino lehenago iritsi gara (We have arrived earlier than expected).
- Full, with the auxiliary plus -(e)n: dut → dudan, duzu → duzun. Zuk uste duzun baino gazteagoa naiz (I am younger than you think). In the past, the -n is already there: uste nuen, espero genuen.
The comparative part. The main clause still needs a comparative: -ago (zailagoa, lehenago), gehiago, gutxiago or hobeto: Behar baino gehiago jan dut (I have eaten more than I should have).
-(e)n, not -(e)na. In careful Basque, the auxiliary before baino takes -(e)n: uste nuen baino. Speech often says uste nuena baino, and Euskaltzaindia's grammar notes that this is widespread. The -na form is clearly right only when it names a thing: nahi nuena baino merkeagoa means cheaper than the one I wanted. Compare nahi nuen baino garestiagoa, which means more expensive than I wanted it to be.
Same pattern with bezain and bezala. The same verbs go before bezain and bezala: uste bezain erraza (as easy as expected), esan bezala (as I said).
Examples (6)
- Uste nuen baino zailagoa da.
It is harder than I thought.
- Espero baino lehenago iritsi gara.
We have arrived earlier than expected.
espero with no auxiliary: than expected.
- Azterketa uste baino errazagoa izan da.
The exam has been easier than expected.
- Zuk uste duzun baino gazteagoa naiz.
I am younger than you think.
duzu becomes duzun before baino.
- Behar baino gehiago jan dut.
I have eaten more than I should have.
- Espero genuen baino jende gutxiago etorri da.
Fewer people have come than we expected.
Common Mistakes
Leaving the auxiliary without -(e)n before baino.
Uste dut baino zailagoa da.Uste dudan baino zailagoa da.A full auxiliary before baino must take -(e)n: dut becomes dudan. You can also drop the auxiliary: uste baino zailagoa da.
Writing baina (but) instead of baino (than).
Espero baina lehenago iritsi gara.Espero baino lehenago iritsi gara.baina means but and joins clauses. The comparison word is baino.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Than expected follows the comparative.
Related Patterns
- bezainAs ... as: Bezain
The same verbs combine with bezain: uste bezain erraza.
Level 2 - hobe / gehiagoBetter, More, Less
gehiago, gutxiago and hobeto often go with uste baino.
Level 2 - -(e)n bezalaAs, Like: -(e)n Bezala
Another comparison with a clause in -(e)n: esan dudan bezala.
Level 4 - -(e)naThe One Who, What
The -(e)na form names a thing, which is why nahi nuena baino means than the one I wanted.
Level 3 - -(e)nRelative Clauses
The same -(e)n ending that the auxiliary takes before baino.
Level 3
Words in This Pattern
Practice uste baino in Bubblegum
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