Omitted Material in Comparisons

Level 4

After nego, Croatian can omit repeated material in a comparison. The remaining words must make the intended comparison clear.

How It Works

In Put je kraći nego jučer, the comparison relies on a contextually understood earlier journey or route. In Ana čita brže nego Ivan, Ivan is the understood subject of the repeated reading event.

When two readings compete, supply more words. Volim Anu više nego Ivana compares two objects of my affection. Volim Anu više nego što je Ivan voli compares how much two people love Ana. The full clause resolves the roles.

A short comparative expression does not normally take a comma before nego: brže nego prije. Do not insert a comma merely because the English comparison might contain a pause.

Examples (3)

  1. Petra pliva brže nego Marko.

    Petra swims faster than Marko.

  2. Danas imam manje posla nego jučer.

    Today I have less work than yesterday.

  3. Ana pije više čaja nego kave.

    Ana drinks more tea than coffee.

How It Connects

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Omitted Material in ComparisonsLevel 4

Learn This First

An elliptical comparison omits material from a comparison frame whose participant roles are already understood.

Words in This Pattern