Comparing How Things Are Done
Use an adverb with pli, malpli or plej to compare actions.
How It Works
| Comparing | Example |
|---|---|
| more | Li kuras pli rapide ol mi. |
| less | Mi parolas malpli bone. |
| most | Ŝi kantas plej bone. |
| equal | Hiro parolas Esperanton tiel bone kiel Ewa. |
The adverb ends in -e and does not take -j. Rapida belongs with a noun (pli rapida trajno), while rapide belongs with a verb (pli rapide kuri).
The words that show what you compare with are the same as for adjectives: ol after pli and malpli, kiel after tiel.
The prefix mal- works here too: malrapide means slowly, and malpli rapide means less quickly.
Examples (5)
- Kenji kuras pli rapide ol mi.
Kenji runs faster than I do.
Pli rapide compares two ways of running.
- Ŝi kantas plej bone.
She sings best.
Plej bone is the adverb of best.
- Mi parolas malpli bone ol Wei.
I speak less well than Wei.
Malpli bone ol Wei compares two ways of speaking.
- La trajno venis pli frue hieraŭ ol hodiaŭ.
The train came earlier yesterday than today.
Pli frue is earlier.
- Hiro parolas Esperanton tiel bone kiel Ewa.
Hiro speaks Esperanto as well as Ewa.
Tiel bone kiel Ewa compares two equal skills.
Common Mistakes
Using an adjective for how something is done.
Kenji kuras pli rapida ol mi.Kenji kuras pli rapide ol mi.Rapida describes a noun. For how Kenji runs, use the adverb rapide.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Adverbs compare in the same way as adjectives.
Related Patterns
Practice Comparing How Things Are Done in Bubblegum
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