più...di / meno...di
Comparative (Più/meno...di)
Italian uses più (more) or meno (less) followed by an adjective and the connector di (or che) to compare two things.
How It Works
The comparative of majority and minority allows you to express that one thing has more or less of a quality than another.
1. The Basic Structure
To say something is 'more [adjective] than', use più... di. To say 'less [adjective] than', use meno... di. If di is followed by a noun with an article, it must become an articulated preposition (del, della, etc.).
- Marco è più alto di Luca. (Marco is taller than Luca.)
- Il gatto è meno veloce del cane. (The cat is less fast than the dog.)
2. Using 'di' vs 'che'
While di is the standard for comparing two subjects, you must use che in these specific cases:
- Comparing two qualities/adjectives of the same person (e.g., 'She is more beautiful than smart').
- Comparing two verbs in the infinitive (e.g., 'It's easier to say than to do').
- Comparing two adverbs (e.g., 'He speaks more quickly than clearly').
- Comparing two nouns or pronouns preceded by a preposition (e.g., 'I work more in the office than at home').
- Comparing two different entities (objects) in relation to the same subject (e.g., 'I drink more water than wine').
3. Numbers and Quantities
When the second term of comparison is a number, always use di.
- Ho più di venti anni. (I am more than twenty years old.)
4. Irregular Forms
Some common adjectives have special one-word forms. See irregular comparatives for more:
- Buono (good) → migliore (better)
- Cattivo (bad) → peggiore (worse)
- Grande (big) → maggiore (greater/older)
- Piccolo (small) → minore (lesser/younger)
Examples (6)
- Il treno è più veloce dell'autobus.
The train is faster than the bus.
Word by Word: The train is more fast of the bus.
Here 'di' combines with the article 'l'' to become 'dell''. We use 'di' because we are comparing two different subjects (train and bus).
- Sei più alto di me.
You are taller than me.
Word by Word: You are more tall of me.
When comparing with a pronoun, use the stressed form 'me' instead of the subject form 'io'.
- Ho più di dieci euro.
I have more than ten euros.
Word by Word: I have more of ten euros.
When the second term of comparison is a number or a quantity, 'di' is used.
- Vado più spesso a Roma che a Milano.
I go to Rome more often than to Milan.
Word by Word: I go more often to Rome than to Milan.
We use 'che' when the terms of comparison are preceded by a preposition.
- Mangio più pasta che carne.
I eat more pasta than meat.
Word by Word: I eat more pasta than meat.
Use 'che' when comparing two different objects (nouns) in relation to the same subject (I).
- Lui corre più velocemente che bene.
He runs more quickly than well.
Word by Word: He runs more quickly than well.
When comparing two adverbs, 'che' is required instead of 'di'.
Common Mistakes
Using 'più migliore' or 'più peggiore'.
Questo caffè è più migliore.Questo caffè è migliore.'Migliore' already means 'better'. Adding 'più' (more) is redundant and grammatically incorrect in Italian.
Forgetting to contract 'di' with the definite article.
L'aereo è più veloce di il treno.L'aereo è più veloce del treno.In Italian, 'di' must merge with the following definite article to form an articulated preposition.
Using 'di' to compare two adjectives for the same person.
È più bella di intelligente.È più bella che intelligente.When comparing two qualities of the same subject, you must use 'che' instead of 'di'.
How It Connects
Learn This First
To form comparatives of majority and minority, you need to be able to link subjects to adjectives using the verb 'essere', ensure those adjectives agree with the subject, and correctly use articulated prepositions with 'di' to introduce the second term of comparison.
- Adjective Agreement
Comparatives often involve adjectives (e.g., 'più alto di'), which must agree in gender and number with the nouns they modify.
Level 1 - Articulated (Contracted) Prepositions
The comparative marker 'di' frequently combines with definite articles to form articulated prepositions (e.g., 'più veloce del treno') when comparing nouns.
Level 1
Related Patterns
- così...come / tanto...quantoComparative of Equality (Così...come / Tanto...quanto)
The comparative of equality is used to say things are 'as... as' each other, completing the set of comparative structures.
Level 2 - che / diComparative 'Che' vs. 'Di'
This pattern explains the specific rules for when to switch from 'di' to 'che' in comparisons.
Level 2 - Irregular Comparatives and Superlatives
Covers special forms like 'migliore' and 'peggiore' which replace 'più buono' and 'più cattivo'.
Level 2 - Relative Superlative
The next step after comparatives, used to say something is 'the most' or 'the least' in a group.
Level 2
Learn Next
Patterns that build on this one.
Words in This Pattern
Sources
Practice più...di / meno...di in Bubblegum
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