kuo + comparative

As ... as Possible with Kuo

Level 4

Put kuo before a comparative to say as ... as possible: kuo greičiau (as soon as possible), kuo daugiau (as much as possible), kuo pigesnis (as cheap as possible).

How It Works

With adverbs

  • Ateik kuo greičiau. (Come as soon as possible.)
  • Parašykite kuo trumpiau. (Write as briefly as possible.)
  • Stenkitės kalbėti kuo aiškiau. (Try to speak as clearly as possible.)

See Comparing Adverbs.

With adjectives
The adjective agrees with its noun in every way. Ieškoti takes the genitive, so the whole phrase is genitive: Ieškau kuo pigesnio buto. (I am looking for as cheap an apartment as possible.) See Comparative Adjectives and Verbs That Take the Genitive.

With daugiau and mažiau
Kuo daugiau takes a genitive noun: Pasistenk išmokti kuo daugiau žodžių. (Try to learn as many words as you can.)

With a superlative
Kuo can also intensify a superlative adverb, including in wishes: Kuo nuoširdžiausiai sveikiname! (Our warmest congratulations!) See Superlative Adjectives.

Do not confuse
With two parts, kuo ..., tuo ... means the more ..., the more .... See The More ..., the More ....

Examples (6)

  1. Ateik kuo greičiau.

    Come as soon as possible.

    Word by Word: Come by-what quicker.

  2. Pasistenk išmokti kuo daugiau žodžių.

    Try to learn as many words as you can.

    Word by Word: Try to-learn by-what more of-words.

    Kuo daugiau takes the genitive plural žodžių.

  3. Parašykite kuo trumpiau.

    Write as briefly as possible.

    Word by Word: Write by-what shorter.

  4. Ieškau kuo pigesnio buto.

    I am looking for as cheap an apartment as possible.

    Word by Word: I-look-for by-what cheaper of-apartment.

    Ieškoti takes the genitive, so pigesnio buto is genitive.

  5. Stenkitės kalbėti kuo aiškiau.

    Try to speak as clearly as possible.

    Word by Word: Try to-speak by-what clearer.

  6. Norime kuo greičiau grįžti namo.

    We want to go home as soon as possible.

    Word by Word: We-want by-what quicker to-return home.

Common Mistakes

  • Using the basic adverb instead of the comparative.

    Ateik kuo greitai.
    Ateik kuo greičiau.

    This as ... as possible pattern uses a comparative, so greitai becomes greičiau. Kuo can also intensify a superlative in other phrases.

  • Leaving the adjective phrase in the nominative after a verb that takes the genitive.

    Ieškau kuo pigesnis butas.
    Ieškau kuo pigesnio buto.

    Kuo does not change the case. Ieškoti takes the genitive, so both words become genitive.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

kuo + comparativeLevel 4As ... as Possible with Kuo

Learn This First

Kuo with a comparative asks for the greatest practical degree.

Words in This Pattern