што + Comparative
As Much as Possible
Што + a по- form = as ... as possible: Дојди што побрзо. (Come as quickly as possible.) Земи што повеќе. (Take as much as you can.)
How It Works
The pattern. Што + comparative. Make the comparative with по-, as in comparing things, and do not change anything else.
- Дојди што побрзо. (Come as quickly as possible.)
- Јави ми се што поскоро. (Call me as soon as possible.)
- Треба да научам што повеќе зборови. (I need to learn as many words as possible.)
With adjectives. The adjective still agrees with its noun: Бараме што поевтин стан. (We are looking for as cheap a flat as possible.) Сакам што поголема соба. (I want as big a room as possible.)
With е можно. Put е можно between што and the comparative for a longer version with the same meaning: Одговорете што е можно пократко. (Answer as briefly as possible.)
Irregular forms. Use the special comparative when there is one: многу gives што повеќе, and малку gives што помалку. See comparing amounts.
Similar patterns. To link two changing amounts, use колку ... толку. For a gradual change, use сѐ + comparative: сѐ подобро (better and better).
Examples (6)
- Дојди што побрзо.
Come as quickly as possible.
Word by Word: Come what more-quickly.
- Јави ми се што поскоро.
Call me as soon as possible.
Word by Word: Call to-me self what sooner.
- Земи што повеќе.
Take as much as you can.
Word by Word: Take what more.
- Треба да научам што повеќе зборови.
I need to learn as many words as possible.
Word by Word: Needs to I-learn what more words.
- Бараме што поевтин стан.
We are looking for as cheap a flat as possible.
Word by Word: We-seek what cheaper flat.
- Одговорете што е можно пократко.
Answer as briefly as possible.
Word by Word: Answer what is possible shorter.
Common Mistakes
Leaving out по- after што.
Дојди што брзо.Дојди што побрзо.The meaning "as ... as possible" needs the comparative. Add по- to the adverb: брзо becomes побрзо.
Writing по- as a separate word.
Јави ми се што по скоро.Јави ми се што поскоро.По- is part of the word. Write поскоро, побрзо and повеќе as one word.
How It Connects
Learn This First
As much as possible follows better and better.
Related Patterns
- по- / нај-Comparing Things
Shows how to make the по- form that follows што.
Level 2 - колку ... толкуThe More the More
Another pattern with comparatives: the more ..., the more ....
Level 4 - многу / повеќе / најмногуComparing Amounts
Gives повеќе and помалку, which appear in што повеќе and што помалку.
Level 3 - Adverbs From Adjectives
Explains adverbs such as брзо, which become побрзо here.
Level 2
Words in This Pattern
Practice што + Comparative in Bubblegum
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