inqas ... minn

Comparing with Less

Level 4

Inqas + positive adjective + minn phrase expresses lesser degree than the reference.

How It Works

Place inqas, ‘less’, before a positive adjective and introduce the standard with minn. The degree marker remains unchanged. The adjective retains ordinary agreement: inqas kiesaħ / kiesħa / kesħin for masculine singular, feminine singular and plural.

Compare Il-kafè inqas kiesaħ mill-ħalib, ‘The coffee is less cold than the milk’, with Il-kafè mhux kiesaħ, ‘The coffee is not cold’. The comparison can describe two cold drinks; the negative description denies coldness. ‘Not colder’ allows equality, whereas ‘less cold’ ranks one degree below the other.

The standard follows ordinary prepositional patterns: mill-ħalib combines minn with the article, while minn dik remains separate before a demonstrative. A possessive form can stand for an understood comparison noun. Interpret the selected property: less cold means warmer.

Examples (3)

  1. Il-kafè inqas kiesaħ mill-ħalib.

    The coffee is less cold than the milk.

    Masculine agreement and an article-bearing standard.

  2. Il-kamra tagħna inqas kiesħa minn tagħkom.

    Our room is less cold than yours.

    Feminine agreement; tagħkom replaces an understood room.

  3. Dawn il-kmamar inqas kesħin minn dawk.

    These rooms are less cold than those.

    Plural agreement and a demonstrative standard.

How It Connects

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inqas ... minnLevel 4Comparing with Less

Learn This First

Introduce lesser degree as a ranking on a selected property and distinguish it from denying that property or denying a greater degree.

Words in This Pattern

minn