mai + Adjective + decât
Comparatives
The Romanian comparative of superiority is formed by placing the word mai (more) before the adjective and decât (than) before the object of comparison.
How It Works
To compare a degree of a quality, put mai before a gradable adjective or adverb: mai înalt (taller), mai repede (faster).
Agreement: An adjective still follows adjective agreement; an adverb stays unchanged.
Than: Use decât before the comparison: mai înalt decât mine. Ca also occurs in simple nominal comparisons, especially in speech: mai înalt ca mine. Use decât for a full comparative clause: E mai cald decât mă așteptam.
Pronouns: A bare pronoun after comparative decât/ca takes the stressed accusative form: mine, tine, el, ea, noi, voi, ei, ele. A pronoun that is the subject of a following full clause follows that clause's rules.
Numerical thresholds: Use de in mai mult de zece (more than ten). This does not replace decât in every comparison involving quantities.
Only: The restrictive construction nu...decât means 'only'. Comparative decât can still mean 'than' in a negative sentence.
Examples (4)
- Ana este mai înaltă decât Maria.
Ana is taller than Maria.
Word by Word: Ana is more tall than Maria.
Notice how 'înaltă' is feminine to match Ana, and 'mai... decât' creates the comparison.
- Acest măr este mai roșu decât acela.
This apple is redder than that one.
Word by Word: This apple is more red than that-one.
Romanian uses 'mai' even for short adjectives where English would use '-er'.
- Ea este mai deșteaptă decât mine.
She is smarter than me.
Word by Word: She is more smart than me.
When comparing to a person, use the stressed pronoun 'mine' instead of 'eu'.
- Câinii sunt mai prietenoși decât pisicile.
Dogs are friendlier than cats.
Word by Word: The-dogs are more friendly than the-cats.
The adjective 'prietenoși' is masculine plural to agree with 'câinii'.
Common Mistakes
Using the nominative pronoun (eu, tu) after 'decât'.
El este mai mare decât eu.El este mai mare decât mine.When the comparison ends with a bare pronoun, use the stressed accusative form: mine, tine, el, ea, noi, voi, ei, ele. A subject inside a full comparative clause can be nominative.
How It Connects
Learn This First
To form comparatives in Romanian, you need to understand how adjectives function and agree with nouns, as well as how to use the verb 'a fi' to create descriptive sentences.
Related Patterns
- cel mai / cea mai / cei mai / cele maiRelative Superlatives
The superlative ('the most') is built directly upon the comparative form by adding 'cel'.
Level 2 - Comparison With bun / rău / mare / micCommon Comparison Words
Some common adjectives have specific nuances or slightly different usage when compared.
Level 3 - Restrictive nu … decâtOnly with Nu...Decât
Restrictive nu...decât means 'only'; comparative decât retains 'than' even in a negative sentence.
Level 4 - Equality Comparisons
This explains how to say 'as... as' using 'la fel de... ca', which contrasts with 'mai... decât'.
Level 3
Learn Next
Patterns that build on this one.
Words in This Pattern
Practice mai + Adjective + decât in Bubblegum
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