чем

Comparison with Чем

Level 2Sounds Like sravnenie s čem

The conjunction чем works like the English word 'than'. It is used to compare two things, people, or actions. In standard writing, it is preceded by a comma, except in specific fixed adverbial phrases.

How It Works

The сравнение с чем (comparison with чем) is the most flexible way to compare things in Russian. It is used after a simple comparative, an irregular comparative, or a compound comparative (where 'чем' is mandatory).

Key Rules:

  • Punctuation: You must place a comma before чем in standard comparisons. The comma is omitted when the comparison functions as a single adverbial unit, such as in the common phrase не более чем (no more than).
  • Case Parallelism: The noun or pronoun after чем must match the case of the first item. If you compare two subjects, both are in the nominative case.
  • Mandatory 'чем': While simple noun comparisons can often use the genitive comparison, the чем construction is mandatory if the items being compared are in the Dative, Instrumental, or Prepositional cases (e.g., Я доверяю ему больше, чем брату).
  • Versatility and Word Order: Use чем when comparing full clauses or prepositional phrases. Unlike the genitive alternative, which typically requires the comparative word to come before the noun (e.g., быстрее ветра), чем allows for more flexible word order.
  • Correlative Construction: This conjunction is also used in the 'Чем... тем...' (The... the...) pattern to show how two things change together (e.g., Чем больше, тем лучше - The more, the better).

Examples (5)

  1. Москва больше, чем Тула.

    Moscow is bigger than Tula.

    Word by Word: Moscow bigger, than Tula.

    Both 'Москва' and 'Тула' are in the nominative case because they are the subjects being compared.

  2. Этот чай вкуснее, чем тот.

    This tea is tastier than that one.

    Word by Word: This tea tastier, than that [one].

    The demonstrative pronoun 'тот' matches the nominative case of 'чай'.

  3. В городе шумнее, чем в деревне.

    It is noisier in the city than in the village.

    Word by Word: In city noisier, than in village.

    Here, two prepositional phrases are compared. The genitive comparison would be impossible here; 'чем' is required.

  4. Он читает быстрее, чем я ожидал.

    He reads faster than I expected.

    Word by Word: He reads faster, than I expected.

    'Чем' can introduce a whole new clause (subject + verb), which the genitive comparison cannot do.

  5. Я доверяю брату больше, чем сестре.

    I trust my brother more than my sister.

    Word by Word: I trust brother more, than sister.

    Both 'брату' and 'сестре' are in the dative case because they are both objects of the verb 'trust'.

Common Mistakes

  • Omitting the comma before 'чем' in standard comparisons.

    Он выше чем я.
    Он выше, чем я.

    In standard comparisons between two items, a comma is mandatory before the conjunction 'чем'. However, note that the comma is omitted in fixed adverbial phrases like 'не более чем' (no more than).

  • Using the nominative case after 'чем' when the first item is in a different case.

    Я дал книгу брату больше, чем сестра.
    Я дал книгу брату больше, чем сестре.

    If you are comparing who you gave the book to (dative), the second person must also be in the dative case (сестре). Using the nominative (сестра) would mean 'I gave the book more than my sister gave it'.

How It Connects

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чемLevel 2Comparison with Чем

Learn This First

To use 'чем' for comparison, a learner must first understand how to form comparative adjectives (like 'bigger' or 'shorter') and recognize 'чем' as the functional marker that introduces the second part of the comparison. Since the case of the noun following 'чем' usually matches the case of the first item compared (often the nominative subject), basic case knowledge is also required.

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Words in This Pattern

чем