ju ... lọ
Comparing Two Things
The comparison standard comes between ju and lọ.
How It Works
Begin with a subject and property predicate, then add ju, a comparison standard and lọ. In ga ju Bísí lọ, Bísí supplies the height standard. A possessed noun phrase can also serve as the standard. Keep these words separate in the ordinary spelling used here.
The property determines the comparison: kéré compares smallness, while tóbi compares size. The construction does not acquire gender or number endings. Relative comparison does not establish absolute degree: one small bag can be bigger than another small bag.
Contrast tóbi púpọ̀, very big, with tóbi ju àpò yẹn lọ, bigger than that bag. These examples use full noun standards and mid-tone ju. Low-tone jù also occurs in comparative environments before certain proforms; low tone alone therefore does not identify a superlative.
Examples (3)
- Kẹ́mi ga ju Bísí lọ.
Kẹ́mi is taller than Bísí.
A personal name supplies the height standard.
- Àpò yìí kéré ju àpò yẹn lọ.
This bag is smaller than that bag.
The standard is the whole noun phrase àpò yẹn.
- Ilé wa tóbi ju ilé wọn lọ.
Our house is bigger than their house.
The standard is a possessed noun phrase.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Use property + ju + comparison standard + lọ.
Related Patterns
Practice ju ... lọ in Bubblegum
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