How to Make Comparisons: Italian Grammar Lesson 133

Q: How do you use 'di' in Italian?

The word 'di' in Italian has various uses that are important to understand. 1: It can denote ownership, similar to the English possessive form. 2: It can be used to indicate someone's or something's origins. 3: It can express the topic of something. 4: It can indicate what something is made of. 5: 'Di' is used to make comparisons. 6: It can be used to specify quantities. 7: 'Di' is used to talk about a specific time of the day or year.

Key Takeaways

The comparativo in Italian compares two entities, indicating if one has more, less, or the same degree of a quality.
Use più/meno di to compare one characteristic of two different entities, such as people or objects.
When comparing two qualities of the same entity, use più/meno che before prepositions or infinitive verbs.
For comparisons with definite articles, the preposition di combines with the article, forming preposizione articolata.
To express "more" in relation to an action without a specific comparison, use the structure: Verb + di più.

Stefano's Insights

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Ah, i comparativi italiani! Un'arte sottile che può confondere chiunque non sia cresciuto con il suono melodioso del nostro bel paese. Abbiamo il 'più di' e 'meno di' per confrontare due entità diverse, come quando dico che il mio caffè è più forte di quello di mia nonna (e lei non è felice!). Poi c'è il 'più che' per confrontare qualità della stessa entità, come dire che il mio gatto è più pigro che avventuroso. E attenzione al 'di più' con i verbi: un modo elegante per dire che bisogna fare di più senza specificare il confronto. Insomma, un po' di pratica e diventerai un maestro dei comparativi italiani!

Ah, Italian comparatives! A subtle art that can confuse anyone not raised with the melodious sound of our beautiful country. We have 'più di' and 'meno di' to compare two different entities, like when I say my coffee is stronger than my grandma's (and she's not happy!). Then there's 'più che' to compare qualities of the same entity, like saying my cat is lazier than adventurous. And watch out for 'di più' with verbs: an elegant way to say more is needed without specifying the comparison. With a bit of practice, you'll become a master of Italian comparatives!

Quick facts

How do you form comparatives in Italian?

Comparatives in Italian are formed using "più" (more) or "meno" (less) followed by an adjective, then "di."

When do you use "più + adjective + di"?

Use "più + adjective + di" when comparing with a noun, pronoun, or adverb.

Can you give an example of "più + adjective + di" with a noun?

"Giulio è meno simpatico di Greta" (Giulio is less pleasant than Greta).

How do you compare using a pronoun?

"Noi siamo più vecchi di te" (We are older than you) uses a pronoun for comparison.

How do you handle comparisons with articles in Italian?

When the comparison involves an article, "di" becomes a preposizione articolata like "del", "della", etc.

Example of "di" merging with an article?

"Mia madre è più giovane della signora Anna" (My mother is younger than Ms. Anna).

How does the preposizione articolata function?

It matches the number and gender of the noun or pronoun it precedes, such as "dei tuoi" or "degli orsi."

How do you use "di più" with verbs?

For comparisons involving verbs without an explicit term, add "di" before "più" (e.g., "Quel modello costa di più.").

How to express that something costs more?

"Quel modello costa di più perché è nuovo" (That model costs more because it’s new).

How to ask about a comparative in a question form?

"Secondo te, i girasoli sono più belli delle rose?" (Are sunflowers more beautiful than roses?).

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Main Article

How to Make Comparisons in Italian

The comparative in Italian, called comparativo, is used to compare two things or people, indicating whether one has more, less, or the same degree of a certain quality as the other.

There are three main types of comparatives in Italian: comparativo di maggioranza (comparative of majority), comparativo di minoranza (comparative of minority), and comparativo di uguaglianza (comparative of equality).

Before we move into a detailed explanation, learn these words, as these are used to create Italian comparatives: più (more), meno (less), tanto quanto (as…as).

Now that you know them, let me give you a brief overview of two different ways to create Italian comparatives:

The first way is using più/meno di: used to compare two different entities or make numerical comparisons, as in:

Marco è più alto di Paolo

Marco is taller than Paolo.

The second way is using più/meno che: used to compare two qualities of the same entity, two actions, or quantities related to the same entity, and it’s used before prepositions or infinitive verbs, as in:

Luca è più intelligente che bello

Luca is more intelligent than handsome.

In this article, I will explain the first way of making comparisons.

Check the article about the second way to make comparisons in Italian!

Comparatives in Italian

When to use “più di” and “meno di”?

As mentioned before, we use più/meno di when we are comparing one characteristic of two different people, objects, or concepts. It can be used with adjectives, adverbs, and nouns, creating the following structure:

più/meno + adjective/adverb/noun + di + noun/pronoun

Adjective

Giulio è meno ricco di te.

Giulio is less rich than you.

Adverb

Adesso il tempo è più bello di prima.

Now the weather is better than before.

Noun

Ho più libri di Maria.

I have more books than Maria.

Be careful: when the second item of the comparison is preceded by a definite article, it joins the preposition di becoming preposizione articolata:

	il	lo	l’	la	i	gli	le
di	del	dello	dell’	della	dei	degli	delle

Mia madre è più giovane della signora Anna.

My mother is younger than Ms. Anna.

I miei occhiali sono più costosi dei tuoi.

My glasses are more expensive than yours.

How to use di “più” with Verbs?

When making comparisons involving a verb in Italian, and the term of comparison is not explicitly stated, di is added before più. This structure is commonly used to express “more” in relation to an action, and looks as follow:

Verb + di più

This construction is used to indicate that more of an action is desired, needed, or performed, without specifying what it is compared to.

Per saperne di più, clicca qui.

To learn more, click here.

Quel modello costa di più perché è nuovo.

That model costs more because it’s new.

Devi studiare di più per passare l’esame.

I need to study more to pass the exam.

Key Terms and Concepts

Comparativo di maggioranza

Used to express that something has more of a certain quality. Formed with più followed by an adjective, adverb, or noun.

Comparativo di minoranza

Used to express that something has less of a certain quality. Formed with meno followed by an adjective, adverb, or noun.

Comparativo di uguaglianza

Used to express equality between two entities, typically formed with tanto quanto meaning 'as...as'.

Più di

Used to compare a characteristic or quantity between two different entities. Example: Marco è più alto di Paolo (Marco is taller than Paolo).

Più che

Used to compare two qualities, actions, or quantities related to the same entity. Example: Luca è più intelligente che bello (Luca is more intelligent than handsome).

Preposizione articolata

A combination of a preposition with a definite article in Italian. For example, di + la becomes della.

Di più

Used with verbs to indicate that more of an action is desired, needed, or performed. Example: Devi studiare di più (You need to study more).

Test your knowledge in 10 quick questions

Words

piùmore

menoless

altotall

bassoshort

studiareto study

qualitàquality

entitàentity

azioneaction

articoloarticle

preposizionepreposition

Phrases

più dimore than

meno diless than

più chemore than (when comparing qualities/actions)

meno cheless than (when comparing qualities/actions)

preposizione articolataarticulated preposition

articolo definitodefinite article

confrontareto compare

qualitàquality

entientities

azioniactions

Sentences

Lucia è più intelligente di Carlo.

Lucia is more intelligent than Carlo.

La pizza è meno costosa della pasta.

Pizza is less expensive than pasta.

Giovanni corre più veloce di Marco.

Giovanni runs faster than Marco.

Preferisco leggere piuttosto che guardare la televisione.

I prefer reading rather than watching television.

Questo libro è più interessante che utile.

This book is more interesting than useful.

Match the Phrases

Memory game

Flip the cards to find matching pairs!

Crossword

Across

Down

Answers

FAQs

How to do comparisons in Italian?

In Italian, the comparative form is expressed by using the words "più" (more) or "meno" (less) when comparing two entities. This comparison can be made between people, places, objects, or even abstract nouns. The comparative form is used to express the degree of a quality or aspect that one entity possesses in relation to another. For example, "Maria è più alta di Luca" (Maria is taller than Luca) or "Il clima di Roma è meno freddo di quello di Berlino" (The climate of Rome is less cold than that of Berlin).

How do you use "di" in Italian?

The word "di" in Italian has various uses that are important to understand. 1: It can denote ownership, similar to the English possessive form. 2: It can be used to indicate someone's or something's origins. 3: It can express the topic of something. 4: It can indicate what something is made of. 5: "Di" is used to make comparisons. 6: It can be used to specify quantities. 7: "Di" is used to talk about a specific time of the day or year.

Italian word of the day

diverse

Al mercato si trovano cose diverse a seconda della stagione.

At the market, you will find different things depending on the season.