How to make comparisons: Italian grammar lesson 133

If we want to make comparisons in Italian, for example, to talk about the qualities or properties of someone (or something), we use the comparative form of adjectives: il comparativo. In this post, we are going to focus on how to make comparisons in Italian with “di”. Let’s learn it with simple rules and examples and practice with audio lessons.

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Summary

This article teaches how to make comparisons in the Italian language. The author provides a detailed guide on the topic, explaining the different types of comparisons and how to form them using comparative and superlative adjectives. The article is useful for beginners and intermediate learners looking to improve their Italian language skills and expand their vocabulary. By the end of the article, readers will better understand how to make effective comparisons in Italian.

Make comparisons in Italian: il comparativo

In Italian, we form the comparative using the words più (more) and meno (less).

Luca è più vecchio di Mario.

Luca is older than Mario.

Il mio cane è meno intelligente del tuo.

My dog is less intelligent than yours.

In this lesson, we are going to look at one of the possible ways of forming the comparative in Italian:

  • PIÙ + adjective + DI + second part of the comparison

    comparative Italian

Più di / meno di: When to use

We use più + adjective + di when:

The second part of the comparison is a noun.

Giulio è meno simpatico di Greta.

Giulio is less pleasant than Greta.

The second part of the comparison is a pronoun.

Noi siamo più vecchi di te.

We are older than you.

The second part of the comparison is an adverb.

Adesso il tempo è più bello di prima.

Now the weather is better than before.

Italian comparison

Più di / meno di: Rules

Be careful; when the second part of the comparison starts with an article, the article joins onto di, which becomes a preposizione articolata (del, della, dello, dell’, dei, degli, delle).

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This preposition will match the number and gender of the noun or pronoun it precedes. Have a look at the sentences below:

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.

I lupi sono meno pericolosi degli orsi?

Are wolves less dangerous than bears?

comparisons in Italian

Di più with verbs alone

If the comparison involves a verb and the term of comparison is not expressed in the sentence, you add di in front of più.

Examples:

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.

Ad un asta, vince chi offre di più.

At an action, who bids more wins.

Practice with Quizlet

Here's a set of flashcards and quizzes to practice this grammar topic.

Il comparativo: Examples

Well done! Now you know how and when to use the structure più + adjective + di correctly. Let’s have a look at some more examples of this form of comparative; note that you can use it with questions, positive and negative sentences, and with all verb tenses!

Secondo te, i girasoli sono più belli delle rose?

What do you think? Are sunflowers more beautiful than roses?

Pensavo che Paolo fosse meno alto di Marco, ma mi sbagliavo.

I thought Paolo was shorter than Marco, but I was wrong!

Non sei più forte di me!

You’re not stronger than me!

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FAQs on How to make comparisons: Italian grammar lesson 133

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.

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