A2 Comparisons 5 min read آسان

Equality and Inequality

Compare things by placing 'mai', 'mai puțin', or 'la fel de' before adjectives and 'decât' or 'ca' after.
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Practice it

Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds

Use 'la fel de... ca' for equality and 'mai... decât' or 'mai puțin... decât' for inequality.

  • Equality: Use 'la fel de' + adjective + 'ca' (e.g., 'Ești la fel de înalt ca mine').
  • Superiority: Use 'mai' + adjective + 'decât' (e.g., 'Ea este mai rapidă decât el').
  • Inferiority: Use 'mai puțin' + adjective + 'decât' (e.g., 'Asta e mai puțin scump decât acela').
Equality: [Subject] + [la fel de] + [Adjective] + [ca] + [Comparison Target]

مرور کلی

Comparing things is part of daily life. You do it at the market. You do it when choosing a movie.
Romanian makes this very easy for you. You don't need to change the whole word. In English, you say bigger or faster. In Romanian, you just add a helper word.
Think of these helpers as labels. They tell you if things are the same. They tell you if one is better.
This lesson covers equality and inequality. You will learn to say as tall as. You will learn to say more expensive than. It is like a grammar toolkit. Once you have these tools, you can describe anything.
Let's dive into the world of comparisons. It is simpler than choosing a pizza topping!

این گرامر چطور کار می‌کنه

Romanian uses specific phrases to show relationships. The adjective itself usually stays the same. It must still match the gender of the noun.
If the noun is feminine, use the feminine adjective. The comparison words just sit around the adjective. They act like a frame for a picture.
For equality, you use la fel de. For inequality, you use mai or mai puțin. You also need a word for than or as. That word is often decât or ca.
It is a very logical system. You build the sentence piece by piece. It is like playing with Lego blocks.
You just need to snap them together correctly. Even native speakers sometimes mix these up. Don't worry if you do too at first!

الگوی ساخت

1
For Equality: Use the formula la fel de + [Adjective] + ca. Example: Maria este la fel de înaltă ca Ana.
2
For Superiority: Use the formula mai + [Adjective] + decât. Example: Trenul este mai rapid decât autobuzul.
3
For Inferiority: Use the formula mai puțin + [Adjective] + decât. Example: Ceaiul este mai puțin fierbinte decât cafeaua.
4
Remember gender agreement: The adjective changes for masculine or feminine. Băiatul este mai înalt. Fata este mai înaltă.
5
The word ca can become ca și in some contexts. This often happens before pronouns to sound more natural.
6
For negative sentences of equality: Use nu este la fel de + [Adjective] + ca.

کی استفاده کنیم

Use these patterns when shopping for clothes. You might want a mai mare (bigger) size. Use them when ordering food in a restaurant.
Maybe the soup is mai sărată (saltier) than yesterday. Use them during job interviews to highlight skills. You can say you are mai experimentat (more experienced).
Use them when traveling to compare cities.
Brașov is mai liniștit (quieter) than Bucharest.
It is useful when talking about the weather.
Today is la fel de cald (just as warm) as yesterday.
These patterns help you express preferences clearly.
They make your Romanian sound much more natural. You will sound like a pro in no time.

کی استفاده نکنیم

Do not use mai with adjectives that are already absolute. Words like perfect, unic, or mort don't need comparisons. You cannot be more dead than someone else!
Avoid using mai when you want the superlative. If something is the best, that is a different rule. Don't use decât in positive equality sentences.
Maria este la fel de înaltă decât Ana is wrong. Use ca for equality. Also, don't forget the adjective's gender.
A common slip is using the masculine form for everything. If you are talking about a mașină (car), use feminine adjectives. Grammar is like a traffic light.
Follow the signs to avoid a crash!

اشتباهات رایج

One big mistake is using decât in affirmative sentences. In Romanian, decât usually follows a comparison of inequality. For example, mai mare decât. Many learners use ca when they should use decât. Another mistake is double comparison. Don't say mai superior. The word superior already means better. It is like wearing two pairs of sunglasses. It is just too much! Forgetting gender agreement is also very common. Always check if your noun is a he or a she. Lastly, some people forget the de in la fel de. Without de, the sentence feels empty. It is like a sandwich without the filling.

مقایسه با الگوهای مشابه

Equality (la fel de ... ca) is different from similarity. Similarity uses ca or precum without the la fel de.
For example,
He runs like a wind.
That is not a comparison of degree. Inequality (mai ... decât) is different from the superlative.
The superlative says something is the most. Comparisons of inequality only compare two specific things. If you compare three things, you might need the superlative. Also, distinguish between mai mult (more quantity) and mai (more quality).
Use mai mult for verbs and nouns. Use mai for adjectives. It is a small difference but very important.
Think of it as fine-tuning your guitar strings.

سؤالات رایج

Q

Can I use ca instead of decât?

In casual speech, people do, but decât is better for inequality.

Q

Does mai ever change?

No, mai stays the same for all genders and numbers.

Q

What about la fel de?

It also stays the same. Only the adjective changes gender.

Q

Is ca și mandatory?

No, it is often optional but sounds more formal or clear.

Q

Can I compare adverbs too?

Yes! The rules are exactly the same for adverbs like repede (fast).

Q

Is Romanian comparison harder than English?

Not at all. It is actually more consistent than English -er endings!

Meanings

This grammar allows you to express the relationship between two entities regarding a specific quality.

1

Equality

Expressing that two things share the same level of a quality.

“Ea este la fel de inteligentă ca sora ei.”

“Acest oraș este la fel de mare ca Bucureștiul.”

2

Superiority

Expressing that one thing has more of a quality than another.

“El este mai înalt decât fratele lui.”

“Această mașină este mai rapidă decât a mea.”

3

Inferiority

Expressing that one thing has less of a quality than another.

“Acest film este mai puțin interesant decât cartea.”

“Ea este mai puțin timidă decât colegii ei.”

Comparative Structures

Type Formula Example
Equality la fel de + Adj + ca la fel de bun ca
Superiority mai + Adj + decât mai bun decât
Inferiority mai puțin + Adj + decât mai puțin bun decât

Reference Table

Reference table for Equality and Inequality
Comparison Type Romanian Structure English Equivalent
Superiority mai + adj + decât more ... than / -er than
Equality la fel de + adj + ca as ... as
Inferiority mai puțin + adj + decât less ... than
Negative Equality nu la fel de + adj + ca not as ... as
Adverbial mai + adverb + decât more [adverb]ly than
Pronoun link adj + ca și + pronoun as ... as [me/you]

طیف رسمیت

رسمی
El este la fel de înalt precum sunt eu.

El este la fel de înalt precum sunt eu. (Describing height)

خنثی
El este la fel de înalt ca mine.

El este la fel de înalt ca mine. (Describing height)

غیر رسمی
E la fel de înalt ca mine.

E la fel de înalt ca mine. (Describing height)

عامیانه
E înalt cât mine.

E înalt cât mine. (Describing height)

Romanian Comparison Types

Comparația

Equality

  • la fel de... ca as... as

Superiority

  • mai... decât more... than

Inferiority

  • mai puțin... decât less... than

Equality vs. Inequality

Equality (=)
la fel de bun ca as good as
la fel de mare ca as big as
Inequality (≠)
mai bun decât better than
mai puțin mare decât less big than

Choosing the Right Comparison

1

Are they equal?

YES ↓
NO
Go to Inequality
2

Use 'la fel de' + adj + 'ca'

YES ↓
NO
Finish

Keywords Cheat Sheet

🔧

Modifiers

  • • mai (more)
  • • mai puțin (less)
  • • la fel de (equally)
🔗

Connectors

  • • decât (than)
  • • ca (as)
  • • ca și (as - variant)
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Examples by Level

1

Ea este mare.

She is big.

2

El este mai mare.

He is bigger.

3

Ea este la fel de mare.

She is just as big.

4

Ea nu este mai mare.

She is not bigger.

1

Această casă este la fel de mare ca a mea.

This house is as big as mine.

2

El este mai înalt decât tatăl lui.

He is taller than his father.

3

Cartea este mai puțin interesantă decât filmul.

The book is less interesting than the movie.

4

Suntem la fel de obosiți ca voi.

We are as tired as you.

1

Acest proiect este mult mai complex decât cel anterior.

This project is much more complex than the previous one.

2

Ea a lucrat la fel de mult ca mine.

She worked as much as I did.

3

Nu este atât de scump pe cât credeam.

It is not as expensive as I thought.

4

Ea este mai puțin pregătită decât pare.

She is less prepared than she seems.

1

Rezultatele sunt cu atât mai surprinzătoare cu cât contextul era nefavorabil.

The results are all the more surprising given the unfavorable context.

2

Această soluție este mai puțin costisitoare decât alternativa propusă.

This solution is less costly than the proposed alternative.

3

El a acționat la fel de prompt precum a promis.

He acted as promptly as he promised.

4

Este mai degrabă o problemă de timp decât de bani.

It is more of a time issue than a money one.

1

Nivelul de trai este considerabil mai ridicat decât în deceniile trecute.

The standard of living is considerably higher than in past decades.

2

Ea a demonstrat o maturitate mai puțin obișnuită pentru vârsta ei.

She demonstrated a maturity less common for her age.

3

Suntem la fel de responsabili pentru succes ca și pentru eșec.

We are as responsible for success as we are for failure.

4

Această abordare este mai puțin pragmatică decât cea inițială.

This approach is less pragmatic than the initial one.

1

Nu există nimic mai nobil decât sacrificiul pentru o cauză dreaptă.

There is nothing nobler than sacrifice for a just cause.

2

Ea a fost tratată cu o deferență la fel de mare precum era așteptat.

She was treated with a deference as great as was expected.

3

Această distincție este mai puțin subtilă decât pare la prima vedere.

This distinction is less subtle than it appears at first glance.

4

Ea a rămas la fel de neclintită în convingerile sale ca în prima zi.

She remained as steadfast in her convictions as on the first day.

Easily Confused

Equality and Inequality در مقابل Comparative vs Superlative

Learners often use 'cel mai' when only comparing two things.

اشتباهات رایج

✗

Ea este mai mare ca el.

✓

Ea este mai mare decât el.

Use 'decât' for inequalities.
✗

Ea este mai înalt decât el.

✓

Ea este mai înaltă decât el.

Adjective must agree with the subject.
✗

Este mai mult mare decât el.

✓

Este mai mare decât el.

Do not use 'mai mult' with adjectives.
✗

Este mai puțin mare decât el.

✓

Este mai mic decât el.

Use 'mai mic' instead of 'mai puțin mare'.

Sentence Patterns

___ este la fel de ___ ca ___.

___ este mai ___ decât ___.

___ este mai puțin ___ decât ___.

___ este mult mai ___ decât ___.

Real World Usage

Shopping very common

Acest tricou este mai ieftin decât celălalt.

Travel common

Hotelul este la fel de curat ca în poze.

Social Media common

Ești mai fericită decât mine!

Job Interview occasional

Sunt mai puțin experimentat, dar sunt motivat.

Food Delivery common

Pizza este mai bună decât burgerul.

Texting constant

E mai fain decât credeam.

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💡

The 'De' Rule

Don't forget the 'de' in 'la fel de'. It's like the glue holding the equality together. Without it, the sentence falls apart!
⚠️

Decât vs. Ca

Only use 'decât' for inequality (more/less). Using 'decât' for equality is a very common mistake for learners. Stick to 'ca' for equals.
🎯

Adjective Agreement

Always check the noun's gender first. If the house (casa - fem) is bigger, it's 'mai mare'. If the boy (băiatul - masc) is taller, it's 'mai înalt'.
💬

Casual Romanian

In casual chats, you might hear people use 'ca' for everything. It's technically wrong but very common. Use 'decât' to sound more educated!

Smart Tips

Always check the gender of the person you are describing.

El este mai înaltă decât ea. → El este mai înalt decât ea.

Remember that 'decât' is only for inequalities.

Ea este la fel de mare decât el. → Ea este la fel de mare ca el.

Use 'mult' before 'mai'.

Este mai mare. → Este mult mai mare.

Use 'mai mult' with verbs.

Ea muncește mai mare decât mine. → Ea muncește mai mult decât mine.

تلفظ

mai MARE

Stress

The stress remains on the adjective.

Rising

Este mai mare? ↑

Questioning a comparison

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Remember: 'Mai' is 'More', 'Decât' is the 'Than' that follows it.

Visual Association

Imagine a scale. If it's balanced, it's 'la fel de'. If one side is higher, it's 'mai'.

Rhyme

Mai is more, decât is than, equality is la fel de, catch it if you can!

Story

Ana and Ion are comparing apples. Ana says her apple is 'mai mare' (bigger). Ion says his is 'la fel de mare' (just as big). They decide to eat them both.

Word Web

maidecâtla fel decamai puținatât de

چالش

Write 3 sentences comparing your favorite foods using the three structures.

نکات فرهنگی

Romanians often use 'decât' in casual speech even when 'ca' might be technically preferred in some dialects.

The Romanian comparative system evolved from Latin.

Conversation Starters

“

Ești mai înalt decât fratele tău?

“

Este orașul tău mai frumos decât Bucureștiul?

“

Crezi că învățarea limbii române este la fel de grea ca învățarea limbii chineze?

“

Este această soluție mai puțin eficientă decât cea veche?

Journal Prompts

Compare your city to your hometown.
Compare two friends.
Compare your job to your dream job.
Write about a difficult decision.
Sign up free to see all tips

Test Yourself

Complete the sentence to show equality (as cold as).

Astăzi este ___ rece ___ ieri.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: la fel de ... ca
To show equality, we use the structure 'la fel de + adjective + ca'.
Complete the sentence to show superiority (more expensive than).

Mașina este ___ scumpă ___ bicicleta.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: mai ... decât
Superiority is expressed using 'mai' before the adjective and 'decât' after it.
Choose the correct word to complete the inequality comparison.

Iarna este mai lungă ___ toamna.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: decât
In standard Romanian, 'decât' is the correct conjunction for comparisons of inequality.

Score: /3

تمرین‌های عملی

8 exercises
Fill in the blank.

Ea este ___ înaltă ca mine.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: la fel de
Equality uses 'la fel de'.
Choose the correct sentence. چند گزینه‌ای

Which is correct?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: El este mai mare decât mine.
Superiority uses 'decât'.
Correct the sentence. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

Ea este mai frumos decât el.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Ea este mai frumoasă decât el.
Adjective agreement.
Reorder the words. Sentence Reorder

decât / este / mai / el / mare / ea

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Ea este mai mare decât el.
Correct word order.
Translate to Romanian. ترجمه

She is less happy than him.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Ea este mai puțin fericită decât el.
Inferiority uses 'mai puțin... decât'.
Complete the dialogue. Dialogue Completion

A: Ești obosit? B: Da, sunt ___ obosit ca tine.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: la fel de
Equality.
Build a sentence. Sentence Building

Use: mai, rapid, decât.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Ea este mai rapidă decât el.
Agreement and particle.
Match the structure to the meaning. Match Pairs

Match: 1. la fel de, 2. mai, 3. mai puțin

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 1. Equal, 2. More, 3. Less
Basic definitions.

Score: /8

سوالات متداول (8)

No, you should use 'decât' in standard Romanian.

The structure is the same: 'El aleargă mai repede decât mine'.

Yes, it's the standard way to express inferiority.

Some adjectives like 'bun' become 'mai bun'.

Yes, 'Ea muncește mai mult decât mine'.

No, 'ca' or 'precum' is used.

Yes, some dialects vary in their use of 'ca' vs 'decât'.

Use 'mult mai' or 'cu mult mai'.

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In Other Languages

Spanish high

más... que

Romanian uses 'decât' while Spanish uses 'que'.

French high

plus... que

French uses 'que'.

German moderate

mehr... als

German uses suffixes for some comparatives.

Japanese low

yori

Word order is completely different.

Arabic low

min

No 'more' word needed.

Chinese low

bi

Structure is Subject + A + bi + B + Adjective.

Previous
Superlative Structures
Next
Irregular Comparisons

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