Comparing Objects
Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
To compare two things in Kazakh, use the ablative case suffix '-dan/-den' on the object you are comparing against.
- Use '-dan/-den' for 'than': 'Almaty Astana-dan ülken' (Almaty is bigger than Astana).
- Add 'eñ' before the adjective for superlatives: 'eñ ülken' (the biggest).
- Use 'tāg' or 'kōbirek' to express 'more' when not directly comparing two specific nouns.
Meanings
This grammar is used to establish a relationship of inequality between two or more objects or qualities.
Comparative
Comparing two items where one possesses more of a quality.
“Men sen-nen uzynmyn.”
“Qys jaz-dan suyq.”
Superlative
Expressing the highest degree of a quality.
“Bul eñ jaqsy kün.”
“Ol eñ aqyldy bala.”
Comparative Formation
| Base Noun | Suffix | Result | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Astana | -dan | Astana-dan | than Astana |
| Almaty | -dan | Almaty-dan | than Almaty |
| Kītap | -tan | Kītap-tan | than the book |
| Mektep | -ten | Mektep-ten | than the school |
| Sen | -nen | Sen-nen | than you |
| Men | -nen | Men-nen | than me |
Reference Table
| Form | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Comparative | Noun + Ablative + Adjective | Astana-dan suyq |
| Superlative | Eñ + Adjective | Eñ suyq |
| Negative Comp | Noun + Ablative + Emes | Astana-dan suyq emes |
| Question | Noun + Ablative + Adjective + ba? | Astana-dan suyq pa? |
| Intensified | Äldeqayda + Comp | Äldeqayda suyq |
| Equality | Noun + men + birdey | Astana-men birdey |
Spectre de formalité
Bul kōlik jyldamyraq. (Describing a vehicle)
Bul kōlik jyldam. (Describing a vehicle)
Myna kōlik tez! (Describing a vehicle)
Myna kōlik zymyr! (Describing a vehicle)
Comparison Logic
Suffixes
- -dan after vowels
- -tan after voiceless
Examples by Level
Bul alma kishkentay.
This apple is small.
Ol jaqsy.
He is good.
Men baqytty-myn.
I am happy.
Qala ülken.
The city is big.
Astana Almaty-dan suyq.
Astana is colder than Almaty.
Bul kītap anau-dan qyzyq.
This book is more interesting than that one.
Ol eñ aqyldy.
He is the smartest.
Meniñ üyim seniki-den ülken.
My house is bigger than yours.
Bul josparymiz aldyñğı-dan äldeqayda jaqsy.
Our plan is much better than the previous one.
Ol eñ qymbat kōlikti satyp aldy.
He bought the most expensive car.
Qazaq tili aǧylshyn tili-den qyzyq.
Kazakh language is more interesting than English.
Būl kün eñ ystyq kün boldy.
This day was the hottest day.
Oniñ pikirinshe, bul usynys eñ tiimdi.
In his opinion, this proposal is the most effective.
Bizdiñ komanda basqa-lardan kōre kōbirek jumys istedi.
Our team worked more than the others.
Bul masele kütkenimiz-den de kürdeli.
This issue is more complex than we expected.
Eñ qyzyqty jerlerdi araladyq.
We visited the most interesting places.
Onyñ aytqany kütkenim-nen de asyp tüsti.
What he said exceeded even what I expected.
Bul eñ kütilmegen nätīje edi.
This was the most unexpected result.
Olar eñ ozdyq tājirībeni qoldandy.
They used the most advanced experience.
Bul qala eñ kōne qalalar-dan biri.
This city is one of the oldest cities.
Bul eñ tereñ oylastyrylğan sheshim.
This is the most deeply thought-out decision.
Onyñ qylyǧy kütkenimiz-den de asyp tüsti.
His behavior exceeded even our expectations.
Bul eñ aytuly oqīǧa boldy.
This was the most significant event.
Onyñ tājirībesi barlyq-tan joǧary.
His experience is higher than everyone's.
Easily Confused
Both use the same suffix.
Both express high degree.
Suffixes can look similar.
Erreurs courantes
Astana-dan ülken
Astana-dan ülken
Eñ ülken-dan
Eñ ülken
Almaty-ten
Almaty-dan
Astana-dan suyq emes
Astana-dan suyq emes
Ol meni-dan jaqsy
Ol men-nen jaqsy
Eñ jaqsy-raq
Eñ jaqsy
Qala-dan kōbirek
Qala-dan kōbirek
Barlyq-dan
Barlyq-tan
Kütken-dan
Kütken-nen
Eñ kütilmegen-den
Eñ kütilmegen
Asyp-tan
Asyp-tan
Sentence Patterns
___ ___ -dan ülken.
Bul eñ ___ kītap.
___ ___ -dan äldeqayda jaqsy.
___ kütkenimiz-den de ___.
Real World Usage
Bul eñ jaqsy foto!
Sen-nen suyq pa?
Meniñ tājirībem basqa-lardan kōp.
Bul qala eñ qyzyqty.
Bul dämdi-rek.
Bul nätīje kütkenimiz-den asyp tüsti.
Vowel Harmony
No 'Than'
Superlative 'Eñ'
Politeness
Smart Tips
Remember that pronouns like 'men' and 'sen' take '-nen'.
Don't add the comparative suffix to a superlative.
Check the last letter of the noun.
Use 'äldeqayda' before the comparative.
Prononciation
Suffix stress
The stress usually falls on the last syllable of the word before the suffix.
Comparison
A-dan B-dan ↑
Rising intonation at the end of the comparison.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Think of the suffix as a 'bridge' connecting two things. You are stepping 'from' one to the other.
Visual Association
Imagine a scale. One side is heavy (the noun with -dan), the other is light (the adjective).
Rhyme
Dan or den, compare them then!
Story
A giant apple (Almaty-dan) is bigger than a small grape. The giant apple is the 'eñ' (most) famous fruit. Everyone compares the apple to the grape.
Word Web
Défi
Write 3 sentences comparing your favorite foods in 5 minutes.
Notes culturelles
Comparisons are often used in hospitality to praise food.
The ablative case in Turkic languages has ancient roots.
Conversation Starters
Qaysy kōlik eñ jaqsy?
Astana-dan Almaty suyq pa?
Sizdiñ oyiñyzsha, eñ qyzyqty kītap qaysy?
Bul jumys kütkeniñiz-den qalay?
Journal Prompts
Test Yourself
Astana ___ ülken.
Bul ___ jaqsy kītap.
Find and fix the mistake:
Ol men-ten jaqsy.
Bul ülken.
Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:
A: Qaysy jaqsy? B: Bul ___.
Astana / ülken / Almaty-dan.
Kītap + suffix
Score: /8
Exercices pratiques
8 exercisesAstana ___ ülken.
Bul ___ jaqsy kītap.
Find and fix the mistake:
Ol men-ten jaqsy.
Bul ülken.
Match the suffix.
A: Qaysy jaqsy? B: Bul ___.
Astana / ülken / Almaty-dan.
Kītap + suffix
Score: /8
FAQ (8)
Use vowel harmony rules. If the word ends in a vowel or voiced consonant, use -dan/-den. If voiceless, use -tan/-ten.
No, the suffix -dan/-den replaces 'than'.
Yes, 'eñ' works with almost all adjectives.
Use 'az' (less) with the ablative suffix.
It is neutral and used everywhere.
Pronouns like 'men' (I) and 'sen' (you) have specific declensions.
Usually for adjectives, but can be used for nouns derived from verbs.
Compare objects around you in your daily life.
In Other Languages
más ... que
Kazakh is synthetic (suffix), Spanish is analytic (words).
plus ... que
Kazakh is synthetic.
-er ... als
Kazakh doesn't use a particle like 'als'.
yori
Japanese particle is separate, Kazakh is attached.
min
Arabic is prepositional.
bi
Chinese word order is very different.
