A2 Comparisons 7 min read Easy

Comparative Structures

Romanian comparisons are built by adding mai before adjectives, always matching the noun's gender and number.
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Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds

Use 'mai' for more, 'la fel de' for equal, and 'cel mai' for the most to compare anything in Romanian.

  • Superiority: Use 'mai' + adjective (e.g., 'mai mare' - bigger).
  • Equality: Use 'la fel de' + adjective (e.g., 'la fel de bun' - as good as).
  • Superlative: Use 'cel mai' + adjective (e.g., 'cel mai frumos' - the most beautiful).
mai + Adjective = More | cel mai + Adjective = Most

Overview

Life is full of choices. You compare things every single day. You choose the cheaper coffee. You pick the faster route to work. You decide which movie is more boring. In Romanian, making these comparisons is actually quite simple. You don't have to learn a dozen different endings like in English. There is no equivalent to adding "-er" or "-est" to the end of words. Instead, Romanian uses a few key words placed in front of adjectives. Think of these words as little Lego blocks. You just snap them onto the front of the word you already know. Whether you are at a market in Bucharest or interviewing for a job, you need this. It helps you express preferences and describe the world accurately. By the end of this guide, you will rank things like a pro. You will handle gender agreement without breaking a sweat. Let's dive into the world of "more," "less," and "the best."

How This Grammar Works

Romanian comparisons work like a simple scale. On one side, you have the thing you are talking about. In the middle, you have the comparison word. On the other side, you have the thing you are comparing it to. The most important word you will learn today is mai. It usually means "more." If you want to say something is "taller," you say "more tall." If you want to say something is "cheaper," you say "more cheap." It is very logical. Unlike English, where "big" becomes "bigger" but "expensive" becomes "more expensive," Romanian is consistent. You just use mai for almost everything. It is like a universal remote for your adjectives. Even native speakers love how efficient this is! Just remember that the adjective itself still needs to match the gender and number of the noun. If you are talking about a girl, the adjective stays feminine. If you are talking about a group of cars, it stays plural. The comparison words themselves never change. Only the adjective does the heavy lifting. Think of it like a grammar traffic light guiding your sentences.

Formation Pattern

1
There are four main ways to build a comparison in Romanian. Follow these steps to build your sentences correctly:
2
Superiority (More than): Use mai + [Adjective] + decât.
3
Example: Trenul este mai rapid decât autobuzul. (The train is faster than the bus.)
4
Equality (As... as): Use la fel de + [Adjective] + ca.
5
Example: Apa este la fel de rece ca gheața. (The water is as cold as ice.)
6
Inferiority (Less than): Use mai puțin + [Adjective] + decât.
7
Example: Ceaiul este mai puțin dulce decât sucul. (The tea is less sweet than the juice.)
8
Relative Superlative (The most): Use cel / cea / cei / cele + mai + [Adjective].
9
Example: El este cel mai bun prieten. (He is the best friend.)
10
Note that for the superlative, you must choose the right article (cel) based on gender. Use cel for masculine singular, cea for feminine singular, cei for masculine plural, and cele for feminine plural. It is like choosing the right outfit for the occasion.

When To Use It

You will use these structures in almost every conversation. Imagine you are at a restaurant. You might tell the waiter you want a mai mare (bigger) portion of fries. Or perhaps you are shopping for clothes. You find a shirt that is la fel de ieftină (just as cheap) as the one in the other shop. In a job interview, you might explain why you are mai experimentat (more experienced) than other candidates. When traveling, you will ask which hotel is cel mai apropiat (the closest). It is also vital for giving directions. You might tell someone the museum is mai departe (further) than the park. Even when complaining about the weather, you'll say today is mai cald (warmer) than yesterday. It makes your speech descriptive and precise. Without comparisons, your Romanian would feel a bit flat, like a soda that lost its bubbles.

When Not To Use It

Be careful with absolute adjectives. These are words that already mean the "most" of something. For example, you cannot say something is "more unique." In Romanian, unic is absolute. You also shouldn't use comparisons with words like mort (dead) or perfect (perfect). You can't really be "more dead" than someone else, right? That would be a very strange conversation. Also, avoid using mai with adjectives that already imply a comparison. Words like superior or inferior are borrowed from Latin and already have the comparison built-in. Saying mai superior is a common mistake that will make a Romanian teacher cringe. It is like saying "more better" in English. Keep it simple and stick to the standard forms for most daily adjectives. If the word already feels "extreme," it probably doesn't need a mai in front of it.

Common Mistakes

One of the biggest traps for English speakers is the word decât. In English, we use "than." In Romanian, you must use decât for comparisons. However, many learners accidentally use ca. While ca is okay in informal speech or for equality, decât is the gold standard for superiority. Another mistake is forgetting the demonstrative article in superlatives. You cannot just say mai bun to mean "the best." You must say cel mai bun. Without the cel, it just means "better." It's like trying to drive a car without the keys. Also, watch your gender agreement! If you are comparing two houses (case), which are feminine, your adjective must end in -e or -ă. Casa aceasta este mai mare, not mai mare (wait, mare is neutral, let's use frumoasă). Casa aceasta este mai frumoasă. Yes, even native speakers mess this up when they are in a hurry, so don't beat yourself up!

Contrast With Similar Patterns

Romanian comparisons are very similar to French or Italian. If you know those languages, you are in luck. In English, we have two systems: "bigger" vs "more beautiful." Romanian only has one system: the "more" system. This makes it much easier to memorize. However, don't confuse mai with mai (the month of May). They look identical but context will save you. Also, distinguish between mai (more) and mult (much). You use mai to modify an adjective, but mult to talk about quantity. For example, mai multă apă means "more water." Here, mai and mult work together. Another contrast is between decât and ca. Use decât with negative comparisons or superiority. Use ca for equality or in specific informal phrases. Think of decât as the "comparison specialist."

Quick FAQ

Q

Is there an irregular form for "good"?

Yes, bun becomes mai bun (better). It's actually very regular in its formation!

Q

How do I say "the most" for a girl?

Use cea mai. For example: cea mai inteligentă.

Q

Can I use mai with adverbs?

Absolutely! Ea aleargă mai repede (She runs faster). Adverbs don't change gender, which is a huge relief.

Q

What if I want to say "very"?

Use foarte. It's the absolute superlative. Foarte bine means "very well."

Q

Do I always need decât?

Only if you are mentioning the second item. If you just say "This is better," you just say Acesta este mai bun.

Q

Is mai used for time?

Yes, it can mean "still" or "yet" in other contexts, but don't let that confuse your comparisons!

Comparison Structure Table

Type Structure Example Meaning
Superiority
mai + adj
mai mare
bigger
Equality
la fel de + adj
la fel de bun
as good as
Superlative
cel/cea + mai + adj
cel mai bun
the best
Inferiority
mai puțin + adj
mai puțin bun
less good
Comparison
adj + decât
mare decât
bigger than
Comparison
adj + ca
bun ca
as good as

Superlative Gender Agreement

Gender Article Example
Masculine
cel
cel mai bun
Feminine
cea
cea mai bună
Plural Masc.
cei
cei mai buni
Plural Fem.
cele
cele mai bune

Meanings

These structures allow you to express degrees of quality or quantity between two or more nouns.

1

Superiority

Expressing that something has more of a quality.

“Ea este mai înaltă.”

“Acest film este mai interesant.”

2

Equality

Expressing that two things share the same level of quality.

“Ești la fel de deștept ca el.”

“Casa este la fel de mare.”

3

Superlative

Expressing the highest degree of a quality.

“El este cel mai bun prieten.”

“Ea este cea mai frumoasă fată.”

Reference Table

Reference table for Comparative Structures
Comparison Type Romanian Structure Example Sentence
Superiority (+)
mai + [Adj] + decât
El este mai înalt decât mine.
Equality (=)
la fel de + [Adj] + ca
Ea este la fel de deșteaptă ca el.
Inferiority (-)
mai puțin + [Adj] + decât
Filmul este mai puțin lung decât cartea.
Superlative (M.Sg.)
cel mai + [Adj]
Acesta este cel mai ieftin telefon.
Superlative (F.Sg.)
cea mai + [Adj]
Ea este cea mai bună studentă.
Superlative (Plural)
cei / cele mai + [Adj]
Ei sunt cei mai rapizi jucători.

Formality Spectrum

Formal
Aceasta este cea mai adecvată soluție.

Aceasta este cea mai adecvată soluție. (Professional vs. Casual)

Neutral
Aceasta este cea mai bună soluție.

Aceasta este cea mai bună soluție. (Professional vs. Casual)

Informal
Asta e cea mai tare soluție.

Asta e cea mai tare soluție. (Professional vs. Casual)

Slang
E cea mai șmecheră soluție.

E cea mai șmecheră soluție. (Professional vs. Casual)

Romanian Comparison Types

Comparația

Superiority

  • mai bun better

Equality

  • la fel de bun as good

Inferiority

  • mai puțin bun less good

Superlative Articles

Masculine
cel mai mare the biggest (Sg)
cei mai mari the biggest (Pl)
Feminine
cea mai mare the biggest (Sg)
cele mai mari the biggest (Pl)

Choosing the Right Word

1

Are you comparing two things?

YES ↓
NO
Use Absolute Superlative (foarte + adj)
2

Is one 'more' than the other?

YES ↓
NO
Use 'la fel de' (Equality)
3

Is it 'the most' of a group?

YES ↓
NO
Use 'mai' + decât

Common Adjectives in Comparison

📏

Size

  • • mai mare (bigger)
  • • mai mic (smaller)
⭐

Quality

  • • mai bun (better)
  • • mai rău (worse)
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Examples by Level

1

Aceasta este mai mare.

This is bigger.

2

Ea este mai bună.

She is better.

3

Este cel mai bun.

It is the best.

4

Ea este mai mică.

She is smaller.

1

Mașina mea este mai rapidă decât a ta.

My car is faster than yours.

2

El este la fel de înalt ca mine.

He is as tall as me.

3

Acesta este cel mai ieftin telefon.

This is the cheapest phone.

4

Ea este cea mai inteligentă fată.

She is the most intelligent girl.

1

Acest proiect este mult mai dificil decât am crezut.

This project is much more difficult than I thought.

2

Nu este la fel de interesant cum mi-am imaginat.

It is not as interesting as I imagined.

3

Este cea mai frumoasă zi din an.

It is the most beautiful day of the year.

4

Suntem mai pregătiți decât ieri.

We are more prepared than yesterday.

1

Aceasta este cea mai complexă problemă pe care am întâlnit-o.

This is the most complex problem I have encountered.

2

Ea este cu mult mai experimentată decât ceilalți candidați.

She is much more experienced than the other candidates.

3

Nu există nimic mai bun decât o cafea fierbinte.

There is nothing better than a hot coffee.

4

Suntem la fel de motivați ca echipa lor.

We are as motivated as their team.

1

Aceasta este, fără îndoială, cea mai rafinată soluție.

This is, without a doubt, the most refined solution.

2

Rezultatele sunt cu mult mai impresionante decât se anticipase.

The results are much more impressive than anticipated.

3

Este o abordare mai pragmatică decât cea anterioară.

It is a more pragmatic approach than the previous one.

4

Cea mai mare provocare este gestionarea timpului.

The biggest challenge is time management.

1

Această metodologie este cea mai riguroasă dintre toate cele propuse.

This methodology is the most rigorous of all those proposed.

2

Nu putem găsi o alternativă mai viabilă în acest context.

We cannot find a more viable alternative in this context.

3

Este, de departe, cea mai elocventă argumentație.

It is, by far, the most eloquent argument.

4

Suntem la fel de angajați în acest demers ca la început.

We are as committed to this endeavor as at the beginning.

Easily Confused

Comparative Structures vs Decât vs. Ca

Learners mix up when to use 'than' (decât) and 'as' (ca).

Comparative Structures vs Cel mai vs. Mai

Learners use 'cel mai' when they only mean 'more'.

Comparative Structures vs Gender agreement

Forgetting that 'cel' changes to 'cea/cei/cele'.

Common Mistakes

✗

mare-er

✓

mai mare

Romanian doesn't use suffixes.
✗

cel mai mare-ă

✓

cea mai mare

Gender agreement is required.
✗

mai mare ca

✓

mai mare decât

Use 'decât' for superiority.
✗

la fel de mare decât

✓

la fel de mare ca

Use 'ca' for equality.
✗

mai bun decât el

✓

mai bun decât el

Correct, but ensure pronoun case.
✗

cel mai bună

✓

cea mai bună

Article must match noun.
✗

mai mult bun

✓

mai bun

Don't add 'mult' unless emphasizing.
✗

mai cel bun

✓

cel mai bun

Particle order is fixed.
✗

mai puțin mare decât

✓

mai puțin mare decât

Grammatically correct but awkward.
✗

la fel ca

✓

la fel de... ca

Need the adjective.
✗

cea mai mare dintre toate

✓

cea mai mare dintre toate

Correct, but watch for redundant articles.
✗

mai mult decât oricare

✓

mai mult decât oricare

Correct, but check context.
✗

cel mai deștept om din lume

✓

cel mai deștept om din lume

Correct.

Sentence Patterns

Acesta este ___ ___ (adjective).

Ea este ___ ___ ___ (adjective) ___ mine.

Sunt ___ ___ ___ (adjective) ___ tine.

Acesta este ___ ___ (adjective) din lume.

Real World Usage

Shopping constant

Căutăm ceva mai ieftin.

Restaurant very common

Acest vin este mai bun.

Job Interview common

Sunt mai experimentat decât ceilalți.

Social Media very common

Cea mai frumoasă zi!

Travel common

Acest hotel este mai aproape de centru.

Texting constant

Ești mai bine?

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💡

The 'Mai' Multi-tool

Remember that mai doesn't change! Whether you're talking about one cat or twenty dogs, mai stays exactly the same. Only the adjective changes its ending.
⚠️

Decât vs Ca

Native speakers often use ca in casual talk, but in your A2 exam or a formal letter, use decât for 'than'. It makes you sound much more polished.
🎯

The Superlative Shortcut

Think of the superlative articles (cel, cea, etc.) as the word 'the'. If you want to say 'THE most', you need that little word first.
💬

Polite Comparisons

When comparing people in Romania, it's often more polite to use mai puțin (less) rather than a negative adjective. Instead of 'fatter', try 'less thin'.

Smart Tips

Use 'decât' to be precise.

El este mai înalt ca mine. → El este mai înalt decât mine.

Check the article first.

Ea este cel mai frumoasă. → Ea este cea mai frumoasă.

Add 'mult' before 'mai'.

Este mai mare. → Este mult mai mare.

Don't forget 'de' in 'la fel de'.

E la fel mare ca mine. → E la fel de mare ca mine.

Pronunciation

mai MA-re

Stress

The stress remains on the adjective, not the particle.

cel-mai-bun

Linking

Link 'cel mai' with the adjective smoothly.

Rising

Este mai mare? ↑

Questioning a comparison.

Falling

Este cel mai bun. ↓

Stating a fact.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Remember 'Mai' is 'More' (both start with M).

Visual Association

Imagine a scale. On one side, a small weight with 'mai' (more) pushing it down. On the other, a giant trophy labeled 'cel mai' (the most).

Rhyme

Mai is more, cel mai is the best, Use these rules and pass the test!

Story

Ana wanted the best cake. She saw a 'mai mare' (bigger) cake, but then she saw the 'cel mai bun' (the best) cake in the window. She told the baker, 'This is la fel de bun (as good as) the one my mom makes!'

Word Web

maicel maidecâtla fel demai puțincea mai

Challenge

Describe three items in your room using 'mai' and 'cel mai' in 5 minutes.

Cultural Notes

Romanians use superlatives frequently to show enthusiasm.

Often use 'ca și' instead of 'ca' for equality.

Use 'cel mai' with slang adjectives.

The word 'mai' comes from Latin 'magis' (more).

Conversation Starters

“

Care este cel mai bun film pe care l-ai văzut?

“

Ești la fel de bun la gătit ca mama ta?

“

Este Bucureștiul mai mare decât orașul tău?

“

Ce este mai important: banii sau timpul?

Journal Prompts

Descrie cel mai bun prieten al tău.
Compară viața în oraș cu viața la țară.
Care este cea mai mare provocare a ta anul acesta?
Ești la fel de motivat ca la începutul cursului?

Common Mistakes

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

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Test Yourself

Complete the sentence to say 'The car is faster than the bicycle'.

Mașina este ___ rapidă ___ bicicleta.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: a
To show superiority, we use 'mai' before the adjective and 'decât' before the second object.
Choose the correct feminine superlative for 'the most interesting book'.

Aceasta este ___ ___ interesantă carte.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: b
Since 'carte' (book) is feminine singular, we must use 'cea mai'.
Complete the equality comparison: 'He is as tall as his father'.

El este ___ ___ ___ înalt ca tatăl lui.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: b
'La fel de' is the standard phrase for 'as... as' in Romanian.

Score: /3

Practice Exercises

8 exercises
Complete the sentence.

Ea este ___ ___ (mai) înaltă decât mine.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: mai
Superiority uses 'mai'.
Choose the correct form. Multiple Choice

Acesta este ___ ___ (the best) telefon.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: cel mai bun
Superlative uses 'cel mai'.
Fix the error. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

Ea este mai mare-ă decât mine.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Ea este mai mare decât mine
Adjectives don't change.
Change to equality. Sentence Transformation

El este mai înalt decât mine. (Use la fel de)

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: El este la fel de înalt ca mine
Equality uses 'la fel de... ca'.
Complete the dialogue. Dialogue Completion

A: Cum e mâncarea? B: E ___ ___ (the best) din oraș!

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: cea mai bună
Superlative for feminine noun.
Order the words. Sentence Building

este / mai / decât / rapid / el / mașina / mea

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Mașina mea este mai rapidă decât a lui
Correct structure.
Sort into categories. Grammar Sorting

Sort: 'mai mare', 'cel mai bun', 'la fel de bun'

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Superiority, Superlative, Equality
Correct classification.
Match the gender. Conjugation Drill

Superlative of 'frumos' for 'fată' (girl).

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: cea mai frumoasă
Feminine singular.

Score: /8

FAQ (8)

No, never. The adjective stays in its base form.

Use 'decât' only for superiority comparisons.

No, it changes to 'cea', 'cei', or 'cele' based on the noun.

No, 'mai' is for superiority. Use 'cel mai' for superlative.

Use 'mai puțin' + adjective.

No, 'ca' is for equality.

Add 'mult' before 'mai' (e.g., 'mult mai mare').

Because 'fată' is feminine, so the article must be 'cea'.

Scaffolded Practice

1

1

2

2

3

3

4

4

Mastery Progress

Needs Practice

Improving

Strong

Mastered

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In Other Languages

Spanish high

más + adj + que

Spanish uses 'que' for both equality and superiority, while Romanian distinguishes 'decât' and 'ca'.

French high

plus + adj + que

French uses 'le plus' for superlative, which is similar to 'cel mai'.

German low

adj + er + als

German uses suffixes; Romanian uses particles.

Japanese none

A no hou ga B yori

Japanese structure is based on post-positions, not pre-adjective particles.

Arabic low

af'al min

Arabic modifies the adjective root itself.

Chinese low

A bi B + adj

Chinese uses a verb-based comparison, not an adjective-based one.

Learning Path

Prerequisites

Next
Superlative Structures

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