Johano estas tiel forta, kiel Georgo = John is as strong as George.
(b). The comparative of superiority is pli ... ol = more ... than.
Johano estas pli forta, ol Georgo = John is stronger than George.
(c). The comparative of inferiority is malpli ... ol = less ... than.
Johano estas malpli forta, ol Georgo = John is less strong (weaker) than George.
(d). The other modes of expressing comparison are:—
- tia ... kia = such, such a, such kind ... as.
- sama ... kia = the same ... as.
- same ... kiel = the same ... as.
- Ju pli ... des pli = the more ... the more.
- Ju malpli ... des malpli = the less ... the less.
- Ju pli ... des malpli = the more ... the less.
- Ju malpli ... des pli = the less ... the more.
Examples.—Tia domo, kia tiu, estas malofte vidata = Such a house as that is rarely seen. Mia bastono estas tia sama, kia via, or, Mia bastono estas same, kiel via = My stick is the same as yours. Ju pli mi lin konas, des pli mi lin estimas = The more I know him, the more I esteem him. Ju malpli mi dormas, des malpli mi sentas la bezonon dormi = The less I sleep, the less I feel the want (need) to sleep. Ju pli mi lin vidas, des malpli li plaĉas al mi = The more I see him, the less he pleases me. Ju malpli mi manĝas, des pli mi trinkas = The less I eat, the more I drink.
Be careful to note that the second term in a comparison is in the nominative or accusative, according as it is the subject or complement, e.g., Mi amas
mian fraton pli, ol mia fratino = I love my brother more than my sister (loves him). Mia fratino is in the nominative, amas lin being understood. But Mi amas mian fraton pli, ol mian fratinon = I love my brother more than my sister. Here fratinon is in the accusative, and the meaning is perfectly clear. In English we should have to add "does" to the first example to make the phrase clear: "I love my brother more than my sister does" (see par. [105]).