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Making Comparisons |
In English, if you want to show that something is different to something else in some way, you use comparatives.
- It is slower.
- This is more comfortable to wear.
- My brother is taller than me.
And if you want to say that something is the best, no questions asked, then you use the superlative.
- We're here because you're looking for the best of the best of the best, sir!
- He is the fastest man in the world.
- That is the most beautiful thing I've ever seen!
Naturally, Hungarian solves this issue with attachments.
To use the comparative, attach -bb to the end of a noun, and to make that comparative into a superlative attach leg- to the start of that noun. To go even further beyond we can attach leges- to exaggerate the superlative.
- Te vagy a legnagyobb hős a világon! - (You are the biggest hero in the world!)
- A szomszéd fűje mindig zöldebb. - (This is an expression: The neighbour's grass is always greener.)
- Ő a legeslegszebb lány számomra. - (She's the most beautiful girl for me.)
Note: számára is a postposition, in this case számomra is more intentional than nekem.
BEWARE: Some nouns will have their vowels shortened when attached. Here are some examples:
- szép - szebb
- jó - jobb
- kevés - kevesebb
Challenge!
Barnabás: Mit gondolsz? Melyik ing a jobb?
Éva: Szerintem a kék ing jó. Az jól megy a szürke kabáthoz.
Barnabás: What do you think? Which shirt is better?
Éva: I think the blue shirt is good. It goes well with your grey jacket.
Both így and úgy are adverbial pronouns, and are used to describe how a verb is done. Thus, both roughly translate into this way, or that way and typically go alongside verbs.
When úgy is used, it is followed up with more information either in the sentence or by context as it generally describes something that is distant. Így is used to follow up on something that is closer to the speaker, this is also done by context or in the sentence.
- Úgy többet tanulok, ha elmagyarázod nekem. - (I learn more (this way), if you explain it to me.)
- Úgy is jó. - (That way is good as well.) e.g. the way in which to do something.
- Így jobb. - (It's better like this/this way.) e.g. things are better since that thing has happened.
- Segítek neki, így gyorsabb lesz. - (I'm helping him/her, it'll be quicker this way.)
- Ugyanúgy gondolkoznak, ahogy én. - (They think the same way as I do.)
Context: Alex and Barnabás are talking about their group project over the phone.
*Alex: Mi a terv a feladatra? Hogyan csináljuk meg? - (What's the plan for the task? How should we do it?
Barnabás: Együtt fogjuk megcsinálni, úgy könnyebb. - (We'll do it together, it'll be easier this way.)*
Both ilyen and olyan on the other hand are adjectival pronouns. They both translate roughly into this kind of, or that kind of and go alongside nouns instead. Similar to before, olyan is followed up with more information or context, while ilyen is typically closer to the speaker and the context or information is more obvious.
- Olyanok voltunk, amikor fiatalok voltunk. - (We were like that when we were younger.) e.g. talking about crazy kids.
- Olyan sok munkám van - (I have so much work.)
- Ilyen az élet. - (Such is (the) life.)
- Ez lehetetlen ilyen körülmények között - (This is impossibe among such circumstances.)
*Alex: A házi feladat határideje tegnap volt. - (The deadline of the homework was yesterday.)
*Barnabás: Ilyen nincs! - (That can't be possible! lit. There is no such (thing))
The word mint is used in linkage between nouns, when it is used with the comparative, it translates to than.
- Gyorsabb vagyok, mint egy golyó! - (I'm faster than a bullet!)
- Jobb adni, mint kapni. - (It is better to give than to receive.)
- Ennél nincs szebb a világon. - (There is nothing more beautiful in the world than this.)
As you saw, mint can be substituted for the -nél,-nál case.
When mintis used with olyan or úgy, it translates to as.
- Ő olyan magas, mint én. - (He/She is as tall as me.)
- Az egyik olyan, mint a másik. - (One of them is like the other.)
- Úgy vezet, mint egy őrült. - (He/She drives like a maniac.)
- Úgy esik, mint a disznó! - (It is raining cats and dogs. lit. It falls like the pig!)
Challenges!
De az acél nehezebb a tollnál!
But steel is heavier than feathers!
Ha ezt az egyet megtudom, olyan leszek, mint te!
If I know this one thing, I will be like you!
- Using
meg-to mark telicity