Breakdown of Deze wijn is fruitiger dan de vorige.
zijn
to be
deze
this / these
vorig
previous / last
de wijn
the wine
Questions & Answers about Deze wijn is fruitiger dan de vorige.
Why do we use deze instead of dit for 'this'?
Because wijn is a de-word. For de-words, we use the demonstrative pronoun deze (this) or die (that). You only use dit or dat for het-words.
How is the comparative fruitiger formed?
Just like in English, you add -er to the base adjective. The base adjective is fruitig (fruity), so it becomes fruitiger. The spelling remains completely regular here without any shifting vowels or consonant doubling.
Why is there no Dutch word for 'one' in de vorige (the previous one)?
Dutch doesn't use placeholder pronouns like 'one' after adjectives. When the context is clear (we know we are talking about wijn), you simply drop the noun and keep the definite article (de) and the inflected adjective (vorige).
Is it ever correct to use als instead of dan here?
No, standard Dutch requires dan after a comparative (like fruitiger). You will often hear native speakers say als in casual speech, which is a frequent error even among the Dutch, but for exams and formal writing at the B2 level, you must always stick to dan.