Questions & Answers about Saya lebih suka apel daripada permen.
What does lebih do here, and why is it lebih suka instead of just suka?
Lebih means “more.” Putting it before suka makes a comparative: lebih suka X daripada Y = “prefer X to Y.” Without lebih, Saya suka apel just means “I like apples,” not a comparison.
Can I replace daripada with dari or ketimbang?
- Daripada is the standard “than” for comparisons: lebih … daripada …
- Dari is very common in speech and widely accepted: lebih … dari …
- Ketimbang is casual/colloquial and common, especially around Jakarta.
- With numbers/amounts, use dari: lebih dari 10 (“more than 10”), not lebih daripada 10.
Is daripada written as one word or two?
One word: daripada. Writing dari pada is a different construction and not what you want for “than.”
Can I drop the subject Saya?
Yes, if it’s clear from context: (Saya) lebih suka apel daripada permen. In informal speech you can also use aku (informal) or gue (very colloquial, Jakarta).