Usages of quam
Imperator scit: “Pax est melior quam bellum.”
The emperor knows: “Peace is better than war.”
Magister in horto laetior est quam in villa.
The teacher is happier in the garden than in the house.
Nunc mater laboriosior est quam pater, nam tota domus cura eius est et tamen gaudet.
Now mother is more hardworking than father, for the whole house is her responsibility and yet she rejoices.
Imperator certe scit pacem meliorem esse quam bellum.
The emperor certainly knows that peace is better than war.
Puer cum amico suo laetior est quam solus.
The boy is happier with his friend than alone.
Discipuli dicunt nihil facilius esse quam menda corrigere, si exemplum optimum ante oculos habent.
The students say that nothing is easier than correcting mistakes, if they have the best example before their eyes.
Pater dicit pacem servare melius esse quam bellum timere.
Father says that preserving peace is better than fearing war.
Hic titulus brevior est quam ille.
This title is shorter than that one.
Sol hodie clarior est quam heri.
The sun is brighter today than yesterday.
Haec sententia difficilior est quam illa.
This sentence is more difficult than that one.
Haec res facilis videtur, sed difficilior est quam illa.
This thing seems easy, but it is more difficult than that one.
Haec epistula longior est quam illa.
This letter is longer than that one.
Haec epistula mihi gratior est quam illud munus.
This letter is more pleasing to me than that gift.
Haec imago pulchrior est quam illa.
This picture is more beautiful than that one.
Imago reginae in atrio pulchrior est quam imago regis.
The image of the queen in the atrium is more beautiful than the image of the king.
Frater studiosior est quam soror, sed soror diligentius versus repetit.
The brother is more studious than the sister, but the sister repeats the verses more carefully.
Lucia studiosior est quam Marcus, sed Marcus celerius scribit.
Lucia is more studious than Marcus, but Marcus writes more quickly.
Lucia menda diligentius quam Marcus corrigit.
Lucia corrects mistakes more carefully than Marcus.
Quamquam plaustrum tardius it quam equus currit, mater dicit id utilius esse ad frumentum portandum.
Although the wagon goes more slowly than a horse runs, mother says that it is more useful for carrying grain.
Haec arbor altior est quam illa.
This tree is taller than that one.
Avia per scalas tardius descendit quam puer.
Grandmother comes down the stairs more slowly than the boy.
Hoc consilium utilius est quam illud.
This advice is more useful than that.
Pater dicit bonam voluntatem meliorem esse quam vim.
Father says that good will is better than force.
Mater dicit se magis confidere filiae quam filio, quia illa veritatem sine mora fatetur.
Mother says that she trusts her daughter more than her son, because she confesses the truth without delay.
Hodie magis quam heri laboro.
Today I work more than yesterday.
Pater dicit formam huius conchae pulchriorem esse quam illius.
Father says that the shape of this shell is more beautiful than that of that one.
Lucia hodie plus quam Marcus legit.
Lucia reads more than Marcus today.
Ego aquam potius quam vinum bibere malo.
I prefer to drink water rather than wine.
Hoc onus levius est quam illud, et puella ipsa id tollere potest.
This load is lighter than that one, and the girl herself can lift it.
Quidquid ceteri dicunt, haec discipula potius magistrae quam rumori falso credit.
Whatever the others say, this female student trusts the teacher rather than a false rumor.
Haec sella commodior est quam illud scamnum, quia avia diu ibi sedere potest.
This chair is more comfortable than that bench, because grandmother can sit there for a long time.
Haec sententia peior est quam illa.
This sentence is worse than that one.
Lucia diligentior est quam Marcus, quia menda sua statim corrigit.
Lucia is more diligent than Marcus, because she corrects her mistakes at once.
Soror timidior est quam frater, sed veritatem tamen dicit.
The sister is more timid than her brother, but she nevertheless tells the truth.
Haec via nobis commodior est quam illa, quia brevior est.
This road is more convenient for us than that one, because it is shorter.
Magistra dicit armillam gemmis plenam pretiosiorem esse quam simplicem catenam.
The teacher says that a bracelet full of gems is more precious than a simple chain.
Luna hodie clarior est quam heri.
The moon is brighter today than yesterday.
Margarita alba pretiosior est quam fibula argentea.
The white pearl is more precious than the silver brooch.
Iudex hodie severior est quam heri, quia reus mendacium dicit.
The judge is sterner today than yesterday, because the accused tells a lie.
Fibula aurea nitidior est quam fibula argentea.
The golden brooch is shinier than the silver brooch.
Hoc ornamentum pretiosius est quam illud.
This ornament is more precious than that one.
Magistra dicit diligentiam plus valere quam mentem bonam sine labore.
The teacher says that diligence is worth more than a good mind without work.
Iudex dicit honestatem plus valere quam mendacium.
The judge says that honesty is worth more than a lie.
In hac domo modestia et bonitas plus valent quam pecunia, et ideo hospites hic libenter manent.
In this house modesty and goodness are worth more than money, and therefore guests gladly stay here.
Hoc periculum maius est quam illud.
This danger is greater than that one.
Hoc exercitium difficilius est quam illud.
This exercise is more difficult than that one.
Puer dicit se in horto quiescere malle quam domi cubare, sed mater eum intra domum manere iubet.
The boy says that he prefers to rest in the garden rather than lie down at home, but mother orders him to stay inside the house.
Mater dicit pallam non minus utilem esse quam ornamentum pretiosum.
Mother says that a cloak is no less useful than a precious ornament.
Haec fabula pueris gratior est quam illa.
This story is more pleasing to the boys than that one.
Mater dicit ampullam fragiliorem esse quam aliud vas.
Mother says that the bottle is more fragile than the other vessel.
Haec culcita mollior est quam illa, itaque infans bene dormit.
This mattress is softer than that one, and so the baby sleeps well.
Haec fenestra fragilior est quam illa.
This window is more fragile than that one.
Magistra monet usum saepe plus valere quam timorem, si quis artem aliquam discere velit.
The teacher warns that practice is often worth more than fear, if someone wants to learn some skill.
Pater, qui olim oratorem quendam audiverat, censet vocem claram plus valere quam verba nimis multa.
Father, who once heard a certain orator, thinks that a clear voice is worth more than too many words.
Mater filiae dicit se malle in bibliotheca sedere et commentarium legere quam in contione diu stare.
Mother tells her daughter that she prefers to sit in the library and read a notebook rather than stand a long time in an assembly.
Bibliotheca quieta ad meditandum melior est quam forum plenum, sed forum ad audiendos oratores melius est.
A quiet library is better for thinking than a full forum, but the forum is better for hearing orators.
Bibliotheca quietior est quam forum.
The library is quieter than the forum.
Bonus iudex iustitiam potius quam iram spectare debet.
A good judge ought to look to justice rather than anger.
Avus censet patientiam plus valere quam iram.
Grandfather thinks that patience is worth more than anger.
Soror prudentior est quam frater, quia antequam respondeat semper rem totam audit.
The sister is wiser than her brother, because before she answers she always listens to the whole matter.
Sagitta e arcu volat, sed puella dicit se hastam graviorem esse putare quam telum leve.
An arrow flies from the bow, but the girl says that she thinks a spear is heavier than a light weapon.
Pater dicit bonum imperium iustitiam plus amare debere quam laudem.
Father says that good rule ought to love justice more than praise.
Haec hasta gravior est quam illa, sed miles eam bene tenet.
This spear is heavier than that one, but the soldier holds it well.
Haec ianua firmior est quam illa.
This door is stronger than that one.
Sunt qui putent forum esse scholam viventem, in qua pueri et puellae non minus quam in libris discant.
There are those who think that the forum is a living school, in which boys and girls learn no less than in books.
Ego sentio pacem meliorem esse quam bellum.
I think that peace is better than war.
Plures discipuli hodie adsunt quam heri.
More students are present today than yesterday.
Senator prudens suadet ut cives auctoritatem legis plus quam rumorem sequantur.
A wise senator advises that the citizens follow the authority of the law more than rumor.
Nobilis femina puellae humili panem dat et dicit honestatem plus valere quam pecuniam.
A noble woman gives bread to the humble girl and says that honesty is worth more than money.
Mater arbitratur vitam publicam difficiliorem esse quam vitam privatam.
Mother thinks that public life is more difficult than private life.
Cum senatores inter se disputarent, tribunus suadebat ut ad bonum commune potius quam ad commodum privatum spectarent.
When the senators were debating among themselves, the tribune was advising them to look to the common good rather than private advantage.
Nobilis femina respondit se humilium vocem agnoscere et eorum consilio non minus quam suo credere.
The noble woman replied that she recognizes the voice of humble people and trusts their advice no less than her own.
Pater dicit bonum publicum melius esse quam commodum privatum.
Father says that the public good is better than private advantage.
Postquam ratis ad alteram ripam pervenit, mater dicit melius fuisse portitore prudente uti quam per vadum ire.
After the raft reached the other bank, mother says that it was better to use a prudent ferryman than to go through the ford.
In villa medica faciem puellae spectat et dicit frontem calidiorem esse quam heri.
In the house the doctor looks at the girl’s face and says that her forehead is warmer than yesterday.
Alia respondet bonam tutelam pupillae saepe utiliorem esse quam magnum patrimonium.
Another replies that good guardianship for a girl is often more useful than a great estate.
Aqua hodie calidior est quam heri.
The water is warmer today than yesterday.
Aqua in fonte frigidior est quam aqua in amphora.
The water in the spring is cooler than the water in the jar.
Haec via utilior est quam illa, quia ad forum ducit.
This road is more useful than that one, because it leads to the forum.
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