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Questions & Answers about Paulo é mais velho do que eu.
Why is the phrase do que eu used in "Paulo é mais velho do que eu" instead of simply que eu?
In Portuguese, when forming comparatives with adjectives (like mais velho for "older"), the standard structure is mais [adjective] do que [pronoun/element]. The phrase do que is a contraction of de + o and functions as the equivalent of "than" in English. This fixed comparative structure helps clearly introduce the second element of the comparison.
Can I omit the do and say "Paulo é mais velho que eu" in everyday conversation?
Yes, in informal speech many native speakers drop the do and simply say mais velho que eu. However, including do que is considered more grammatically correct and is preferred in formal writing and speech.
Why is the subject pronoun eu used after do que instead of using the object form mim?
The sentence implies an elliptical clause. The full thought is Paulo é mais velho do que eu sou, meaning "Paulo is older than I am." Because the implied verb is in the subject form, the pronoun remains as eu rather than switching to the object pronoun mim. Even though in casual conversation some speakers might use mim, eu is grammatically preferred.
What role does mais play in this sentence, and how does it help form the comparative?
The word mais means "more" and is used to create the comparative degree. When paired with an adjective—in this case, velho—it forms mais velho, meaning "older." This construction is analogous to saying "more old" in a literal sense, though in English we simply say "older."
How does the comparative structure in Portuguese differ from its English counterpart?
In English, while it is grammatically correct to say "Paulo is older than I" (implying a complete clause: "older than I am"), many native speakers often say "Paulo is older than me" using the object pronoun. In Portuguese, the established comparative form mais [adjective] do que [pronoun] typically retains the subject pronoun (as in eu) because the clause is understood to be elliptical. This makes the Portuguese construction a bit more rigid in maintaining the grammatical roles within the sentence.