Breakdown of Экзамен был сложнее, чем я ожидал.
я
I
быть
to be
чем
than
экзамен
the exam
сложный
difficult
ожидать
to expect
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Questions & Answers about Экзамен был сложнее, чем я ожидал.
What does the adjective сложнее mean, and how is it formed?
Сложнее is the comparative form of сложный, meaning "more difficult". In Russian, comparatives are typically formed by adding a suffix (like -ее or -нее) to the adjective's base. In this sentence, it indicates that the exam was more challenging compared to what was expected.
What role does чем play in this sentence?
Чем acts as a comparative conjunction equivalent to the English "than." It introduces the subordinate clause "я ожидал" which provides the standard of comparison—that is, what the speaker actually expected regarding the exam’s difficulty.
Why is there a comma before чем in the sentence?
The comma is used to separate the main clause from the subordinate clause. In Russian, when a subordinate clause (introduced by чем in this case) follows the main clause, a comma is commonly placed before it to clarify the sentence structure.
What are the subjects and verbs in both the main and subordinate parts of the sentence?
In the main clause, Экзамен is the subject and был (was) is the linking verb, with сложнее serving as the comparative descriptor. In the subordinate clause, я is the subject, and ожидал (expected) is the verb. This structure contrasts the actual difficulty of the exam with the speaker’s expectations.
Why isn’t the exam explicitly mentioned in the subordinate clause after ожидал?
The omission is an example of ellipsis, which is common in both Russian and English. The speaker leaves out the repeated information (i.e., that the exam was expected to be easier) because it is clear from context what was meant. This makes the sentence more concise while still conveying the full comparison.