Этот словарь полезнее, чем тот, что был у меня раньше.

This dictionary is more useful than the one I had before.

Breakdown of Этот словарь полезнее, чем тот, что был у меня раньше.

• я: I
• быть: to be
• полезный: useful
• что: that
• этот: this
• чем: than
• словарь: the dictionary
• тот: that
• раньше: before

Questions & Answers about Этот словарь полезнее, чем тот, что был у меня раньше.

What does the adjective полезнее mean, and how is it formed in Russian?

Полезнее means “more useful.” It is the comparative form of the adjective полезный (“useful”). In Russian, comparatives can be formed either by adding the suffix -ее (as in полезнее) or by using the word более before the adjective; here, the direct formation полезнее is the standard way.

What is the role of чем in this sentence?

Чем is a comparative conjunction that plays the same role as “than” in English. It introduces the clause that specifies the item being compared—in this case, the dictionary one had earlier.

Why is there a comma before чем in this sentence?

In Russian, a comma is placed before чем when it introduces a subordinate comparative clause. This punctuation rule helps distinguish the main clause from the comparative one, making the sentence clearer and easier to understand.

How does the clause тот, что был у меня раньше function within the sentence?

The phrase тот, что был у меня раньше functions as a relative clause. Тот is a demonstrative pronoun meaning “that one,” and что serves as a relative pronoun introducing the clause “was with me before” (i.e., “I had before”). Together, they refer back to an earlier dictionary, specifying the item being compared.

Is it acceptable to use что as the relative pronoun here, and could который be used instead?

Yes, using что after тот is common in colloquial Russian and is perfectly acceptable. In more formal contexts, you might hear тот, который был у меня раньше. Both forms are understood by native speakers, although который tends to be favored in formal writing.