Questions & Answers about Счёт был дороже, чем я ожидал.
Why is дороже used here and what is its base form?
дороже is the comparative form of the adjective дорогой (expensive). It expresses “more expensive.” Russian comparatives can be formed synthetically by adding suffixes like -ее/-ей (as in дорогой → дороже) or analytically with более + adjective.
Could I also say более дорогой, and if so, is there a difference?
Yes, you can say более дорогой, but the synthetic form дороже is more common and idiomatic in everyday speech. Both mean “more expensive,” but более дорогой sounds slightly more formal or bookish.
Why is there a comma before чем?
In Russian, a comma is placed before the comparative conjunction чем when it introduces a clause with its own verb (here я ожидал). The comma separates the main clause (Счёт был дороже) from the subordinate comparative clause.
What role does чем play here? Is it a case form or a conjunction?
Here чем is a subordinating conjunction meaning “than.” Although it looks identical to the instrumental case of что, in comparative constructions it functions as a conjunction, not a case marker.
Why do we need in this sentence? Can we omit it?