Этот йогурт дешевле, чем творог.

This yogurt is cheaper than cottage cheese.

Breakdown of Этот йогурт дешевле, чем творог.

• этот: this
• чем: than
• творог: the cottage cheese
• йогурт: the yogurt
• дешевле: cheaper

Questions & Answers about Этот йогурт дешевле, чем творог.

Why is дешевле used instead of an adjective like дешёвый?

Because дешевле is the comparative form of дешёвый (cheap). In Russian, when you compare two things, you typically use the comparative:

• Этот йогурт дешевле... = This yogurt is cheaper...
  You can say Этот йогурт дешёвый (This yogurt is cheap), but that’s not a comparison.

Is дешевле an adverb or an adjective here?

It’s the comparative form that works as a predicate (part of the statement about the subject). In Russian, comparatives like дешевле, выше, лучше don’t change for gender/number/case when used this way:

• йогурт дешевле (masc)
• молоко дешевле (neut)
• ягоды дешевле (pl)
  Same form every time.

Why is there a comma before чем?

In comparisons with чем (than), a comma is normally used:

• дешевле, чем творог
  It marks the comparison clause/segment. In everyday writing you’ll almost always see that comma.

What case is творог in after чем?

Here it’s nominative: чем творог. After чем, Russian commonly uses the same form as the thing being compared, often nominative (especially when it’s understood as “than (the cottage cheese is)”).

Can you say it without чем?

Yes. Russian often forms comparisons without чем, and then the second noun is usually genitive:

• Этот йогурт дешевле творога. (genitive: творога)
  Both versions are common. The чем + nominative version can feel a bit more explicit; the genitive without чем can sound more compact.

Why is there no word for is (like есть)?

In the present tense, Russian usually doesn’t use a verb meaning is/are in neutral statements:

• Этот йогурт дешевле... = This yogurt is cheaper...
  Есть is used for existence/availability or emphasis, not as a normal present-tense copula.

What does Этот do here, and how does it agree?

Этот means this and it agrees with the noun in gender, number, and case.

• йогурт is masculine singular nominative, so: Этот йогурт.
  If it were feminine: Эта цена... (This price...), neuter: Это молоко..., plural: Эти яблоки....

Is the word order flexible? Could I move parts around?

Yes, it’s fairly flexible, though some orders are more natural. Common options:

• Этот йогурт дешевле, чем творог. (neutral)
• Этот йогурт, чем творог, дешевле. (possible but sounds marked/awkward without special context)
• Йогурт дешевле, чем творог. (also normal; just less specific without этот)
  Usually you keep дешевле close to what it describes, and keep the чем phrase right after it.

How is чем pronounced here, and does it mean what?

чем here is pronounced roughly like chem (with a “ch” sound). It means than in comparisons.
It can also be related to что (what) in other contexts (e.g., чем ты занят? = what are you busy with?), but in this sentence it’s strictly the comparative than.

Where is the stress in these words: йогурт, дешевле, творог?

Common standard stress:

• йОгурт
• дешевлЕ
• творОг
  Note: творог has well-known variation in real speech, but творОг is widely taught as standard.