Questions & Answers about Здесь тише, чем в метро.
Why is тише used here? Is it an adjective or an adverb?
Тише is the comparative form meaning quieter. In Здесь тише, it functions as a predicative (like it’s quieter here) and does not agree with a noun in gender/number.
You can think of it as coming from:
- тихо (adverb: quietly) → тише (more quietly / quieter)
- тихий (adjective: quiet) → тише (comparative)
In this sentence it’s essentially impersonal: (Здесь) тише = It’s quieter (here).
Why isn’t there a word for it is (like есть)?
In the present tense Russian normally omits есть in sentences like this.
So Здесь (есть) тише would sound unnatural; you simply say Здесь тише.
What does чем do in this sentence?
Чем introduces the second part of a comparison, like than in English.
Pattern: X + comparative + чем + Y
So тише, чем в метро = quieter than in the metro.
Why is there a comma before чем?
Russian normally uses a comma to separate the main clause from the comparative phrase with чем:
Здесь тише, чем в метро.
Without the comma it looks like a mistake in standard punctuation.
Why is it в метро and not some other case?
в + prepositional is used for location inside a place: in the метро/subway.
So: в метро = in the metro (system / subway).
(And метро happens to be indeclinable, so it looks the same in all cases.)
Is метро masculine/feminine/neuter, and does it decline?
Метро is neuter and typically indeclinable in modern standard Russian.
So you say: в метро, из метро, к метро, etc.—the form метро stays the same.
Could I say на метро instead of в метро?
Not here. в метро = location (in the subway/metro).
на метро usually means by metro (as a means of transport), like:
- Я поеду на метро = I’ll go by metro.
So for this sentence comparing noise levels in places, в метро is the correct choice.
Can the comparison be expressed without чем?
Sometimes Russian can use the genitive of comparison (more literary/compact), but it’s not equally natural with all nouns and contexts. The clear, neutral everyday option is exactly what you have:
Здесь тише, чем в метро.
Using чем is the most straightforward and common here.
What’s the difference between здесь and тут? Can I replace it?
Yes, often you can: Тут тише, чем в метро.
Both mean here. In many contexts:
- здесь can feel a bit more neutral/formal or “pointing to a place”
- тут can feel a bit more conversational/immediate
But in this sentence, either works.
What is the normal word order, and can it be changed?
The neutral order is: Здесь тише, чем в метро.
You can rearrange for emphasis, for example:
- В метро громче, чем здесь. = It’s louder in the metro than here.
But the given order is the most natural for stating here first, then comparing.
How do I pronounce it (roughly) and where is the stress?
- Здесь: one syllable, roughly zdyes’ (soft ending)
- ти́ше: stress on the first syllable ТИ-ше
- чем: chem (with a soft ч)
- метро́: stress on the last syllable me-TRO
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