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In English, we have two ways to form comparatives: adding "-er" to the end of short words (taller) or putting "more" in front of longer words (more crowded). In Romanian, it is much simpler: you just put the word *mai* (more) in front of the adjective.

To compare two things, you link them with the word *decât* (than). 

The basic formula is: **mai** + adjective + **decât**

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### Adjective Agreement

Even when you are using *mai*, the adjective itself still needs to agree in gender and number with the first noun in the comparison (the one you are describing).

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### Saying "Much More"

If you want to emphasize that there is a large difference between the two things you are comparing, simply place *mult* (much) in front of *mai*. 

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### Everyday Comparisons

You will use this exact same structure to compare distances, geographical features, and even people. It also works perfectly when asking questions.

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Comparatives: more than (mai ... decât)

adjective

adverb

adverbial phrase

auxiliary

auxiliary verb

conjunction

determiner

interjection

noun

numeral

particle

preposition

pronoun

sentence

verb

The verb to be and definite articles (a fi, -ul, -le)

Feminine definite articles (-a, -ua)

Indefinite articles (un, o)

Negative sentences (nu)

Question words (ce, unde, cine)

The verb to have (a avea)

Masculine plural nouns (-i, -ii)

Feminine plural nouns (-e, -i, -le)

Neuter plural nouns (-uri, -e, -le)

Adjectives and agreement

Present tense of regular -a verbs

Present tense of -a verbs with suffix (-ez)

Present tense of regular -i and -î verbs

Present tense of -i and -î verbs with suffix (-esc / -ăsc)

Present tense of -ea and -e verbs

Reflexive pronouns (mă, te, se, ne, vă)

Accusative prepositions (în, la, pe, din, cu)

Likes and dislikes (îmi place)

Possessive adjectives (meu, tău, său)

Third-person possessives (lui, ei, lor)

Possessive articles (al, a, ai, ale)

Formal politeness (dumneavoastră)

Demonstrative adjectives (acest, acel)

Numbers 1 to 10

The number two (doi, două)

Numbers 11 to 20

Counting by tens to 100

Quantifying large numbers (de)

The subjunctive (să)

Third-person subjunctive (să)

Direct object pronouns (îl, o, îi, le)

Personal direct objects (pe)

Days of the week

Telling time (e ora...)

Months of the Year (January to June)

Months of the Year (July to December)

The Four Seasons

Weather Conditions

Rooms in a House

Basic Body Parts: Upper Body

Basic Body Parts: Limbs

Everyday Clothing

Basic Foods: Groceries

Fruits and Vegetables

Around Town

Getting Around

Setting the Table

A Colorful World

Common Animals

In the Wild

Jobs and Careers

Everyday Tech

Describing people (tânăr, bătrân, înalt)

Asking when and why (când, de ce, care)

Hello and goodbye (bună ziua, la revedere)

Coming and going (intra, sta, trece)

Where is it? (sub, lângă, între)

Knowing and thinking (știu că, cred că)

Sorry, welcome, congratulations (îmi pare rău, la mulți ani)

Introducing yourself (mă numesc, sunt din România)

How much and how many (puțin, prea, doar)

Can and may (pot merge, pot să merg)

If and whether (dacă)

At school and university

Irregular verbs in the present (vrea, lua, da, bea, sta)

Free time and sport

How much is it? (cât costă, câți, câte)

Before and after (înainte, după, până)

At the doctor (mă doare)

Meals of the day (micul dejun, prânzul, cina)

At the restaurant

Ability and permission (a putea să)

Obligation and necessity (trebuie să)

Desires and intentions (a vrea să)

Impersonal statements (se)

Adverbs of frequency (adesea, uneori)

Conjunctions for reasons and links (pentru că, deci)

Stressed accusative pronouns (pe mine, pe tine)

Indefinite pronouns (cineva, ceva)

Negative pronouns and double negation (nimeni, nimic)

The past tense auxiliary (am, ai, a)

The past tense (am, ai, a)

Regular past participles (-at, -it)

Regular past participles (-ut, -s, -t)

Negative past tense (nu am)

Question	Answer
the capital	capitala
crowded	aglomerat
than	decât
The capital is more crowded than this city.	Capitala este mai aglomerată decât acest oraș.
the village	satul
That village is smaller than the capital.	Acel sat este mai mic decât capitala.
Our village is much cleaner than the city.	Satul nostru este mult mai curat decât orașul.
short	scurt
This road is shorter than that street.	Acest drum este mai scurt decât acea stradă.
long	lung
This scarf is longer than the grey scarf.	Acest fular este mai lung decât fularul gri.
deep	adânc
The lake is deeper than the river.	Lacul este mai adânc decât râul.
the population	populația
The city's population is larger than the village's population.	Populația orașului este mai mare decât populația satului.
the island	insula
That island is more crowded than this village.	Acea insulă este mai aglomerată decât acest sat.
This dress is shorter than the brown dress.	Această rochie este mai scurtă decât rochia maro.
Are you taller than your brother?	Ești mai înalt decât fratele tău?
I am older than this gentleman.	Sunt mai bătrân decât acest domn.
The sea is much deeper than this lake.	Marea este mult mai adâncă decât acest lac.
This journey is longer than that vacation.	Această călătorie este mai lungă decât acea vacanță.
The population is large, so the city is very crowded.	Populația este mare, deci orașul este foarte aglomerat.
the kilometer	kilometrul
The first kilometer is always longer.	Primul kilometru este mereu mai lung.
That road is shorter than you think.	Acel drum este mai scurt decât crezi.
How many kilometers are there to the capital?	Câți kilometri sunt până la capitală?
We must find a deeper river than this one.	Trebuie să găsim un râu mai adânc decât acesta.
The island is bigger than the city.	Insula este mai mare decât orașul.
only (with a negated verb: "I only have")	decât
I only have ten lei.	Nu am decât zece lei.
I only drink water.	Nu beau decât apă.

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