Grammar Info

N4 Lesson 2: 13/17

よりMore than, Over

Structure

Verb + より + Adjective
Noun + より + Adjective

Details

  • Register

    Standard

About より

In N5, we learned about the use of より that is seen when making comparisons in より～のほうが. However, in this lesson, we will take a look at how this case marking particle can be used by itself. When used alone, this particle expresses that (A) (a noun or verb) is being compared to (B) (a noun or verb that is regularly paired with an adjective). The word that より is directly attached to will always be 'less than' the comparison being made. However, the overall expression is used to describe that (B) is 'more' (something) than (A).

Caution

In many textbooks, より is taught as meaning 'more', but the word that より is attached to will actually be the thing that is 'less' (something). The word/quote that has が attached to it will be the thing that is 'more' (adjective). This is particularly confusing when より is not directly attached to a word, something which is common in casual spoken language.

In this sentence, because the が is attached to これ, これ is the thing that is 'more expensive'. As より is not actually directly connected to any other word, it therefore means that これ is expensive, compared to 'other things'. When you see より like this, just pretend that it says 'other things' before it.

Related

Examples

--:--

    あなたの絵(え)は私(わたし)の絵(え)より上手(じょうず)。

    Your paintings are better than mine.

    月曜日(げつようび)より日曜日(にちようび)がいい。

    Sunday is better than Monday.

    日本語(にほんご)は英語(えいご)より話(はな)しにくい。

    Japanese is harder to speak than English.

    いつも飲(の)んでいる水(みず)より好(す)き。

    I like this (drink) more than the water that I usually drink.

    スポーツをするより、ゲームの方(ほう)が楽(たの)しい。

    Video games are more exciting than sports.

  • Get more example sentences!

    Premium users get access to 12 example sentences on all Grammar Points.

Self-Study Sentences

Study your own way!

Add sentences and study them alongside Bunpro sentences.

より – Grammar Discussion

Join the Discussion