than -보다

N + 보다 ’~보다’ means ‘than~’. To make a comparison sentence, place the marker ~보다 after the noun being compared, and use the adverbs 더(more) or 덜(less) in the sentence.

Some students confuse this with the verb '보다(to look, watch, see)’. However, they are completely different words. (The verb 보다 changes form when conjugated, the marker 보다 is just a word, always maintaining the form.)

바다가 강보다 더 커요.

The sea is bigger than the river.

아빠보다 제가 더 많이 먹어요.

I eat more than my father.

오늘이 어제보다 덜 더워요.

Today is less hot than yesterday.

지하철보다 기차가 덜 복잡해요.

The train is less crowded than the subway.

Speaking of comparative sentences, Let's also look at how to make superlative sentences on this page. No special conjugation rules are required, you can simply add the adverb '가장' or '제일'(both meaning ‘the most’) in the sentence. Both words can be used interchangeably with no difference in meaning.

제가 가장 예뻐요.

I am the prettiest.

언니가 제일 키가 작아요.

My older sister is the shortest.

제가 학교에서 가장 공부를 잘해요.

I am the prettiest in school.

동물 중에서 치타가 제일 빨라요.

Among animals, the cheetah is the fastest.

(~중에서 means ‘out of~’, ‘among~’, ’between~’)