日本語１３２

1. Comparatives in Japanese—between two things:

　　　　　　

X　と　Y　と　どちら　の　HOOが　 SUKIですか。

Which do you prefer, X or Y?

Xの?HOOが　（Y　より）　SUKIです。

I prefer X (over Y).

Yの?HOOが　（X　より）　IIです。

I prefer Y (over X).

ほう＝means “side” or alternative/choice

より＝means “more than” the item that precedes it

eg., So, we are saying, literally,

More than X, I like Y= Xより　Yの?HOO?が　SUKIです

どちら＋も＝Both

どちらも　すきです。 I like them both.

Or, Xも　Yも　SUKI?です。 I like both X and Y.

2. More on より：

X　は　Y　より　　Adjective – いい、おもしろい、

この本　は　その本　より　おもしろい　です。

This book is more interesting than that book.

The その本より　means "More than that book…"　

オレゴン大学は　ウイラメット大学より　大きいです。

The University of Oregon is bigger than Willamette University.

きょうとは　とうきょうより　???です。　

Kyoto is older than Tokyo

Practice

1. Which is more difficult, economics or history?
2. Who is busier, students or professors?
3. Which do you like better, coffee or cola?
4. Which do you prefer, apples or oranges?
5. Which do you eat more often fish or meat?
6. Which do you do you like better, classical music or jazz?

3. The Superlative いち?　(lit., #1, the best among 3 or more things or within a category, eg, sports, cameras, music cars,computers,etc.)

スポーツの中で　?が　いち?すきですか。

やきゅうが?いちばんすきです。

くだもの　の中で　?が　いち?すきですか。

日本で　どの　まちが　いち?　大きいですか。

(Note: when talking about PLACES, you do not need to use の中で)

XとYとZ　の中で　どちら／どれが　いち?　Adj ですか。

ワインとビールとコーヒーと　どちらが　いち?　すきですか。

Practice:

1. Among things to drink I drink ___________ most often.

2. Among books, I like the Harry Potter books best.

3. Among foods, I like ____________ best.

4. Among California, Oregon and Washington, which is the biggest?

5. Which is the smallest?

6. Among 3 states, which is the prettiest?

7. . Among Mt. Fuji, Mt. Hood and Mt.Everest, __________ is the tallest.

8. Among University of Oregon, Oregon State and Willamette, which is the biggest? Which is the smallest? Which is the best?

9. Among the students of Japanese Language, who studies the most/hardest?

10. Among sports, _______ is my favorite.