Modern Italian Grammar: A Practical Guide, Third Edition (2013)
Part B. Functions
I. Giving and seeking factual informatio
17. Comparisons and degrees of intensity
17.1 Introduction
Comparisons between objects or people, or situations, can be defined in terms of more, less or the same as.
In Part A the comparative forms of adjectives (see 1.4.6) and adverbs (see 6.4.1) are shown. Here we look at the ways in which these forms are used, and also at other ways of expressing degrees of intensity.
17.2 Using comparative adjectives and adverbs
17.2.1 Più
To express ‘more’, use the comparative form più + adjective (see 1.4.6) or adverb (see 6.4.1):
Adjective:
La situazione economica è più grave in Italia che in Inghilterra.
The economic situation is more serious in Italy than in England.
Adverb:
Gli inglesi guidano più prudentemente degli italiani.
The English drive more carefully than the Italians.
You can also make a comparison using one of the irregular forms of comparison of adjectives (see 1.4.6) or adverbs (see 6.4.2):
Adjective:
La situazione economica è peggiore in Italia che in Inghilterra.
The economic situation is worse in Italy than in England.
Il rischio sismico è maggiore in Abruzzo che in Lombardia.
The risk from earthquakes is greater in the Abruzzo than in Lombardy.
Secondo me, il corso serale d'italiano è migliore di quello di tedesco.
In my opinion, the Italian evening class is better than the German one.
Adverb:
D'estate si sta meglio in montagna che al mare.
In the summer it's better to stay in the mountains than at the sea.
Mio marito parcheggia la macchina molto peggio di me.
My husband parks the car much worse than me.
17.2.2 Meno
To express ‘less’, use the comparative form meno + adjective (see 1.4.6) or adverb (see 6.4.1):
Adjective:
Enrico era meno intelligente di Enrica.
Enrico was less intelligent than Enrica.
Adverb:
Bisogna guidare meno velocemente del solito.
You should drive less fast than usual.
17.2.3 Using an adverbial phrase
With adverbs, you can also make a comparison by using the irregular forms maggiore or minore in an adverbial phrase (see 6.2.5):
Guido ha sempre lavorato con maggiore impegno di Franca.
Guido has always worked in a more committed way than Franca.
Il pilota brasiliano ha guidato ad una velocità minore del pilota italiano.
The Brazilian driver drove at a slower speed than the Italian driver.
17.2.4 Tanto… quanto or così… come
To express comparison between two equal elements, use tanto … quanto or così … come either with an adjective (see 1.4.6) or with an adverb (see 6.4.1):
Adjective:
Non troverà mai una moglie tanto comprensiva quanto Angelica.
He will never find a wife as understanding as Angelica.
Adverb:
Non guidi così attentamente come me.
You don't drive as carefully as me.
The first adverbs of each pair (tanto, così) can be omitted:
Non troverà mai una moglie comprensiva quanto Angelica.
He will never find a wife as understanding as Angelica.
Non guidi attentamente come me.
You don't drive as carefully as me.
17.3 Expressing ‘than’
English ‘than’ is translated by di or che (see examples in 17.2.1–2 above), depending on which elements are being compared and on their position in the sentence.
17.3.1 Comparing two nouns
When comparing two nouns or proper names, you normally use di or its combined form del (but see 17.3.3–6 below):
Luciano scrive più lentamente di Alessandra al computer.
Luciano writes more slowly than Alessandra on the computer.
In classe, i maschi sono meno estroversi delle ragazze.
In class, the boys are less extrovert than the girls.
17.3.2 Comparing two pronouns
As with nouns, when comparing two pronouns, you normally use di.
Personal pronouns
The stressed object pronoun forms (see 3.3.2) are used:
Io sono meno stressata di te.
I am less stressed than you.
Lui guida più velocemente di te.
He drives more quickly than you.
Demonstrative pronouns
To compare two objects, one near the speaker and one further away, use questo and quello respectively (see 3.8.1):
Questa stanza è più spaziosa di quella.
This room is more spacious than that one.
Quello è più saporito di questo.
That one is more tasty than this one.
Possessive pronouns
To compare objects belonging to two different people, use possessive pronouns (see 3.7):
Lo stipendio di mio marito è più basso del mio.
My husband's salary is lower than mine.
La nostra automobile è meno comoda della vostra.
Our car is less comfortable than yours.
17.3.3 Comparing two adjectives
To compare two adjectives that refer to the same person or same thing, use che:
I genitori del bambino rapito erano più preoccupati che arrabbiati.
The parents of the kidnapped child were worried more than angry.
Questi mobili sono più vecchi che antichi.
This furniture is not so much antique as old.
The same applies when comparing two nouns referring to the same person or thing:
La casa è più rudere che rustico!
The house is more ruin than cottage!
17.3.4 Comparing two verbs
When comparing two verb infinitives, use che:
Andare a ballare è più divertente che andare al cinema.
Going dancing is more fun than going to the cinema.
Spendere è più facile che risparmiare.
Spending is easier than saving.
17.3.5 Comparing phrases of time or place
When comparing adverbs of time/place, use di:
Adesso mi stanco più di prima.
Now I get tired more than (I did) before.
But use che if the adverbs are next to each other, separated only by ‘than’:
Sono più stanca adesso che prima.
I am more tired now than before.
Fa meno freddo oggi che ieri.
It is colder today than yesterday.
When at least one of the terms of comparison is a prepositional phrase of time/place, use che:
Si sta meglio adesso che negli anni Cinquanta.
People are better off now than in the Fifties.
I turisti si divertirebbero più a Napoli che a Roma.
The tourists would enjoy themselves more in Naples than in Rome.
17.3.6 Comparing two elements separated by ‘than’
In conclusion, the easiest rule to remember is that if ‘than’ comes directly between the two elements compared, it is always translated by che:
Fa meno freddo oggi che ieri.
It is less cold today than yesterday.
Mia madre era più preoccupata che arrabbiata.
My mother was worried rather than angry.
17.3.7 Comparing with one's expectations
To compare an actual state of affairs with what you thought, expected or imagined beforehand, use the construction di quanto or di quel che along with either the imperfect indicative (for example, pensavo) or the imperfect subjunctive (for example, pensassi) — with or without non — according to whether you are using a formal or informal register:
Il corso d'italiano era più facile di quel che pensavo.
The Italian course was easier than I thought.
or:
Il corso d'italiano era più facile di quanto pensassi.
or:
Il corso d'italiano era più facile di quanto non pensassi.
17.4 Expressing ‘which’
Use the interrogative quale (see 3.6.4) as adjective or pronoun to express ‘which’ or ‘which one’.
As an adjective:
Quale città è più interessante, Roma o Firenze?
Which city is more interesting, Rome or Florence?
Quali fichi sono più dolci, quelli bianchi, o quelli neri?
Which figs are sweetest, the white ones or the black ones?
As a pronoun:
Qual è la regione più interessante, l'Abruzzo o la Toscana?
Which is the most interesting region, Abruzzo or Tuscany?
Compriamo dei fichi? Quali sono i più dolci?
Shall we buy some figs? Which ones are the sweetest?
17.5 Expressing different degrees of intensity
17.5.1 Adjectives: superlative (compared to others)
When one person or object has more of a particular quality than all the other ones, you use the superlative followed by di (see 1.4.7):
I ragazzi italiani sono i più viziati d'Europa.
Italian kids are the most spoilt in Europe.
È stato il più bel viaggio della mia vita.
It was the best trip of my life.
Per me, venerdì è il giorno meno stressante della settimana.
For me, Friday is the least stressful day of the week.
17.5.2 Adjectives: superlative (no comparison)
When no comparison is being made, use the superlative form ending in -issimo (see 1.4.8 and 10.5.2):
I vestiti di Armani sono costosissimi.
Armani clothes are really expensive.
Il viaggio è stato bellissimo.
The trip was really wonderful.
Often Italians prefer not to use this -issimo form, seeing it as a little exaggerated, but to use a simple qualifying adverb such as così, molto, tanto or an adverb such as estremamente, veramente:
Sono tanto stanca.
I'm so tired.
Le sono estremamente grato.
I'm extremely grateful to you.
17.5.3 Adjectives: reducing the intensity
You can reduce the intensity of the adjective by using the adverb poco (see 6.3.5):
Ha fatto una mossa poco intelligente.
He made a not very intelligent move.
17.5.4 Adjectives: expressing moderate intensity
The adverbs piuttosto and abbastanza (see 6.3.5) express only a moderate degree of intensity:
Il processo elettorale è piuttosto lento.
The electoral process is rather slow.
Siamo abbastanza soddisfatti del suo lavoro.
We are quite satisfied with his work.
17.5.5 Numbers and ranking
The superlative form il … piu / il … meno, la … piu / la … meno (see 1.4.6) that you saw used with adjectives can be used also with ordinal numbers primo, secondo, etc. (see 7.3) to indicate ranking:
Milano è la seconda città più grande d'Italia.
Milan is the second biggest city in Italy.
17.5.6 Adverbs
With adverbs (see 6.4.1), the superlatives are less commonly used.
The equivalent of English ‘as … as possible’ is expressed as shown:
Per favore, parla il più lentamente possibile.
Please, speak as slowly as possible.
Ho fatto il meglio possibile. Speriamo bene.
I've done the best I could. Let's hope it goes well.
When no comparison is being made, you can express the absolute superlative by using qualifying adverbs such as molto, tanto, così, veramente, estremamente, in the same way as for the adjectives (see 17.5.2 above):
Ha guidato molto attentamente.
He drove very carefully.
As for the adjectives, the intensity of the adverbs can be reduced by using poco:
Ha seguito la lezione poco attentamente.
He followed the lesson not very attentively.
In the case of adverbial phrases using con, nel modo or in/nella maniera, the comparative and superlative are formed in a similar way to those shown above.
Using a qualifying adjective such as molto, tanto, poco:
Ha suonato la chitarra con tanta passione.
She played the guitar with great passion (very passionately).
Ha studiato con poco impegno.
He studied with little commitment.
Using a comparative or superlative adjective form (più, meno):
Ha parlato nella maniera più calma possibile.
She spoke in the calmest possible manner.
Cerchiamo di fare tutto nel modo meno complicato possibile.
Let's try to do everything in the least complicated way possible.