Comparatives
English splits three nearby jobs on a quality like challenging. More … than and the most put people in order on that quality. As … as says they sit at the same height. Both are challenging only says each has the quality; it does not say who ranks higher or whether they match. Ageben writes the first two with a rank join from joins followed by the shared adjective, and the third with an ordinary and-list.
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Comparatives (o)
When English would say Azozon is more challenging than Alazun, you put two people in order on one quality. Write both names, then the rank join zol (vowel o), then the adjective they share (/ɡ/). The first name sits higher on that quality than the second. Both may still sit high; the join only says who ranks higher. (cue: o ≈ rank; the shared /ɡ/ is the ladder)
zazozon zalazun zol gamahum.[z-Azozon | z-Alazun | z-rank/more | g-challenge]
"Azozon is more challenging than Alazun."
zahelan zazozon zol gelazem.[z-Ahelan | z-Azozon | z-rank/more | g-big]
"Ahelan is bigger than Azozon."
Superlatives (zol + one name)
When English would say the most challenging, you are still ranking, but you name only the winner. One name before zol, then the same shared adjective, means that person ranks highest in the group you have in mind.
zazozon zol gamahum.[z-Azozon | z-rank/more | g-challenge]
"Azozon is the most challenging."
zahelan zol guzemel.[z-Ahelan | z-rank/more | g-sleepy]
"Ahelan is the sleepiest."
Degree (much / slightly)
English much more / slightly more adds how large the gap is, without giving a number. Write that extra detail as /w/ immediately before the same shared adjective.
zazozon zalazun zol wohalal gamahum.[z-Azozon | z-Alazun | z-rank/more | [w-ocean | g-challenge]]
"Azozon is much more challenging than Alazun."
Equatives (oe + shared scale)
When English would say as challenging as, you are not picking a winner. You are saying two people sit at the same height on the quality. Write both names, then the tie zoel (rank-join vowels oe), then the shared adjective (/ɡ/). Closed -l (zoel) is an exact match. Open -m (zoem) is about as … as. (cue: oe ≈ rank then choice; they share one rank)
zazozon zalazun zoel gamahum.[z-Azozon | z-Alazun | z-equal-rank | g-challenge]
"Azozon is as challenging as Alazun."
zalazun zahelan zoel guzemel.[z-Alazun | z-Ahelan | z-equal-rank | g-sleepy]
"Alazun is as sleepy as Ahelan."
zazozon zalazun zoem gubalel.[z-Azozon | z-Alazun | z-equal-rank.open | g-bright]
"Azozon is about as bright as Alazun."
Compare with: English is ADJ with no as … as is classification: zazozon gamahum Azozon is challenging. Use oe when two people share a height on the quality. Walks like a duck is resemblance (like hewem), not the same score on a named quality.
Compare with: English both are challenging is an and-list plus a shared adjective (zazozon zalazun zal gamahum): each has the quality. It does not rank them or say they match. Use oe only for as … as.
| Ageben | Use | English | Cue |
|---|---|---|---|
Rank o (zol) | rank on a shared quality | more … than / the …-est | o ≈ rank |
Equality oe (zoel / zoem) | same height on the quality | as … as / about as … as | oe ≈ rank then choice (one shared rank) |
Practice
Short drills for Beginner. Try each item before opening Show answer.
Setting: a racetrack
New words:
| English | Ageben | Cue |
|---|---|---|
| slow | uzezam | 🐌 from snail |
| agility | evunom | 🏑 from field hockey |
| intensity | ahunom | 🏒 from hockey |
| ocean | wohalal | 🌊: an ocean of it, so much before a quality |
Review:
| English | Ageben |
|---|---|
| Azozon | azozon |
| Alazun | alazun |
| Ahelan | ahelan |
| haste | hadurom |
| challenge | amahum |
| angry | onumul |
| sleepy | uzemel |
English → Ageben
1. Azozon is more agile than Alazun.
Show answer
zazozon zalazun zol gevunom.
[z-Azozon | z-Alazun | z-rank/more | g-agility]
2. Ahelan is as slow as Azozon.
Show answer
zahelan zazozon zoel guzezam.
[z-Ahelan | z-Azozon | z-equal-rank | g-slow]
3. Alazun is the hastiest.
Show answer
zalazun zol gadurom.
[z-Alazun | z-rank/more | g-haste]
4. Azozon is about as intense as Ahelan.
Show answer
zazozon zahelan zoem gahunom.
[z-Azozon | z-Ahelan | z-equal-rank.open | g-intensity]
5. Alazun is much more challenging than Azozon.
Show answer
zalazun zazozon zol wohalal gamahum.
[z-Alazun | z-Azozon | z-rank/more | [w-ocean | g-challenge]]
6. Azozon is the angriest.
Show answer
zazozon zol gonumul.
[z-Azozon | z-rank/more | g-angry]
Ageben → English
1. zahelan zol gevunom.
Show answer
[z-Ahelan | z-rank/more | g-agility]
Ahelan is the most agile.
2. zalazun zahelan zoel gadurom.
Show answer
[z-Alazun | z-Ahelan | z-equal-rank | g-haste]
Alazun is as hasty as Ahelan.
3. zahelan zalazun zol wohalal guzezam.
Show answer
[z-Ahelan | z-Alazun | z-rank/more | [w-ocean | g-slow]]
Ahelan is much slower than Alazun.
4. zazozon zalazun zoem gonumul.
Show answer
[z-Azozon | z-Alazun | z-equal-rank.open | g-angry]
Azozon is about as angry as Alazun.
5. zalazun zol gahunom.
Show answer
[z-Alazun | z-rank/more | g-intensity]
Alazun is the most intense.
6. zazozon zahelan zol guzemel.
Show answer
[z-Azozon | z-Ahelan | z-rank/more | g-sleepy]
Azozon is sleepier than Ahelan.
Pick one
1. Alazun is as agile as Azozon. zalazun zazozon zoel gevunom. or zalazun zazozon zol gevunom.
Show answer
zalazun zazozon zoel gevunom.
[z-Alazun | z-Azozon | z-equal-rank | g-agility]
As … as is the tie zoel; zol would rank Alazun higher.
2. Ahelan is more challenging than Alazun. zahelan zalazun zol gamahum. or zalazun zahelan zol gamahum.
Show answer
zahelan zalazun zol gamahum.
[z-Ahelan | z-Alazun | z-rank/more | g-challenge]
The first item before zol ranks higher.
Fix it
1. Azozon is slower than Alazun. zazozon zol zalazun guzezam.
Show answer
zazozon zalazun zol guzezam.
[z-Azozon | z-Alazun | z-rank/more | g-slow]
zol closes the list after both names; it is not a word between them like English than.
See also
- Fence shape, single-item / standalone, SHARED scale: joins.md
- Manner adverbs: clause.md
- Kind and identity (is a dog, is Azozon): predication.md
- Measure phrases: numbers-applied.md