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Comparatives, superlatives, and equatives
How Agalan says more … than, the …-est, and as … as on a scale adjective.
Needs: rank and equality joins from coordination.
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Beginner
Comparatives and superlatives
Use this shape when English would say A is more ADJ than B or A is the most ADJ. Name the people (or things), close with a rank join, then give the scale as a shared adjective (/ɡ/).
Mnemonic: join vowel e is order. The shared /ɡ/ is the scale you order them on.
`zazawan zululon zel gomonam.`
gloss: `z-grace@` · `z-courage@` · `z-rank/more` · `g-challenging`
*Azawan is more challenging than Ululon.*Two or more names before zel is a ladder: earlier ranks above later (more … than). One name before zel is a superlative for the group in play (the …-est).
`zazawan zel gomonam.`
gloss: `z-grace@` · `z-rank/more` · `g-challenging`
*Azawan is the most challenging (of all).*Ordinary than uses e. Both people may still sit high on the scale; the join only says who ranks higher.
Put much / slightly as a shared detail (/w/) on that same scale adjective.
`zazawan zululon zel gomonam wogegal.`
gloss: `z-grace@` · `z-courage@` · `z-rank/more` · `g-challenging` · `w-flood`
*Azawan is much more challenging than Ululon.*You assert the ranking the same way as a plain adjective (classification). The same fence works under /d/ or /b/ when the ranked group fills that slot.
Equatives (ae + shared scale)
Use this shape when English would say A is as ADJ as B. Close with equality join ae, then the same kind of shared scale /ɡ/.
Mnemonic: ae is add + order: they share a rank on the scale.
Closed -l (zael) stands behind sameness on the scale. Open -m (zaem) is soft, about as … as. Three or more names means all are equal on that scale.
`zazawan zululon zael gomonam.`
gloss: `z-grace@` · `z-courage@` · `z-as…as` · `g-challenging`
*Azawan is as challenging as Ululon.*`zazawan zululon zaem gudubul.`
gloss: `z-grace@` · `z-courage@` · `z-as…as.open` · `g-bright`
*Azawan is about as bright as Ululon.*Join + shared scale /ɡ/ | Job | Mnemonic |
|---|---|---|
Rank e (zel) | more … than / the …-est | e order along the scale |
Equality ae (zael / zaem) | as … as / about as … as | ae equal rank on the scale |
Translation practice
Short drills on this Beginner band. Try each item before opening Show answer. Rank fence plus shared scale /ɡ/ is the comparison; single-item zel is the superlative; zael / zaem are equative.
Roots used here: azawa / ululo / uhubu · omona · udubu · ele · uzumu
English → Agalan
1. Azawan is more challenging than Ululon.
Show answer
zazawan zululon zel gomonam.
2. Azawan is the most challenging.
Show answer
zazawan zel gomonam.
3. Azawan is as challenging as Ululon.
Show answer
zazawan zululon zael gomonam.
4. Azawan is about as bright as Ululon.
Show answer
zazawan zululon zaem gudubul.
5. Azawan is much more challenging than Ululon.
Show answer
zazawan zululon zel gomonam wogegal.
6. Uhubun is bigger than Azawan.
Show answer
zuhubun zazawan zel gelem.
7. Ululon is as happy as Uhubun.
Show answer
zululon zuhubun zael guzumum.
8. Uhubun is the happiest.
Show answer
zuhubun zel guzumum.
Agalan → English
1. zululon zazawan zel gomonam.
Show answer
Ululon is more challenging than Azawan.
2. zululon zel gudubul.
Show answer
Ululon is the brightest.
3. zuhubun zululon zael gelem.
Show answer
Uhubun is as big as Ululon.
4. zazawan zuhubun zaem gomonam.
Show answer
Azawan is about as challenging as Uhubun.
5. zululon zuhubun zel gelem wogegal.
Show answer
Ululon is much bigger than Uhubun.
6. zazawan zululon zael guzumum.
Show answer
Azawan is as happy as Ululon.
7. zuhubun zazawan zel gudubul.
Show answer
Uhubun is brighter than Azawan.
8. zazawan zel gelem.
Show answer
Azawan is the biggest.
Intermediate
Full comparative arity
You already close with e. The same shared-scale pattern works with exclusive rank oe, reverse rank ue, and with zero names (standalone) or one name (single-item).
Mnemonic: o is one-of / exclusive; u undoes the order (less … than).
Use oe when the ladder is pick-one along the scale. Use ue (or reverse the name order under e) for less … than. ae stays as … as.
A rank join with no shared scale /ɡ/ is ordinary preference ranking (who comes first as an alternative). Add the shared adjective when you mean more ADJ than.
| Pattern | Reading | Mnemonic |
|---|---|---|
Multi (2+) + shared scale under e / oe / ue | Comparative ladder: earlier above later (e / oe); later above earlier under ue | e order; oe exclusive order; u undo |
Single-item (1) + shared scale under e / ue | Superlative / the least … under ue | one name = the extreme |
Standalone (0) + shared scale under e | Unspecified ranking (unspecified who’s biggest); open -m = soft / speaker-side | empty list, still ordered |
Standalone (0) + shared scale under oe | Empty superlative (there is no biggest); open -m = no biggest comes to mind | exclusive + empty = none wins |
| Example | Reading |
|---|---|
zazawan zululon zuhubun zem gomonam | Azawan ≻ Ululon ≻ Uhubun on challenge (open) |
zazawan zululon zoel gomonam | Azawan is more challenging than Ululon (exclusive ranked ladder) |
zazawan zululon zuel gomonam | Azawan is less challenging than Ululon |
zel gomonam | unspecified who’s most challenging / no favorite on challenge |
zuel gomonam | unspecified who’s least challenging / no least-favorite on challenge |
zoel gomonam | there is no most challenging |
zoem gomonam | no most challenging comes to mind |
zazawan zuel gomonam | Azawan is the least challenging (of all) |
zer gomonam | whatever ranks highest on challenging (resume of the top rank) |
zazawan zululon zer gomonam | whichever of Azawan or Ululon ranks higher on challenging |
Shared /w/ on a ranked adjective list is shared degree over those properties. For more ADJ than on people or things, keep the rank fence on /z/ /d/ /b/ and put the scale on shared /ɡ/.
When a later verb needs one comparee as its subject, keep that subject ordinary and put the comparative claim in another slot or sentence.
Distributive both are ADJ
Use set join a plus a shared singular scale when you mean both are ADJ (each has the property). That is inventory, not a ranking and not as … as.
Mnemonic: a adds. zal says each conjunct gets the adjective; zael says they sit at the same height.
Collective ADJ as a unit uses shared /ɡ/…-sh under a: plurality. Keep the scale adjective singular in comparative and equative shared slots.
Equative ae needs two or more comparees. Single-item or standalone ae plus a shared scale keeps the ordinary single-item / standalone ae readings. ae with no shared scale is equal rank / a tie among the names.
| Example | Reading |
|---|---|
zazawan zululon zal gomonam | Azawan and Ululon are challenging (each is; they need not be equal) |
zazawan zululon zuhubun zael gomonam | Azawan, Ululon, and Uhubun are equally challenging |
zodogol zagadal zael gomonam | the dog is as challenging as the cat |
Measured differentials
Two meters more challenging is still a comparative (rank join + shared scale). Spell the gap as a measure noun (/b/) on the scale adjective: the unit is that /b/ noun, and the amount is /ɡ/ on the unit. See measure phrases (bare unit urule measurement = short meter; titled burulexrawon when you need the full word).
Counted gaps use that one /b/ on the scale. Vague much / slightly stays shared /w/.
| Example | Reading |
|---|---|
zazawan zululon zel gomonam burulel g+2 | Azawan is two meters more challenging than Ululon |
zazawan zululon zel gomonam wogegal | Azawan is much more challenging than Ululon (vague degree) |
Translation practice
Short drills on this Intermediate band. Try each item before opening Show answer. Test arity (oe / ue / standalone / zer), distributive a, and counted measure gaps versus vague /w/.
Roots used here: azawa / ululo / uhubu · omona · ele · urule · uzumu
English → Agalan
1. Azawan is less challenging than Ululon.
Show answer
zazawan zululon zuel gomonam.
2. Azawan is the least challenging.
Show answer
zazawan zuel gomonam.
3. There is no most challenging.
Show answer
zoel gomonam.
4. Azawan and Ululon are challenging.
Show answer
zazawan zululon zal gomonam.
5. Azawan is two meters more challenging than Ululon.
Show answer
zazawan zululon zel gomonam burulel g+2.
6. Azawan is more challenging than Ululon (exclusive ladder).
Show answer
zazawan zululon zoel gomonam.
7. Unspecified who's most challenging.
Show answer
zel gomonam.
8. Azawan, Ululon, and Uhubun are challenging.
Show answer
zazawan zululon zuhubun zal gomonam.
Agalan → English
1. zazawan zululon zuhubun zem gomonam.
Show answer
Azawan is more challenging than Ululon, who is more challenging than Uhubun.
2. zoem gomonam.
Show answer
No most challenging comes to mind.
3. zazawan zululon zer gomonam.
Show answer
Whichever of Azawan or Ululon ranks higher on challenging.
4. zazawan zululon zal guzumum.
Show answer
Azawan and Ululon are happy.
5. zululon zazawan zel gomonam burulel g+2.
Show answer
Ululon is two meters more challenging than Azawan.
6. zazawan zululon zel gelem wogegal.
Show answer
Azawan is much bigger than Ululon.
7. zer gomonam.
Show answer
Whatever ranks highest on challenging.
8. zuhubun zuel gelem.
Show answer
Uhubun is the smallest.
Advanced
Judgment benchmarks (worse than…)
Bare bad / terrible can hide an unfair or unspoken standard. Keep the ordinary comparative fence and put the standard in the than-slot as a named comparee.
A personal bar on any named person uses numeric derivation (digit morph +1). Everyone as a named class reuses bare named zuan (coordination).
Recipe
Prefer reverse ranked ue on a positive / neutral scale:
z<JUDGED>l z<BENCHMARK>n zuel g<SCALE>l| Piece | Role | Mnemonic |
|---|---|---|
ue (zuel / zuem / …) | less … than (judged below the benchmark) | u undoes rank |
SHARED g<SCALE> | gradable property (challenging, clear, happy, …) | the scale you judge on |
| first conjunct | who / what is judged | |
| second conjunct | benchmark + -n (named standard; zuan is already bare named ua) | -n names the bar |
Closed -l stands behind the ranking. Open -m (zuem) is soft somewhat worse than…. Use exclusive oe when the ladder is triage. Forward e is fine when the scale is already cost- or harm-oriented; for English-style worse than, prefer ue + positive scale.
The same fence works under /d/ or /b/ when the ranked group fills that slot.
Put the benchmark in an NP slot on the fence (/z/ /d/ /b/), with -n (or bare named zuan).
Closed benchmark comparees
Six fixed standards. Ending stays -n (named reference-class standard).
| English | Sense | Comparee | Mnemonic |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | mean of the relevant population | zojun | ☯️ oju yin-yang → balance |
| Typical | usual / modal case | zahaman | 🐹 ahama hamster → routine |
| Mine (personal standard) | speaker’s normative bar | zugoboxrawon | 🎤 ugobo (speaker) + digit morph +1 (unit / primary) |
| Social | peers / in-group | zuluden | 👥 ulude silhouettes → community |
| Professional | experts / role standard | zalaban | 🥼 alaba lab-coat → expertise |
| Everyone | universal reference class | zuan | bare named ua (stock everyone) |
Mine vs speaker performance: zugobon is where the speaker sits on the scale (current skill). zugoboxrawon is the bar the speaker applies. Soft personal standard: zugoboxrawom. Ordinary named people stay ordinary -n names: zazawan zululon zuel g<SCALE>l.
Everyone vs single-item reverse-superlative: z<JUDGED>l zuel g<SCALE>l is the least … of all in the group in play. zuan as comparee names the universal class. Prefer the benchmark when the point is “against everyone as a standard.” Standalone closed zual is ordinary everything / everyone in other slots.
| Agalan | Reading |
|---|---|
zugobon zalaban zuel guzunul | worse than Professional at singing |
zebegum zojun zuem gagalam | soft: draft is somewhat less clear than Average |
zazawan zugoboxrawon zuel guzumum | Azawan is less happy than my personal standard |
zazawan zugobon zuel guzunul | Azawan is less skilled at singing than I am (performance) |
zugobon zuluden zuel gomonam | less challenging than Social |
zugobon zahaman zuel gomonam | less challenging than Typical |
zugobon zuan zuel gomonam | less challenging than Everyone |
zugobon zululon zuel guzunul | less skilled at singing than Ululon (ordinary person comparee) |
Translation practice
Short drills on this Advanced band. Try each item before opening Show answer. Put the standard in the than-conjunct; zugobon is performance, zugoboxrawon is Mine.
Roots used here: azawa / ululo · uzunu · uzumu · omona · agala · ebegu · oju · ahama · ugobo · ulude · alaba · ua
English → Agalan
1. Azawan is less happy than my personal standard.
Show answer
zazawan zugoboxrawon zuel guzumum.
2. Azawan is less skilled at singing than I am.
Show answer
zazawan zugobon zuel guzunul.
3. I am worse at singing than Professional.
Show answer
zugobon zalaban zuel guzunul.
4. The draft is somewhat less clear than Average.
Show answer
zebegum zojun zuem gagalam.
5. I am less challenging than Typical.
Show answer
zugobon zahaman zuel gomonam.
6. I am less challenging than Everyone.
Show answer
zugobon zuan zuel gomonam.
Agalan → English
1. zugobon zuluden zuel gomonam.
Show answer
I am less challenging than Social.
2. zugobon zululon zuel guzunul.
Show answer
I am worse at singing than Ululon.
3. zazawan zugoboxrawom zuel guzumum.
Show answer
Azawan is somewhat less happy than my personal standard.
4. zazawan zalaban zuel gomonam.
Show answer
Azawan is less challenging than Professional.
5. zazawan zojun zuem guzunul.
Show answer
Azawan is somewhat worse at singing than Average.
See also
- Fence shape, single-item / standalone, SHARED scale / continuum: coordination.md
- Kind and identity (is a dog, is Superman): predication.md
- Measure NPs: numbers-applied.md