Comparisons: bigger, biggest

By Speak Indo, from the Speak Indo Indonesian course.

Use lebih for comparatives, paling (or ter-) for superlatives.

How it works

Comparative, 'more/bigger/better': • lebih + adjective + (daripada) = more ___ (than) • Dia lebih tinggi daripada saya. = She is taller than me. Superlative, 'most/biggest': • paling + adjective = most ___; productive and common in conversation • Many adjectives also have an established ter- form: terbesar (biggest), terkecil (smallest), terbaik (best) • Dia paling pintar di kelas. = She is the smartest in the class. Equality: use sama + adjective + dengan or se-: • Dia sama tinggi dengan saya. / Dia setinggi saya. = He or she is as tall as me.

Examples

• Mobil ini lebih mahal daripada yang itu.
  This car is more expensive than that one.
• Jakarta kota terbesar di Indonesia.
  Jakarta is the biggest city in Indonesia.
• Adik saya sama umurnya dengan saudaramu.
  My sibling is the same age as your sibling.