Comparisons: Difference between revisions
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''toki pona'' doesn't have a specific grammatical construction for comparatives, but there are nonetheless multiple ways to express them: |
''toki pona'' doesn't have a specific grammatical construction for comparatives, but there are nonetheless multiple ways to express them: |
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* Separate the claim into two sentences with an implied connection: |
* Separate the claim into two sentences with an implied connection: |
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*:; poki mi li lili. |
*:; poki mi li lili. sike sina li suli. |
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*:: My bag is small. Your |
*:: My bag is small. Your ball is big. |
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*:; poki mi li suli (lili). |
*:; poki mi li suli (lili). sike sina li suli mute. |
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*:: My bag is (a bit) big. Your |
*:: My bag is (a bit) big. Your ball is very big. |
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* |
* Do the above, but make the connection explicit with ''taso'': |
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*:; poki mi li lili, taso |
*:; poki mi li lili, taso sike sina li suli. |
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*:: My bag is small, but your |
*:: My bag is small, but your ball is big. |
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* Use ''la'' to make the magnitude of one claim relative to the other subject: |
* Use ''la'' to make the magnitude of one claim relative to the other subject: |
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*:; poki mi la |
*:; poki mi la sike sina li suli. |
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*:: |
*:: In terms of my bag, your ball is big. |
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* Similarly, use ''tawa'' to put the claim "in the perspective" of another: |
* Similarly, use ''tawa'' to put the claim "in the perspective" of another: |
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*:; |
*:; sike sina li suli tawa poki mi. |
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*:: Your |
*:: Your ball is big to my bag. |
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* Use a superlative with a limited scope: |
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*:; poki mi en sike sina la sike li suli nanpa wan. |
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*:: In terms of my bag and your ball, the ball is number one in bigness. |
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*:; poki mi anu sike sina la sike li suli mute. |
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*:: In terms of my bag or your ball, the ball is very big. |
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A fuller list (albeit with some very weird examples) can be found [https://www.reddit.com/r/tokipona/comments/usebjd/comprehensive_list_of_ways_to_do_comparatives/ here], courtesy of /u/forthentwice. |
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== Superlatives == |
== Superlatives == |
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*:: Your bag is number one in bigness. |
*:: Your bag is number one in bigness. |
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* Intensify the claim: |
* Intensify the claim: |
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*:; poki sina li suli mute |
*:; poki sina li suli mute. |
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*:: Your bag is |
*:: Your bag is very big. |
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[[Category:Grammar]] |
[[Category:Grammar]] |
Revision as of 14:25, 25 November 2022
Comparisons can be divided into two types: comparatives, which pit two things against each other, and superlatives, which describe one thing as beyond everything else.
Comparatives
toki pona doesn't have a specific grammatical construction for comparatives, but there are nonetheless multiple ways to express them:
- Separate the claim into two sentences with an implied connection:
- poki mi li lili. sike sina li suli.
- My bag is small. Your ball is big.
- poki mi li suli (lili). sike sina li suli mute.
- My bag is (a bit) big. Your ball is very big.
- Do the above, but make the connection explicit with taso:
- poki mi li lili, taso sike sina li suli.
- My bag is small, but your ball is big.
- Use la to make the magnitude of one claim relative to the other subject:
- poki mi la sike sina li suli.
- In terms of my bag, your ball is big.
- Similarly, use tawa to put the claim "in the perspective" of another:
- sike sina li suli tawa poki mi.
- Your ball is big to my bag.
- Use a superlative with a limited scope:
- poki mi en sike sina la sike li suli nanpa wan.
- In terms of my bag and your ball, the ball is number one in bigness.
- poki mi anu sike sina la sike li suli mute.
- In terms of my bag or your ball, the ball is very big.
A fuller list (albeit with some very weird examples) can be found here, courtesy of /u/forthentwice.
Superlatives
Superlatives are even simpler:
- Use nanpa wan:
- poki sina li suli nanpa wan.
- Your bag is number one in bigness.
- Intensify the claim:
- poki sina li suli mute.
- Your bag is very big.