Comparisons 2: ～の　ほうが

Also used to make comparisons, in my opinion, ～の　ほうが has more uses than　より.
It can be used to say "which is more____, A or B?" "B is more ____ than A" etc.

Words that are underlined you replace with your own. There are 3 parts to each of the sentences: First in Japanese, second in romaji, third in English. Each structure is followed by an example.



Sentence Structures


Aと Bと (では) どちら　(の　ほう)が adjectiveですか。
A-to B-to (de wa) dochira (no hou) ga adjective desu-ka?
Out of A and B, which is more adjective?

いえと　くるまと　（では）　どちらの　ほうが　ちいさい　ですか。
ie-to kuruma-to (de wa) dochira-no hou ga chiisai desu-ka?
Out of the house and the car, which one is smaller?



Aより Bの　ほうが adjective　です。
A-yori B-no hou ga adjective desu.
B is more adjective than A.

いえ　より　くるまの　ほうが　ちいさい　です。
Ie yori kuruma-no hou ga chiisai desu.
The car is smaller than the house.



Aは Bと　おなじ　ぐらい adjective　です。
A-wa B-to onaji gurai adjective desu.
A is as adjective as B.

りんごは　オレンジと　おなじ　ぐらい　おおきい　ですが、オレンジの　ほうが　すこし　おおきい　です。
Ringo-wa orenji-to onaji gurai ookii desu-ga, orenji-no hou ga sukoshi ookii desu.
The apple is about the same size as the orange, but the orange is a little bit bigger.



Aは Bほど　い-adjective stem + くない　です。
A-wa B-hodo い-adjective stem + kunai desu.
A is not as adjective as B.

いぬは　こねこほど　かわいくない　です。
Inu-wa koneko-hodo kawaikunai desu.
The dog is not as cute as the kitten.



Aは Bほど　な-adjective + じゃない　です。
A-wa B-hodo な-adjective + janai desu.
A is not as adjective as B.

わたしは　マイケル　ジャクソンほど　ゆうめいじゃない　です。
Watashi-wa Maikeru Jakuson hodo yuumei janai desu.
I am not as famous as Michael Jackson.

Note

If you use ほど you must use the negative ending.