SECTION IV. Of comparatives and superlatives*. Rule 33. As, expressed by tan, como, no menos que, after a comparative. The word as, used in English after a comparative of equality or inferiority, is always expressed in Spanish bý tan, como, no menos que. Example: Vm. es tan prudente como sus hermánas. You are as prudent as your sisters. No soy menos rico que vmd. I am as rich as you.. No tengo menos libros que ellos. I have as many books as they may have. Of inferiority. El es menos docto que su hermano. Rule 34. By, expressed by de, after the comparative. The word by, which, when used with comparatives, denotes how much a thing exceeds another, is always expressed by de. Example: Soy mas alto que vm. de toda la cabéza. * See, in page 28, how many sorts there are of comparatives and superlatives, and how to form them from the adjectives. Rule 35. Than, expressed by que or de, after a comparative. The word than, used after a comparative, is expressed in Spanish by que when it is followed by a noun or proExample: noun. El es mas dichoso que vind. He is more fortunate than you. El todo es mas grande que sus partes. The word than is always expressed by de before the cardinal numbers, uno, dos, tres, &c. because there is then no comparison of objects. Example: Tengo mas de diez y seis años. I am more than sixteen years old. You have more than two hundred guineas. Rule 36. Than, expressed by que de or que no after a comparative. The word than, used with comparatives, is usually expressed by que de before an infinitive mood, and by que no, before a verb in the indicative, as It is more noble to forgive than to revenge one's self. Las riquezas son mas dañosas que no es la pobreza in• cómoda. Riches are more dangerous than poverty is trouble- some. Note 1. If the first infinitive is preceded by the preposition á, then the word than is expressed by que á, as El es mas inclinado á dañar que á obligár. He is more inclined to hurt than to oblige.. Note 2. The word than is expressed by que before an indicative mood, if there is a conjunction between the word than and the verb. Example: El aprende mas presto que quando estaba en el colégio. He learns quicker than when he was at college. Mi hermano se restablece mas presto que si estuviéra en la ciudad. My brother recovers sooner than if he was in town. Rule 37. The more, expressed by quanto mas. The English make use of the definite article before the comparatives of proportion, and the Spaniards of quanto mas and tanto mas, when the word the more is repeated in a sentence, and the second being a consequence of the first. The less is expressed by menos ; but in the first case the adjective precedes the verò. Example: · Quanto mas vm. estudiare, tanto mas docto será. The more you study, the more you will be learned. Quanto mas conozco á los hombres, menos ámo la vida. The more I know mankind, the less I value life. Rule 38. The more is again expressed by quanto mas, and the less by menos. If a comparative of proportion is made with two substantives or two adjectives, they are placed before the verb in English, and in Spanish the nominative is placed the last. The words of this sort of sentences are disposed in the following order: 1, we put quanto mas, or mas only, or menos; 2, the adjective or substantive; 3, the verb ; 4, the nominative of the verb: the rest as in English. Example: Quanto mas dificil es una cosa, tanto mas honrada es. Rule 39. The superlative governs the genitive. La España es uno de los mas grandes reynos de Europa. (Genitive.) Spain is one of the greatest kingdoms in Europe. Rule 40. Of the superlative. When a superlative follows immediately a substantive which is preceded by the definite article, the article is not repeated, as Los placeres mas inocentes son siempre los mas puros. The most innocent pleasures are always the most pure. Note. The comparatives and superlatives agree in gender and number with the substantive or pronoun to which they refer, as you may observe in the preceding example. CHAPTER IV. OF PERSONAL PRONOUNS. THIS chapter is divided into five sections: the first enumerates the instances in which the personal pronouns are conjunctive or disjunctive, and shows how to express them on both occasions; the second treats of the impersonal pronouns it and they, or them, which are used in English with reference to animals or things; the third ascribes to the personal and impersonal pronouns their proper place in a sentence, and explains the order in which they must be disposed when they meet together; the fourth teaches when they are, or are not to be repeated before the verb which they govern, or are governed by ; the fifth informs us when the pronouns must be expressed by el, la, or se, and shows their difference with accuracy and precision. SECTION I. When the personal pronouns are conjunctive or disjunctive. Rule 41. How to express the personal pronouns in the nominative case. The personal pronous, I, thou, he, she; we, you, they, are conjunctive, and expressed by yo, tu, el, m. ella, f. nosotros, vosotros, ellos, m. ellas, f plur. when they are the nominative case of a verb, provided they are not joined to another noun or pronoun by a conjunction. Example: Yo hablo, I speak; tu haces, thou doest; el vende, he sells; ella sirve, she serves; nosotros tenemos, we have; vosotros traeis, you bring; ellos quiéren, they love; ellas cantan, they sing. Observe to use always el and ellos with reference to a noun masculine, and ella or ellas with reference to a feminine. Thus, they are rich, must be expressed in Spanish by ellos son ricos, in speaking of men; and ellas son ricus, in speaking of women. This can be expressed without pronouns, by saying son ricos, son ricas, they are rich. The personal pronouns are disjunctive, and expressed by yo, tu, el, m. ella, f.; nos, vos, ellos, m. ellas, f.; under the following circumstances : 1. When they come before or after the words que, quien, or solo. Example: Soy yo quien lo digo. It is I who say so. El es mas erudito que yo. He is more learned than I. Ellos sólos estában presentes. They alone were present. 2. When they are used to answer to a question. ample: Ex ¿Quien ha hecho eso? soy yo, es el, son ellos, or ellas. Who has done that? it is I, he, they. |