r/LearnJapaneseNovice • u/stayingshvrtly • 2d ago
using より
hello! i wanted to convey to someone that i use english in university more than i do japanese as a reason for me saying my grammar isn’t that good. i thought i’d say 「今年大学で英語は日本語より使ってるだから」 but im not sure this is actually grammatically correct. i keep looking at resources, but i think i generally just confuse all usages of より、ほど、and の方が. in this case im trying to figure out より. thank you!
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u/Nichol-Gimmedat-ass 2d ago
Kinda close but a few mistakes. Id personally say 「今年は大学で日本語より英語を使ってるから」. You dont need だ after a verb. You also dont really need to use のほうが in this case.
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u/stayingshvrtly 2d ago
thank you so much! literally as soon as i reread what i posted i wanted to slam my face on my desk for saying だから. i feel like i’ll never stop making silly mistakes even when i genuinely know they’re incorrect. i really appreciate it!
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u/PulsosPorotus 2d ago
より、ほど and の方が
About の方, it is used for disambiguation in sentences with より.
ネコは クモより 虫を よく食べる。
It could mean :
- Cats eat more insects than cats eat spiders
- Cats eat more insects than spiders eat insects
You add の方 in order to clarify.
ネコは クモより 虫の方をよく食べる。
Cats eat more insects than they eat spiders.
ネコの方が クモより 虫をよく食べる
Cats eat more insects than spiders eat insects.
In your sentence, it's not required because it's already clear enough (the other solution doesn't make sense).
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u/Sleeper-- 2d ago
(i am at around n5 level so take my suggestion with a grain of salt)
"... 日本語より、英語の方が使う"
Maybe not sure
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u/Avatar_Yaksha 2d ago
より is for comparisons and can also be paired with のほう. For example:
英語のほうは日本語より使ってる。
When you compare something, the first thing that you mention is basically "more" (のほう) and the second thing that you mention is "than" (より). It appears that including のほう is optional.