LIETUVIŲ KALBOS GRAMATINĖ SANDARA LIETUVOS TSR MOKSLŲ AKADEMIJA

PREPOSITION USE TO EXPRESS COMPARATIVE RELATIONS

E. VALIULYTĖ

Prepositions, as function words, are not used independently in language. They structurally link the oblique case of a noun (or a word standing in its place) to another independent word: a verb (to go into the city), a noun (a forest by the road), an adjective (whiter than snow), a pronoun (which of us), a numeral (one of many), or an adverb (far from home), and express relationships between these words.

Prepositions can express various relations: spatial (leave the house, pass through the forest, live by the lake), temporal (leave in the morning, work through the day, return in spring), causal (weep for joy, forget because of haste), purposive (medicine for the flu), source (learn from a friend), substitution (work in place of a brother), mediation (send through an acquaintance), quantity (pay about a hundred rubles), comparison (heavier than a stone), and so on.

The article will examine the use of prepositions to express comparative relations.

The preposition už

The preposition už, used with the accusative case, quite often expresses comparative relations. Depending on the circumstances in which the preposition už is used, several nuances of its meaning in speech can be distinguished.

1. In word combinations whose head is an adjective or adverb in the comparative (or elative) degree, and whose dependent element is any noun (or a word standing in its place), the preposition už expresses comparison with a nuance of difference. In this case, it is stated that the compared object or its action possesses the quality expressed by the head to a greater degree than the object indicated by the dependent element.

Grief is heavier than a pebble, words are sharper than a thistle. Slk. Greener than green leaves, a golden oriole cried out there. SNėrR I 384. Smaller than a pig, blacker than coal, whiter than snow, taller than a church. Ms. Smaller than a dog, bigger than a horse. Srv. Truth shines brighter than the sun—

85

older. Jon. The Red Army soldier’s bold will is harder than ice and granite. SNėrR I 473. Then this was his first song, sadder than the rustling of forests... MairRR I 62. Oh, my little sister is brighter than a star. GirRP 10. To them we were more terrible than thieves and murderers. VenclGD 288. The affairs of the village were no less familiar to Rapolas than the affairs of his own home. VaižgRR I 137. I will give you the very sun, because you are brighter to me than the sun. VaižgRR I 59. She carried a sorrow more powerful than joy and spring. CvR₁ I 90. Raulas was both more handsome and stronger than the other young men, and more intelligent than them; nevertheless, the others considered Raulas inferior to themselves. BilR I 34. You are dearer than life, you who beat in my heart. SNėrR I 295. That girl—lighter than the wind—flies along the crooked streets of the suburbs. SNėrR I 277. Fear not, little maiden, my horse is swift: even if your brothers pursued me, bridling whirlwinds, they would not catch my horse, which is swifter than whirlwinds. KrėvP 58.

You write better than your brother. JablRR I 666. The neighbor lives better than they do. Grž. He has more money than you. Pn. It rose higher than the churches (a bird). Grž. Little Vilnelė, flow into the Vilija, and the Vilija into the Nemunas—say: we love our homeland more than life. SNėrR I 367.

The difference can be emphasized by the particles and and even, which precede the preposition už.

The gentleman, having returned from the forest, is blacker even than the earth. VienA 31. Be smaller even than a poppy seed; don’t attract anyone’s attention. BaltPV I 27. At home Jonas Puodžiūnas dressed worse even than another smallholder. VienR V 31. He thought about those neighbors, people of his country and class, who lived in greater darkness even than moles. CvR₁ V 59. But even more loudly than the little songbirds, more loudly than the nightingales, the young sisters sing there... KrėvP 21. The son is even more handsome than his father. Ktk.

To express a difference in the degree of a quality between the compared items, words or phrases indicating quantity are used with an adjective or adverb.

This silence was much more oppressive than the fiercest shouting. VaižgRR I 165. At that hour I felt that in this vale of tears there were people far, far more unfortunate than I. BilR I 213. Rozalija was considerably shorter than her friend... CvR₁ I 245. Petras loved Elena, his much younger little sister, although she seemed somewhat sentimental and naive to him. VenclGD 57. The hired farmhand, though twice Kaziukas’s size, was still very young... VaižgRR I 393. His double was Mykolas Šiukšta of Aužbikiai, half his age. VaižgRR I 36.

Petras Serva was twice as old as his Marijona. CvR₁ I 9. Perhaps he is a hundred times better than I am. BilR I 128. Two years earlier than the others, he took up the plow and scythe. VaižgRR I 394. He was a man several years older than Kareiva; once, the two of them studied in Berlin. VenclGD 36. Jonas

86

Puodžiūnas was only a few years older than his brother Antanas... VienR V 11. Most importantly, he spoke to Varnelis and him, that is, Jurgila, as equals, although he was considerably older and a head taller than them. VenclGD 128.

2. The preposition už is used in phrases whose head is an adjective or adverb in the superlative or comparative degree, while the dependent element is the pronouns visas, viskas. In this case, comparison is expressed with an additional sense of singling out.

But of all, the black-muzzled little cow is the best—she is kind to Sigutė and never lacks a kind word for her. SNėrR I 447. When God grants someone health, it is dearest and best of all! Lp. But of all, the fair young noblewoman, the white little lily, loved her most... KrėvP 65. ... however Drūktenis puts it, his advice will always prove the best, because he knows best of all. ŽemR III 25. He, Pranukas, is the most to blame of all... Žem R I 199. Health is dearer than everything. Nj. We finished reaping the rye faster than everyone else. Ktk.

The preposition už also indicates an exclusive comparison in phrases whose head is a comparative adjective or adverb belonging to a word containing negation or occurring in an interrogative sentence.

For hard work, there was no one better than him. LzPR I 221. There is nothing stronger than this—no one can overcome life. MiežML 99. No one does this work better than I do. Ktk. Tell me, is there a more honest lad than him in our village?.. ŽemR I 13.

3. In phrases where a word indicating a small, slight difference in the degree of a quality is attached to a comparative or elative adjective, comparison is expressed with a faint nuance of identity or equivalence (cf. the phrases with the prepositions su, sulig given below).

From the Pikčiurnai’s point of view, Malonė was almost a bottle-maker, although, truth be told, his farm was only slightly smaller than the Pikčiurnai farm. SimonP, 37. A little hunchback stands, only slightly taller than the threshold. CvR IX 204. His wife is a little younger than he is. Ktk.

Similar comparison is also expressed by phrases whose head is a comparative adverb of quantity with negation, linked to a particular positive-degree adjective.

Truth, art, and beauty are no less necessary to people than daily bread. VenclGD 331. This thing is no less useful to me than that one.

4. The preposition už is used in combinations of pronouns: one after another, one after another, which depend on a comparative adjective or adverb. This expresses the comparison of many homogeneous objects or their actions with one another (cf. the analogous use of the preposition į).

He had four sons, broad-branched as oaks, who were stronger than one another, braver than one another... KrėvP 24—5. Large, multi-storied houses stretched on both sides without

87

end, wide streets, straight as a table, were more beautiful than one another... BilR I 240. They spoke better than one another, each cursing the priest with fatter words than the next... CvR₁ V 129. In the tavern they began to yell and shout more than one another. SimonR IV 66. Truth be told, each one more beautiful than the next. SimonP₁ 10. And from these manors and towers, which follow one another in succession, more splendid and varied than the next, I turned my sad eyes toward the verdant meadows and fields... BilR I 132.

Prepositions iš and tarp

The prepositions iš, tarp, when used with the genitive, can express comparative relations with a nuance of selection, as can už with the accusative. However, the first prepositions are used in the meaning under discussion only very rarely. They have this meaning in word combinations whose head is a superlative or comparative adjective, while the dependent element is the genitive of the pronoun visas, either alone or together with a noun in the genitive (cf. the conditions for using the prepositions už, per, and, in part, prieš in the meaning under discussion).

Eglė is the happiest of all the daughters-in-law; she does not shed bitter tears in abundance. SNėrR I 419. Of all the untold riches that the nobleman took pride in and boasted of, his daughter was dearest to him. KrėvP 64. And of them all, the mushroom grows the tallest. BaranAŠ 21.

But among all the famous men of that family, among all those who sat in the high castle of Merkinė, the most famous was the old nobleman Mukis. KrėvP 24.

The preposition iš is characterized by a more pronounced singling out of the compared object.

Preposition per

In some dialects (and sometimes in written texts), the preposition per, which takes the accusative, can express comparative relations with an excluding nuance, as does the preposition už in the standard language. However, the contexts in which the preposition per is used with this meaning are much more restricted than those of the latter preposition. The preposition per is most often used in phrases with comparative adjectives or adverbs that modify words with a negation.

You won’t be able to hire anyone better than the old lad. Grž. You won’t find a more watchful dog than ours. Jrb. There is nothing more resilient than a woman. Pc. There is no one more industrious or more beautiful than my maiden. Rod. There was no one older than him. Lnkv. I have no better mushrooms than boletes. Alv. There is no better food than beet soup. Pc. There is no one more beautiful than the hardworking maiden. Vrn. There is no greater vagabond than him. Šn. Come, young man, to me; I have no one dearer than you. meilesnio per tave Skr. There is none weaker than the wind. Lz. There are no better feathers than these. Lp. ... then he thought that there was no happier person in the world than the haymaker. BalčHP 206.

88

You’ll do no more work for me, and I still have nothing, just as I had nothing before... KrėvRg 105. Well, no one has ever spoken per mane more beautifully and cleverly. KrėvAP 53. No one sings better than Žiūkelis. Sn.

Occasionally, the preposition per is used to express exclusive comparison with the plural accusative of the pronoun visas ‘all’ and a comparative adjective in affirmative statements.

Gaubys is worth more than everyone. Plt.

Unlike už, the preposition per can be used with the same meaning in nominal phrases where the basis of comparison is not specified. It becomes clear from the context.

There is no tree better than an oak. Er. There is no meat better than pork. JablRR I 658. There never was, and never will be, anyone better than my maiden. Mrc. There is no grain better than wheat. Er. There is no better food than fresh potatoes with butter. Ds. I have nowhere found a cuckoo like you. Vlk.

The preposition *prieš*

1. The preposition *prieš*, which takes the accusative, often expresses comparative relations with a contrastive nuance¹. This preposition is used when one wishes to emphasize a difference between the things being compared in some respect. The difference between things is especially evident when they are set against each other. For example, the sentence The son is of average height, but short compared with his father says that the son is short when compared with his father. The preposition *prieš* may indicate that the properties of the things being compared, once juxtaposed, even become opposites. This meaning of the preposition *prieš* is clearest in adjectival phrases, where the basis of comparison is expressed by the positive form of the adjective.

A mouse is very small compared with a rat (cf. A rat is very large compared with a mouse). JablRR I 663. They are complete fools compared with you. JablRR I 663. Our berries are beautiful compared with those I saw today. Er. Compared with her, that one is old. Ktk. Teaching is easy compared with being a chairperson. Ktk.

The preposition *prieš* is also used with a comparative meaning and a contrastive nuance in verbal phrases whose head is a verb expressing a state or a change of state. Such phrases are uncommon.

We still suffer little compared with those who are suffering. Vžns. Compared with her (Aušrinė), all the other stars fade, even the dim Jupiter. VienA 185. The murmur of the waves at Kistinėlė faded beside the resonance of their speech and songs. VienR I 13.

The preposition *prieš* marks a striking contrast between things in nominal (or pronominal) phrases occurring in interrogative sentences.

What are hangnails compared with milk? BaltPV I 9. Well, let’s say he is still a Komsomol member, but what is he compared with such revolu-

¹ Н. А. Широкова, Из истории предложных конструкций, выражающих сравнительно-сопоставительные отношения, Казань, 1963, p. 17, 28—33.

89

cionierius, like Strimas, finally before such a man as a doctor? VencIGD 289. What is that money compared with heaven? ŽemR III 231. What are you compared with me? ŽemR III 582. What were we before those gentlemen, and now let them humble themselves. Nm.

With the same meaning, the preposition prieš is used in noun phrases and in other cases as well.

Go on, go on, you poor thing, compared with that one you're just a child. Skn. Compared with me, you are just dust. Ds.

Sometimes comparison can be expressed by two different phrases with the preposition prieš, joined by the particle kaip.

Compared with him, you are like a fly compared with a sparrow. Mrk.

2. The preposition prieš, like už and per, can express comparison with an overtone of exclusion. This meaning is found when the preposition occurs in phrases with comparative adjectives or adverbs dependent on words containing negation (cf. the contexts in which the prepositions už and per are used).

There is no more beautiful singing than the nightingale's. Ds. No one can sing more beautifully than Lithuanians. Viln.

The preposition prieš, like per, is also used with an exclusionary meaning in noun phrases associated with a word containing negation.

Compared with Adelė, there is no worker in our brigade now. Trgn. The whole company agreed that there are no songs compared with Lithuanian songs, and no female singers compared with Lithuanian maidens. Didž-ŽmA 84. Neither gold nor silver is anything compared with the days of youth. Sk.

In dialects, the preposition prieš, with the pronoun visas and the accusative plural of a noun, together with a comparative adjective, is occasionally used with the same meaning in affirmative statements as well.

He rides in a carriage—more handsome than all the gentlemen. Tvr.

The preposition į

The preposition į is used with the accusative to express a comparison between similar objects.

The preposition į has the meaning under discussion in word combinations whose main component is the adjective panašus, -į² and the verbs atsigimti, nusiduoti, and the like.

This time the lightning was like a many-branched tree of fire. ČvR I V 105. Roželė resembled her mother; only she was fairer, for she had not yet seen so much hardship. LzPR I 117. In the mountains, glaciers were already discernible,... the shadows of jagged peaks, which from afar resembled spots on the moon. VienA 195.

² Cf. in this connection A. Valeckienė, Parallel combinations of certain adjectives with various noun cases and prepositional constructions, “Kalbos kultūra”, issue 6, Vilnius, 1964, p. 17.

90

And what did she take after to be so beautiful and lively in this family of slovenly little huts! Myk-PutS I 66. He took after his father in appearance and character (he was born resembling his father). J. May you take after your father like that! Skr. What a hideous son-in-law—he took after whom! J. He took after his aunt. Mrk. He took after his father. Plng. He took after his uncles. Šts. One child takes after his father. Gs. Although one daughter took after her grandmother. Skp. He grew to resemble his father. Slv.

Sometimes the adjective (or verb) mentioned above may also be left unspoken, as it were, and merely implied.

The kittens are just like the cat. Kps. Exactly like his father—as if he had been cut from the same cloth! Kt. All our chicks are like the rooster—white. Gs. My name is the same as my uncle’s (I have my uncle’s name). Sts.

The preposition į is also used in the phrase vienas į kitą, which belongs with the plural form of the adjective panašus. It expresses the mutual similarity of objects of the same kind.

They were not at all alike, either in character or in outward appearance. VienA 5. They resembled one another... CvRi II 321.

The preposition į is also used in fixed word combinations formed from the nominative and accusative forms of the same word. In such cases, the uniformity of objects of the same kind in some respect is expressed.

What beautiful, big peas—every pea like every other (all alike)! Pc. What beautiful firewood—every stick like every other (not a bad stick among them)! Er. All three daughters are alike (equal in size and beauty) of his. BsMt I 12.

Prepositions sulig, su

1. The prepositions sulig, su with the instrumental case are used when comparing things that correspond to one another in some respect.

Unlike other prepositions, these are generally used with a comparative meaning and a nuance of correspondence in noun phrases. Such phrases often include a genitive of respect³, which states the basis of comparison.

The rye is as tall as a man this year. Kur. The thatch is as wide as a threshing barn. Kp. The tree is as big as a mountain. Šv. The rowan is as big as a house. Ktk.

The pines are as tall as a person. KzR. The trunk, too, is as thick as a tree. Vlkj.

When a word broadly describing a feature of the compared object occurs alongside the noun denoting that object, constructions with the prepositions su, sulig, which describe the object more specifically, are more independent.

So I got a big lad: as tall as a threshold. Ign. What kind of a bride, what a bride without a bridesmaid: as stout as a mortar, as tall as a threshold. Ants.

Constructions of these prepositions with the instrumental case are also used entirely independently.

³ For this genitive, see J. Jablonskis, Rinktiniai raštai, I, Vilnius, p. 586.

91

As big as balls, as light as hops (pušlė). Užp. As big as thresholds, as sturdy as a kneading trough. Ds.

The use of the prepositions su, sulig in nominal word combinations may have arisen on the basis of corresponding verbal combinations, cf.:

Monkeys are as big as humans. Rm. The child is still small, only as tall as the table. Ėr.

The preposition su, with a comparative meaning and a nuance of identity, is also used in combinations with the adjectives lygus, tapatus, as well as with verbs and nouns of the same root.

Equal in height to a tree, he never sees the sun. Lš. The son is now equal to his father. Ktk. Even in secondary school I was no poet and never compared a girl's eyes to cornflowers. SluckGMN 363. The frog wants to compare itself with the ox. PP 435. But, one way or another, not everyone can compare himself with the King of Šalteikiai. SimonVK I 291. (Saidas), mounted, rode and swam so well that no one here could match him. BalčHP 228. The horseman caught up with the pedestrian. Dglš. Jester: compared an elephant with a fly. Ds. Equalization of women's rights with men's rights (rš.). The equalization of day with night (rš.).

The latter (shot in the Gudai Forest) specimen of the eastern goshawk is entirely identical to the birds from the vicinity of Leningrad in my collection. IvanLP II 253. In I. Kostkevičiūtė’s work, realism is unjustifiably equated with progressiveness. LK II 438. In Lithuanian literature, the protests of Maironis and S. Nėris herself against identifying the lyrical hero of a poet’s work with the poet as a person are well known. LK IV 543.

The prepositions su, sulig can also express the comparison of things or actions in quantitative terms.

Kazys cannot carry as much as I can. Ds. He is as old as I am. Sts. She is the same age as I am. Ktk.

2. The preposition su, like į, is used in a combination with the plural form of the adjective panašus and denotes the mutual similarity of objects of the same kind.

Meanwhile, his brother, who was as like him as two drops of water, rode into the same manor. Lnkv. The brother and sister are alike. Ktk.

The preposition pagal

The preposition pagal with the accusative is used to express a particular kind of comparison. This preposition marks the limitation of a property of an object or action. In terms of the things being compared, two uses of the preposition pagal in this sense can be distinguished.

1. The preposition pagal is used when comparing two properties of the same thing, one of which limits the other.

In this sense, the preposition is more often used in word combinations whose head is an adjective or participle in the positive degree, an adverb, or, less often, a verb.

92

He had a handsome boy, with a beautiful face, a sturdy build and, for his eight years, already quite a big lad (not so small compared with other boys of eight). BalčHP 113. Handsome for his age. MiežBP 10. He is quite clever for his age. K I 477. He is considerably grown for his age. JabIRR I 656. He is not old for his age; he just looks that way. Žal.

You talk well for your age. Lkš. For our age, we have seen too much and grown old too quickly... SimonVK II 268. Homer was taller and more handsome than Aristotle; for his age, he walked quite upright... BalčGK 193.

Once beautiful and cheerful, she withered before her time in that house which, though it was her home, was also her prison. CvR₁ II 68.

2. The preposition pagal is used when comparing two objects with respect to one property. In this case, it is stated that the property of one object is limited by the same property of another object.

Flaxseed is inexpensive compared with other grains. Ér. Our child is not bad compared with the others. Ktk.

The preposition pagal can also express a comparison of things in quantitative terms.

Given the area, there ought to be more livestock. Mrč. According to his education, he should receive a thousand rubles (in wages). Grl.

3. The preposition pagal is used to describe one thing in relation to another thing connected with it. In this case, the comparative meaning has a shade of correspondence (cf. the preposition sulig). Such combinations function as proverbs.

Like mouth, like nose. Kps. Like the roof, so the drip. Ktk. Like Jurgis, so the hat. Škn. Like the nobleman, so the belly. Žsl. Like the master, so the coat. Ktk.

In dialects, the preposition palei with the accusative is also used with the same comparative meaning as pagal.

He is not so bad compared with the others. Vlkv. I can sing a little to the tune. Krn. Given her beauty, she wanted to choose a handsome young man too. BsMT I 32. There ought to be a large harvest for the year. Kps.

Like the handle, so the mushroom. Grš. Like Jurgis, so the hat. Lp.

Conclusions

The following prepositions are used to express comparison relations: už, per, prieš, į, su, sulig, pagal, iš and tarp.

Different prepositions express different comparative relations. The differences in meaning between these relations depend both on the prepositions themselves and on the circumstances in which they are used.

The preposition už expresses a difference between the compared objects in constructions whose head constituent is a comparative (or elative) adjective or adverb: baltesnis už sniegą, gražiau už mane.

93

The group of prepositions — iš, už, per, prieš, tarp — expresses exclusive comparison, usually in adjectival or adverbial constructions.

The prepositions už, iš, tarp (very rarely per, prieš) are used with this meaning in constructions containing superlative or comparative adjectives or adverbs, whose dependent constituent is a genitive plural or accusative form of the pronoun visas: už visus geriausias, geresnis; iš visų gražiausias, gražesnis; tarp visų garsiausias.

The prepositions per, prieš, as well as už, are also used in comparative adjective or adverb constructions dependent on a word containing negation: per jį vyresnio nebuvo, prieš lakštingėlės nėra gražesnio giedojimo, nėr už ją stipresnio.

The preposition per is used similarly in noun constructions: nėr mėsos per kiaulieną.

The preposition prieš expresses the opposition of things in some respect. It is used in constructions whose head constituent is a positive-degree adjective, certain verbs, or nouns (in interrogative sentences): (the son) prieš tėvą mažas, prieš ją nubanksta, (what does) panagės prieš pieną?

The preposition į, and to some extent su, expresses similarity between things in constructions whose head constituent is the adjective panašus ‘similar’ and certain verbs: panašus į tėvą, panašūs vieni į kitus, (the children) panašūs su tėvais; atsigimė į tėvą.

The prepositions su, sulig express identity or correspondence between things in some respect. They are used in constructions whose head constituent is the adjective lygus, tapatus or a verb or noun with the same root; they are also used in noun constructions where the basis of comparison is expressed by a genitive of respect: eglė sulig namu didumo and in constructions formed on this pattern without a genitive: pūšaitės sulig žmogum. In a particular case, the preposition pagal also has a nuance of correspondence: pagal stogą ir lašas.

The preposition pagal (and in dialects palei) indicates that a quality or action is limited in scope. It is used in constructions whose head constituent is usually a positive-degree adjective, and less often an adverb or verb: gražus pagal amžių, pagal metus perdaug (math.), su vyto ne pagal metus.

USE OF PREPOSITIONS TO EXPRESS COMPARATIVE RELATIONS

Э. ВАЛЮЛИТЕ

Summary

In modern Lithuanian, the prepositions už ‘for’, iš ‘from’, and tarp ‘among’, per ‘through’, prieš ‘against’, į ‘onto’, su ‘with’, sulig ‘with’, and pagal ‘in comparison with’ are used to express comparative relations.

The preposition už with the accusative case can express several nuances of comparative relations.

94

1) In phrases whose head is an adjective or adverb in the comparative degree, comparative relations with a nuance of difference are expressed, e.g.: baltesnis už sniegą — whiter than snow, greičiau už mane — faster than me.

2) In phrases whose head is an adjective or adverb in the superlative, or less often the comparative, degree, and whose dependent member is the pronoun visas ‘all’, or less often viskas ‘everything’, the preposition už expresses comparative relations with a nuance of distinction, e.g.: už visus gražiausias — the most beautiful of all (literally: more beautiful than all); the same comparative relations are also expressed in phrases whose head is likewise an adjective or adverb in the comparative degree, governed by a word with negation, e.g.: (nebuvo) už jį geresnio — (there was) no one better than him (literally: better than him there was none).

The prepositions iš and tarp with the genitive case also express comparative relations with a nuance of distinction. Like the preposition už, they are used in phrases whose head is an adjective in the superlative or comparative degree and whose dependent member is the pronoun visas, e.g.: gražiausia iš visų — the most beautiful of all, garsiausias tarp visų — the most famous among all.

The preposition per with the accusative case is occasionally used, like už, in phrases whose head is an adjective or adverb in the comparative degree associated with a word expressing negation, to express comparative relations with a distinguishing nuance, e.g.: per jį vyresnio nebuvo — there was no one older than him (literally: through him older there was none). Unlike už, the preposition per is also used in phrases whose head is a noun, likewise associated with a word expressing negation, e.g.: nër medžio per ąžuolą — there is no tree better than an oak (literally: there is no tree through an oak).

The preposition prieš with the accusative case can express comparative relations with a nuance of contrast.

1) This preposition is used when it is necessary to emphasize differences between things in some respect. Such relations are conveyed in phrases whose head is an adjective in the positive degree, e.g.: prieš tėvą sūnus mažas — compared with his father (literally: against his father), the son is small; also with certain verbs, e.g.: prieš ją nublanksta — compared with her (literally: against her), it pales; and in noun phrases (in interrogative sentences), e.g.: kas tu prieš mane? — who are you compared with me?

2) The preposition prieš occasionally expresses comparative relations with a nuance of distinction, like per and už, e.g.: prieš lakštingalos nėra gražesnio giedojimo — there is no singing more beautiful than the nightingale’s (literally: against the nightingale’s singing, there is none more beautiful).

The preposition į with the accusative case denotes comparative relations in phrases whose head is a word expressing similarity, e.g.: panašus į tėvą — similar to his father.

The prepositions su and sulig with the instrumental case express comparative relations with a nuance of similarity or identity. In this sense, they are used in phrases whose head is a word expressing identity or correspondence, e.g.: lygus su medžiu — equal to a tree; and also in noun phrases of the type: rugiai sulig žmogum (didumo) — rye (in size) equal to a person.

The preposition pagal with the accusative case indicates a limitation on a quality or action. It is used in phrases whose head is usually an adjective in the positive degree, and less often an adverb or verb, e.g.: pagal kitus neblogas — relatively good compared with others, pagal metus perdaug (matem) — too much for one’s age (seen).

Under certain conditions, the preposition pagal also expresses comparisons with a nuance of correspondence, e.g.: pagal stogą ir lašas — as the roof, so the drop (literally: according to the roof, so the drop).

95