PREPOSITIONS II

Simple Comparisons

A simple comparison is a relationship described between the subject and an object. Two items can be compared in a relative manner by using the comparative prepositions Qw (dhoo, “more-than”), Qwj (dhooch, “less-than”), QC (dhow, “similar-to”), and QCj (dhowch, “different-than”). Equality in quantity is usually indicated using QwXr (dhoo-zhur, “more-than lacking”). Identify, when two things are exactly the same in all respects, is indicated by QCJy (dhow-jee, “similar-to maximal”).
By default, these prepositions do not specifically refer to quantity or quality. A simple comparison that targets a subject relies entirely on context to provide meaning.

• I’m not as good as you: Wy Qwj Yw. (Wee dhooch Yoo., “me less-than you.”)
• You and I are equals: Yw QwXr Wy. (Yoo dhoo-zhur Wee., “you more-than lacking me.”)
• 2 > 1: nukw Qw nuRw. (n’koo dhoo n’Roo., “indefinite two more-than indefinite one.”)
• Dogs are similar to wolves: nuRcf QC nuWG. (n’Rouf dhow n’Woal.,
  “indefinite dog similar-to indefinite wolf.”)

For non-reflexive prepositions Qw (dhoo, “more-than”) and Qwj (dhooch, “less-than”), the relationship is relative to the target of the phrase. So, Wy Qwj Yw. (Wee dhooch Yoo, “me less-than you.”) means that the subject, Wy (Wee, “me”), is the lesser of the two. This is similar to how other non-reflexive prepositions are defined.
A simple comparison can imply a generic superlative relationship such as “best” if the object being compared is JuWw (j’Woo, “all-of it”). It’s like saying “better than all the rest”:

• You’re the best: Yw Qw JuWw. (Yoo dhoo j’Woo., “you more-than all-of it.”)

Simple comparisons must always target the subject of a sentence. If a comparative preposition targets a verb or an object, it is complex comparison instead.

Complex Comparisons

In English, nouns can be compared with comparative (such as “bigger than”) and superlative (such as “biggest”) adjective forms, which are constructed using the words “more” and “most”, or the suffixes “-er” and “-est”. English comparisons are sometimes further qualified with an “at” or “with” phrase, such as “better at chess”.
In Primal, expressions that describe details about a relationship between two or more nounsv are called complex comparisons. To make a complex comparison, modify a verb or an object with a comparative preposition. The object of the comparative preposition is being compared over the quality described by its target object. The subject of the comparison is the target’s object’s target (often, his is the subject of the sentence):

• I jump better than you: Wy fim Qw Yw. (Wee fim dhoo Yoo.,
  “me jump-over more-than you.”)
• I’m faster than you: Wy su xwj xuQw Yw. (Wee s’ shoosh sh’dhoo Yoo.,
  “me containing speed phrase more-than you.”)
• I jump as fast as you: Wy fim Wi xwj xuQwXr Yw. (Wee fim Wi shooch
  sh’dhoo-zhur Yoo., “me jump-over verb-with speed phrase more-than lacking you.”)

In the first example, “better” is implied, but this can depend on context. Modifying a verb directly isn’t much more specific than modifying the subject. Such comparisons usually imply that the quality of the action (or the ability to perform it well) is being compared.
Although it is rarely done, a comparative preposition can target an object of another object. In this case, the comparison doesn’t involve the subject at all. The comparison is between the object of the comparison phrase, and the target of its target.

Implied Words and Contractions

If a verb or verb suffix appears after a preposition, the word nu (nu, “indefinite”) is implied. This automatically makes the verb or verb suffix into a noun. Primal also has one other case where a word can be implied. The other implied word is the preposition su (su, “containing”), when following a preposition prefix.

Preposition Prefix	Latin	Meaning (If No Preposition)	Implied Word
xu	shu	phrase+containing	xusu (sh’su)
Xu	zhu	both+containing	Xusu (zh’su)

Whenever a preposition prefix is followed by an object noun (when it has no preposition), the preposition su (su, “containing”) is implied.

• The orange ball: RukSq su Hix xu nO. (R’karth s’ khish sh’ nol,
  “this ball containing red phrase+containing yellow.”)

It is possible for both su (su, “containing”) and nu (nu, “indefinite”) to be implied together, if the preposition prefix followed by a verb or verb suffix:

• I have a heart filled with desire: Wy su sOj xu dy. (Wee s’ solch sh’ dzee,
  “me containing heart phrase+containing indefinite+desire.”)

Constraction	Latin	Meaning	Equivalent To
xuj	shuch	phrase+member-of	xusuj sh’such
Xuj	zhuch	both+member-of	Xusuj zh’such

For the purpose of classification, the contractions are considered to be simple possessive prepositions. Contractions may not take a preposition prefix, as they already include one.
Implied prepositions and contractions may not be used in selective phrase targeting. To selectively target a phrase, you must use the long format.
Since Hix xu nO (khish sh’ nol “red phrase+containing yellow”) always means orange, while Hix su nO (khish s’ nol, “red containing yellow”) may mean “orange” or “redand yellow” depending on where it appears in a sentence, it may be tempting to use xu (shu, “phrase+containing”) in place of su (su, “containing”) when unnecessary. This is considered bad grammar, however, and should be avoided. Never use a preposition prefix in a phrase that immediately follows a subject or verb.