Hosszadalmasabbnál

Hosszadalmasabbnál is a Hungarian grammatical construction used in comparison, formed from the adjective hosszadalmasabb (the comparative of hosszadalmas, meaning longer or more protracted) combined with the ablative suffix nál, effectively yielding “than the more lengthy one.” The form functions as a comparative phrase, with the second term often implied or omitted in context.

Morphology and formation: The base adjective hosszadalmas is the stem meaning “lengthy” or “protracted.” The comparative suffix -abb attaches to yield hosszadalmasabb, meaning “more lengthy.” The affixal particle nál (short for nála, in the ablative case) is added to create hosszadalmasabbnál, which signals a comparison targeting a second term understood from context, such as “than [the other one].” In practice, the full comparison is frequently completed with a following noun or with the conjunction mint (than).

Usage and notes: hosszadalmasabbnál is relatively rare in everyday speech and more typical in formal writing, grammatical discussions, or stylistic exercises. In ordinary use, speakers usually replace it with a straightforward comparison using hosszabb (or hosszabbág) and a explicit particle like mint vagy a kontextus megnevezése, e.g., hosszabb vagy hosszabbnál. When the second term is present, a common pattern is hosszadalmasabbnál, mint … (than …). The form highlights degree of duration and often appears in analyses of processes, plans, or narrations that contrast durations.

Examples:

- Ez a folyamat hosszadalmasabbnál, mint az előző változat. (This process is longer-lasting than the previous version.)

- A döntés hosszadalmasabbnál (a korábbi döntésnél fogva). (The decision is more protracted than the former, with the second term implied.)

See also: hosszadalmas, -abb as comparative suffix, Hungarian comparative constructions, ellipsis in Hungarian.