Grammar JLPT Level N4 - Lesson 6

Structure of より:

Noun/Verb + より + Adjective

Details about より:

In N5, we learned about the use of より that is seen when making comparisons in より～のほうが. However, in this lesson, we will take a look at how this case marking particlecan be used by itself. When used alone, this particle expresses that (A) (a noun or verb) is being compared to (B) (a noun or verb that is regularly paired with an adjective). The word that より is directly attached to will always be 'less than' the comparison being made. However, the overall expression is used to describe that (B) is 'more' (something) than (A).

パンダはバナナより重(おも)い。
Pandas are heavier than bananas.
太陽(たいよう)はロウソクより明(あか)るい。
The sun is brighter than a candle.

より

Usage Notes for より:

In many textbooks, より is taught as meaning 'more', but the word that より is attached to will actually be the thing that is 'less' (something). The word/quote that has が attached to it will be the thing that is 'more' (adjective). This is particularly confusing when より is not directly attached to a word, something which is common in casual spoken language.

これがより高(たか)いものになります。
This is the thing that would be more expensive. (Compared to everything else that is here)

In this sentence, because the が is attached to これ, これ is the thing that is 'more expensive'. As より is not actually directly connected to any other word, it therefore means that これ is expensive, compared to 'other things'. When you see より like this, just pretend that it says 'other things' before it.