A2
より and のほうが — comparing
How Japanese compares two things with より and のほうが, how 一番 makes a superlative, and how comparative questions are asked.
Japanese adjectives do not change to compare — there is no bigger. Two particles do the work instead: のほうが marks the winner, より marks what it beat.
電車のほうが速いです。
Densha no hō ga hayai desu.
The train is faster.
バスより電車のほうが速いです。
Basu yori densha no hō ga hayai desu.
The train is faster than the bus.
Either half can stand alone. より on its own is common when the other side is obvious: 去年より寒いです, colder than last year.
Order is flexible
The two phrases can swap without changing the meaning, since each is marked.
電車のほうがバスより速いです。
Densha no hō ga basu yori hayai desu.
The train is faster than the bus.
Asking
A comparative question uses どちら, not どれ, because it is choosing between two.
コーヒーと紅茶と、どちらが好きですか。
Kōhī to kōcha to, dochira ga suki desu ka.
Which do you prefer, coffee or tea?
Three or more
一番 — literally number one — placed before the adjective.
この店が一番安いです。
Kono mise ga ichiban yasui desu.
This shop is the cheapest.
日本で富士山が一番高いです。
Nihon de Fujisan ga ichiban takai desu.
Fuji is the highest mountain in Japan.
The group being compared within takes で — 日本で, クラスで, 世界で.
日本に富士山が一番高いです。
日本で富士山が一番高いです。
Here 日本 is the field the comparison ranges over, not a location something sits in, so it takes で. See に against で.