I need to use a sentence to describe a young talent. If I had to translate it literally from my language it would say "John stays to Chess as Mozart stays to Music". (Obviously meaning a basic equation).
Is that correct in English?
Thanks
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4My own native tongue uses a similar verb in those comparisons, but in English I think the simplest way to convey the equation is John is to chess what Mozart is to music.– oerkelensCommented Nov 30, 2017 at 14:32
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What @oerkelens said, as long as your intent is to say, “John is a chess prodigy to the same degree as Mozart was a music prodigy.”– JimCommented Nov 30, 2017 at 14:54
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1@Flater - Of course, but in this particular case Mozart was a prodigy. (my comment was because the “stays to” could also be interpreted as “sticks to” as in John sticks to Chess- meaning John knows he’s good at Chess and so doesn’t try to play other games.– JimCommented Nov 30, 2017 at 16:12
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1@Flater - You miss my point.– JimCommented Nov 30, 2017 at 16:16
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1One thing is to another as a third thing is to a fourth. No need to understand any other language.– LambieCommented Jul 24, 2021 at 14:53
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2 Answers
As @oerkelens mentions in the comments, "is to" is the correct phrase. You can also write it mathematic-like: John : Chess :: Mozart : Music.
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John is to Chess as Mozart is to Music
