Use “greater than or equals” or just “greater than”

i > -1

i >= 0

;; if (i > -1) {
 cmp eax, -1
 jle else
then:
 ...
else:

 ;; if (i >= 0) {
 cmp eax, 0
 jl else
then:
 ...
else:

// if (i >= 0) {   (assuming i is in register %t0)

 stl $t1, $0, $t0     // in C: t1 = (0 < t0)
 beq $t1, $0, else    // jump if t1 == 0, that is if t0 >= 0
 nop
then:
 ...
else:

// if (i > -1) {    (assuming i is in register %t0)

 addi $t2, $0, -1      // in C: t2 = -1
 stl $t1, $t2, $t0      // in C: t1 = (t2 < t0) = (-1 < t0)
 bne $t1, $0, else     // jump if t1 != 0, that is if t0 > -1
 nop
then:
 ...
else:

if (length >= str.size())

if (length > str.size() - 1)