Comparison

Modifiers with as… as…We often use the modifiers almost, just, and nearly, and half, twice, three times, etc. with as…as…My sister’s almost as tall as me/almost as tall as I am.She’s just as bossy now as when she was a child.Their house is nearly as big as ours.His latest film isn’t half as good as his other ones.Our new apartment is twice as big as our old one.The holiday cost three times as much as I’d expected.

You can use so instead of the first as in negative sentences, e.g. She’s not nearly so mean as people say.After as… as… we can either use a subject pronoun + auxiliary verb, or an object pronoun, e.g.She runs as fast as I do OR She runs as fast as me.

Comparison

! Twice can only be used before as… as…NOT Our new flat is twice bigger than our old one.

However, three times, four times, etc. can be used with as… as… or with a comparative adjective or adverb, e.g.The holiday cost three times more than I’d expected.

Comparison

Modifiers with comparative adjectives or adverbsWe use far, much, or a lot (informal) + comparative adjective or adverb for a big difference.

The French wine is far more expensive than the South African one.The film was much better than I’d expected.He’s driving a lot more carefully since he got fined.

When we use more + noun for big differences we use:much/far/a lot more + an uncountable nounmany/far/a lot more + a plural countable noun

She earns much more money than he does.Women today have many more opportunities than they used to.

Comparison

Modifiers with comparative adjectives or adverbsWe use slightly, a little, or a bit (informal) + comparative adjective or adverb for a small difference.

She’s a little quieter than she was yesterday.The morning train is slightly cheaper than the night one.Could you two talk a bit more quickly, please? We’re late.

When we use more + noun for small differences, we use:a little/slightly/a bit more + an uncountable nouna few/slightly/a bit more + a plural countable noun

A Would you like some more tea?B Just a little more, please.We’ve only got a few more minutes before the play starts.

Comparison

Modifiers with comparative adjectives or adverbsWe sometimes repeat a comparative adjective or adverb for emphasis. When the comparative is formed with more, the adjective/adverb is only used after the second more.NOT It’s getting more difficult and more difficult.

The bus driver drove faster and faster.It’s getting more and more difficult to make ends meet nowadays.

Comparison

Modifiers with superlativesWe often use by far/much/easily, and nearly/almost to modify superlative adjectives or adverbs.

It was by far the nicest of all the hostels we stayed at.She’s much the prettiest of the four children.That was easily the best meat I’ve had for ages.I’m nearly the oldest in my class.

Comparison

the… the… + comparativesWe can use comparatives with the… the… to say that things change or vary together.

The more dangerous a sport (is), the more exciting it is to watch.The bigger the bike (is), the more expensive it is to run.The faster I speak in German, the more mistakes I make.A When do you want me to have a look at it?B The sooner the better.

When the verb in the first part is be, it can be left out, e.g.The more dangerous a sport (is), the more some people seem to be attracted to it.We often use more + noun in this structure, e.g.The more coffee you drink, the less well you sleep.When the second comparative is better, a reduced structure can be used, e.g.the bigger the better, etc. and also in set phrases like the more the merrier.