Language reference

Making comparisons $PNQBSJTPO
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Add -er and t
one-syllable adverbs, e.g. hard, fast,
BEWFSCT -est with: straight:
My mum works harder than my dad.
comparative adjective/adverb + Tennis is cheaper
Use more and t
two-syllable adverbs including
forms -er + than than golf.
most with: adverbs ending in -ly:
more + adjective/ Marina works harder
Maria read the text more quickly than
adverb + than than before.
Susanna.
Golf is more
She visits me more often than in the
expensive than
past.
tennis.
It rains more often These adverbs form irregular comparisons:
than in the past.
superlative the + adjective/ Chess is one of the well – better – best badly – worse – worst
forms adverb + -est cheapest hobbies.
the most + Playing team sports
To say two things are the same, use as + adverb + as:
adjective/adverb is the most sociable
Julia finished the exercise as quickly as Mark. (Julia and
free-time activity.
Mark finished the exercise equally quickly.)
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BEKFDUJWFT To say that we do one thing differently from another, use:
t
not so/as + adverb + as:
Add -er and t
one-syllable adjectives:
Sophie doesn’t speak Spanish so/as well as Gordon.
-est with: Fiona is fitter than last year.
t
two-syllable adjectives ending in -y We can use words and phrases with comparative forms to
and -ly, e.g. happy, friendly: express large and small differences. These are some ways of
My brother’s the friendliest person in expressing a large difference:
my family. t
much / far / a lot / considerably + adjective/adverb + -er/
Use more and t
adjectives of two syllables or more more + adjective/adverb:
most with: (except two-syllable adjectives ending Playing team sports is much riskier than many people
in -y and -ly): imagine.
Biking is the most dangerous activity. t
not nearly as + adjective/adverb + as:
Some mobile apps are not nearly as difficult to use as


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Spelling normal computer programs.
These form irregular comparisons: These are some ways of expressing a small difference:
t
slightly / a bit / a little + adjective/adverb + -er/more +
good – better – best bad – worse – worst
adjective/adverb:
well – better – best badly – worse – worst People drive slightly slower than they did in the past.
much – more – most many – more – most t
not quite as + adjective/adverb + as:
little – less – least far – farther/further – farthest/furthest I don’t find running quite as enjoyable as cycling.

To say two things are the same, use as + adjective + as:

She finds doing aerobics as interesting as playing team
sports (this means ‘She finds doing aerobics and playing
team sports equally interesting’).
To say that one thing is less than another, use:
t
not so/as + adjective + as:
Window shopping is not so/as enjoyable as clubbing.
t
less/least + adjective:
Playing chess is less healthy than playing team sports.
Clubbing is the least healthy activity you can do.

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