COMPARING1

1. Discuss:
a. How often do you use the Internet? What do you use it for?
b. Are there any websites that you use frequently? What do you like about them?
c. Do you trust wat you read on the Internet? Why (not)?
d. Has the increased use of computers and the Internet been a good thing for you
and/or in general?
2. Listen to two people discussing some of the questions above. Are their views similar
to yours?
3. Listen again and tick the phrases you hear.
1. (it’s) miles easier
2. (It’s) far easier
3. (It’s) nowhere near as…as
4. (It’s) nothing like as good as
5. Rather than + -ing, I’m better off + -ing
6. The less we…, the less we…
7. The more we…, the more we…
8. I’d prefer to…
9. I’d rather … than…
10. It’s not quite as… as…
11. It’s definitely not as…as
12. It’s considerably + comparative (formal)
13. It’s marginally + comparative (formal)
14. (It’s) much the same
15. (It’s) much + superlative
16. I’d sooner go…
4. Grammar
Use the expressions from Exercise 3 to complete the box.

Active grammar
1
Ideas tomadas de Total English Advanced – Teacher’s book and Resource Pack
 1. A big difference

2. A little difference

3. Describing a preference

4. The + comparative + the

+ comparative
Optional:
Add the words/expressions in italics to the table above:
Slightly a tiny bit far decidedly
Go to the grammar reference in the book.
5. Circle the incorrect alternatives in each sentence.
1. I’d rather / I’d sooner / I’d quite prefer to communicate by email than telephone.
2. Buying things in shops is not like/nowhere near/nothing like as cheap as shopping
online.
3. You’re much better off / It’s best /It’s considerably easier writing on a computer
than doing it by hand.
4. The more you know about using computers, the easier/easier/the simpler it
becomes.
5. Buying things online is marginally/extremely/slightly more risky than face-to-face
transactions.
6. It’s a mile/considerably/far easier to find information on the internet than in
books.
7. The more we rely on/The more we use/As much as we use computers, the more
vulnerable we are to hackers and computer viruses.
8. I’d better off playing/I’d sooner play/I’d rather play games outside than computer
games.
6. Speaking activity
Compare it! – Resource bank – Unit 2