GRAMMAR QUIZ 6 • ANSWER KEY
Group A
Advanced comparative structures
Exercise 1
1 A: the more difficult …, the less crowded – Two
comparative forms are used to show two things
co-depend and change together.
2 B: shabby rather than informal – When comparing two
connected qualities, showing the prevalence of one
quality over the other.
3 C: more bored than tired – When comparing two
connected qualities, showing the prevalence of one
quality over the other using the structure: more +
adjective + than + adjective.
4 A: such good friends … that … – Such is used for
emphasising a given quality of a person; no article
is used as the noun is plural; the whole expression is
contrasted with the clause introduced by that.
5 B: so much hot as … stuffy – When comparing two
connected qualities, showing the prevalence of one over
the other using the structure not so much + adjective +
as + adjective.
6 B: was not as romantic + an experience as … – Normally
the structure as … as is used with adjectives only to
show that a given quality is the same or different as
compared to a reference point (was (not) as romantic as);
if a noun is added, the adjective needs to precede it.
7 A: less and less attractive – Comparative forms are used
to show that a given quality is constantly changing.
Exercise 2
1 so much bad: wasn’t so much bad as unpredictable –
the structure not so much + adjective + as + adjective is
used to contrast two connected qualities.
2 such an interesting: Such is used for emphasising a
given quality of a thing; the article an is used because
an adjective with a countable noun follow; the whole
expression is contrasted with the clause introduced by
that.
3 extraordinary a place as: Normally the structure as … as
is used with adjectives only to show that a given quality
is the same or different (was (not) as extraordinary as); if
a noun is added, the adjective needs to precede it.
4 The higher: the higher we climbed, the more terrifying …
– Showing two things co-depend and change together.
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Group B
Advanced comparative structures
Exercise 1
1 C: was pretentious rather than elegant – Showing the
prevalence of one quality over the other.
2 A: more discouraged than … tired – When comparing
two connected qualities, showing the prevalence of
one quality over the other using the structure: more
adjective + than + adjective.
3 B: such an excellent story teller that … – Such is used
for emphasising a given quality of a person; the article
an is used as an adjective with a countable noun follow;
the whole expression is contrasted with the clause
introduced by that.
4 C: was not so much bad as tasteless – The structure not
so much + adjective + as + adjective is used to contrast
two connected qualities.
5 C: the fewer people know …, the longer it will … –
Two comparative forms are used to show two things
co-depend and change together.
6 A: such an expensive place as … – Such is used for
emphasising a given quality of a thing; the article an is
used because an adjective with a countable noun follow;
the whole expression is contrasted with the clause
introduced by as.
7 B: less and less – Comparative forms are used to show
that a given quality is constantly changing.
Exercise 2
1 so much unfriendly: were not so much friendly as
uncommunicative – The structure not so much +
adjective + as + adjective is used to contrast two
connected qualities.
2 such an excellent time: such an excellent time … that …
– Such is used for emphasising a given quality of a
thing; the article an is used because an adjective with
a countable noun follow; the whole expression is
contrasted with the clause introduced by that.
3 difficult a climb as: was not as difficult a climb as … –
Normally the comparative structure (not) as + adjective
+ as + clause is used with adjectives only; if a singular
countable noun is added, the adjective precedes both
the noun and the article.
4 the less authentic – the more popular the village …, the
less authentic it … – Two comparative forms are used to
show two things co-depend and change together.