Big and small differences

slightly
a bit
a little
comparative than
much
far
a lot

a. the Atlantic/ the Pacific /big The Pacific is much bigger than the Atlantic

b. use nuclear power/France/Spain France 70 % spain 31%

c. fattening/ flour/sugar sugar: 300 calories per 100 grams

flour: 360 calories per 100 grams

d. Los Angeles/San Francisco/big Los Angeles 13,5 millions San Francisco 6 millions

e. live long/Elvis Presley/Mozart Presley 1935-77 Mozart 1756-91

f. drink alcohol/the British/the French British 7,7 litres per year French 1,3 litres per year

g. Mount Fuji/Mount Kilimanjaro/high Fuji 3,778 metres Kilimanjaro 5,900 metres

almost
nearly
not quite + as (adjective) as

just

Write sentences with not as…as… based on the previous facts.

Example: The Atlantic isn´t (nearly) as big as the Pacific}

Exercise:
• She is ____________ older than her husband. (He is very young.)
• She is ____________ dependable than her brother. (She is very dependable; he isn't.)
• I’m ____________ happier now. (I was very depressed before.)
• She is ____________ better than him. (She is as bad as he)
• I would buy that watch if it was ____________ expensive. (just a bit cheaper)
• She looks ____________ older than her daughter. (They look exactly the same age.)
• She doesn't seem ____________ shorter than me. (We seem the same height.)
• Her performance was ____________ worse than her co-star’s. (He was bad, she was worse!)
• She would have finished that job ____________ more quickly. (quite a lot)
• She is ____________ less careful than her sister. (Her sister is very careful; she isn't at all!)
• Their attitude was ____________ less enthusiastic. (just a bit)
 SUPERLATIVES

There are various forms to show big differences between one absolute and everything else (superlatives).
We can use: by far, quite, easily, just about, etc

Look at these examples:

In area Russia is by far the biggest country in the world/ the biggest country of all.
China has by far the largest population/the biggest population of all, and is the third largest
country in area.

• She is ____________ the most intelligent of them all. (a small difference)

• She’s ____________ the most talented. (a big difference)
• She’s ____________ the most amazing person I know. (a big difference)
• This is ____________ the worst film I’ve seen in ages. (a big difference)

Now write sentences comparing your friends and family.

1) ___________________________________________________________

2) ___________________________________________________________

3) ___________________________________________________________

4) __________________________________________________________

5) ___________________________________________________________