Comparative Patterns

1. Not as (adjective) as
❖Running is not as fast as biking. = Biking is faster than running.
❖Helen is not as friendly as her husband. = Helen’s husband is friendlier than she is.

Remember that in this structure, we don’t use “-er” or “more” with the adjective.

❖This shirt isn’t as prettier as that blouse.

❖This shirt isn’t as pretty as that blouse.

2. No/not any + comparative adjective

We can use comparative adjectives to say that two things are equal.
We use is + no + comparative adjective or is not + any + comparative adjective

❖The Nokia phone is no more expensive than the Samsung. (they are the same price)
❖The Nokia phone isn’t any cheaper/isn’t any less expensive than the Samsung. (they
are the same price)

3. Progressive Comparison
Let’s take a look at the way English repeats comparative adjectives to describe a
continuous change.
Change can happen at different degrees:
❖ just once or moderately: The temperature fell yesterday.
❖ dramatically: Sales of iPhones rocketed last year.
❖ a lot / a little: My English improved quite a lot during the course.

In the three examples found in the previous slide, the verbs (fell, rocketed, improved)
were used to show change. However, when we want to express continuous (and often
big) change, we can use two comparatives adjectives separated by and.
❖ My uncle grew fatter and fatter over the years.
❖ As Microsoft grew, Bill Gates got richer and richer.
❖ The balloon got bigger and bigger and then burst.
In each example above we used a comparative adjective (fatter, richer, bigger),
followed by and, and then we repeat the comparative.

‘More and more’ for longer comparatives We don’t repeat comparative adjectives
that are used with more.
We simply use more and more:
❖ Things are getting more and more expensive.
❖ This book gets more and more interesting with every chapter.
❖ He spoke for over an hour and his explanation got more and more complicated.

4. Combined Comparison
To describe how a change in one thing causes a change in another, we can use two
comparative forms with the.

Note the use of a comma after the first clause.

❖ The longer you leave it, the worse it will get.
❖ The more sophisticated the product, the more substantial the potential profit.

5. Contrastive Comparison
When we contrast two related qualities, we always use more (not -er).

❖I’m sadder than disappointed.

❖ I’m more sad than disappointed.

We can also use not so much ... as or rather than.

❖ I’m not so much disappointed as sad.

❖ Her eyes are green rather than blue.

6. As and such
We can use as and not such to introduce a comparison with nouns.

Pattern 1: as + adjective + a + noun + as

❖It was not as terrible a tas te as I had expected.

Pattern 2: not such a + adjective + noun + as

❖It was not such a terrible taste as I had expected.