Unit 2 Input 4

COMPARATIVE AND SUPERLATIVE STRUCTURES

A. Parallel Comparatives
The comparative … the comparative
structure is used to show that a change in
one thing leads to a change in another
thing.
The more research we do on AI, the more developed
it gets.
The more AI develops, the more people become
afraid of it.

Practice 1. Rewrite the following sentences by using parallel comparatives.

1. When we understand AI more, we will prevent its risks better.
The more we understand AI, the more we will prevent its risks._________________
2. When the problem is smaller, the solution is easier.
The smaller problem, the easier solution. _________________
3. When you try harder, you will learn more about AI.
The harder you try, the more you will learn.____________________________________________
4. Many AI dystopians think that when machines get more intelligent, we become dumber.
Many AI dystopians think that the more get machines intelligent, the dumber we become.
_________________________________________________________

B. Repeated Comparatives
Repeated comparative adjectives or adverbs
(comparative + and + comparative) are used to
emphasise the rate or amount of change.
They studied harder and harder in order to
improve the latest AI technology.
AI is becoming more and more common in our
lives.

Practice 2. Correct the mistakes in the underlined part.

1. As GPS has become more and most/more developed, people have lost their way-finding and
map-reading skills.

2. As AI technology develops more and more/faster and faster, it is not easy for many people to
adapt to this technology.

C. Superlatives with Present Perfect Tense

Superlatives are often used with the present This is the best technology I have ever seen. That
perfect tense to emphasise the meaning. is the most intelligent machine they have ever
developed.

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Practice 3. Choose the best explanation for each sentence.
1. This is the most effective technology we have ever seen.
a. We have never seen a more effective technology.
b. This technology is as effective as the other technologies.
2. Computer-aided systems commit the fewest errors ever seen.
a. People have never seen another system that commits fewer errors.
b. There are systems that might commit fewer errors.

D. Phrases with Superlatives

Phrases such as ‘one of / some of / among’
are used with superlatives
One of the best technologies that is available today is GPS
technology.
Computer-aided detection systems are among the best
examples of technology radiologists use.
Shifting gears, scything grass, and reading paper maps are
some of the best examples of skills that have diminished.

Practice 4. Rewrite the following sentences with the phrases given in parentheses.
1. Ready availability of information online weakens memory.
One of the most significant factors memory that Ready availability of information online weakens. .
2. The new technology might help to detect the severest tumours.
Some of the severest tumors that the new technology might help to detect. .

E. Different structures with comparatives

We need to use similar structures in
both parts of a comparative sentence.
These can be infinitives, gerunds, noun
phrases, etc.
It is much better to use your memory than to become dumb
by using AI technologies.
Using GPS is easier than using your spatial intelligence. The
improvements in AI made a bigger difference in our lives
than the improvements in any other area.
People are more concerned with AI replacing workers than
with losing talents.

Practice 5. Choose the best explanation for each sentence.

1. Getting advice from AI systems is much better than asking for help from a radiologist.
a. Advice from AI systems is as accurate as advice from a radiologist.
b. Advice from AI systems is more accurate than advice from a radiologist.
2. Most people are more worried about the privacy problems AI poses than the loss of skills AI causes.

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a. The privacy problems are more important for most people.
b. The privacy problems are as important as the loss of skills.

F. ‘Rather than’ with comparatives

‘rather than’ is used to express
preference.
Most people are keen on following the improvements in AI
rather than ignoring AI.
Most people prefer driving their cars themselves rather than
having a self-driving car.
I would rather employ human workers than have machines to
carry out the tasks at work.

Practice 6. Choose the best explanation for each sentence.

1. Use autopilot systems rather than airline pilots as they will reduce accidents.
a. It is better to use autopilot systems.
b. Airline pilots are much better.
2. It is much better to look at AI rationally and calmly rather than approach it anxiously and fearfully.
a. It is important to be rational and calm when we consider AI.
b. We need to be anxious and afraid of AI.
3. Making sure that societies receive the full economic and social benefits that AI has to offer first and
foremost requires accelerating, rather than restricting technology’s development and adoption.
a. We need to restrict the technology’s development and adoption if we want to benefit from AI
b. We need to accelerate the technology’s development and adoption if we want to benefit from AI 4.
When it comes to AI, policymakers should proceed on the assumption that AI will be fundamentally
good, and while it will present some risks, as every technology does, we should focus on addressing
these risks, rather than slowing or stopping the technology.
a. AI does not pose any major risks so there is no need to take any precautions.
b. We shouldn’t try to stop or slow the technology but we should address risks AI might pose.

G. Comparative adjectives with ‘NO’ or ‘NOT ANY’

‘No’+ comparative adjective and ‘not any’ +
comparative adjective are used to say that
two things are equal.
Driving is no riskier than surgery; therefore, they may be
the last to gain acceptance. (=Driving and surgery are
equally risky.)
Society is not any more willing to experiment with
machine learning in driving than in surgery. (=Society is
equally unwilling to experiment in these two areas.)

Practice 7. Choose the best explanation for each sentence.

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1. Autopilot systems are not any more reliable than airline pilots as both might make mistakes.
a. Both of them are equally unreliable.
b. Airline pilots are slightly less reliable than autopilot systems.
2. Although there are many technological devices in our daily lives, we are not any happier than our
ancestors were.
a. We are happier than our ancestors.
b. Our levels of happiness are the same.
3. I am afraid life with AI is no more secure than life without it.
a. Both life with and without AI are equally unsecure.
b. Life with AI is more secure than life without it.

H. Intensifiers with comparatives and superlatives

In order to make comparatives and
superlatives stronger or weaker, we can
add certain words such as ‘a lot’, ‘much’,
‘a little’, ‘slightly’, ‘far’, ‘by far’, ‘not
nearly as’, ‘not quite as’, ‘nowhere near
as’, ‘a good deal’, etc.
Life with AI technologies is a lot more secure than life
without them. BOLD
Rich countries are far more involved in AI research than
poor countries.
AI technologies are by far the best technology we have
ever seen.
By using AI, unlike surgery, navigating is easier and not
nearly as dangerous.

Practice 8. Choose the best explanation for each sentence.

1. Voices from the AI community are much louder than the voices from most average people as the AI
community is far more concerned that AI will destroy jobs.
a. The AI community expresses their concerns about AI destroying jobs more seriously.
b. The AI community is as worried as the average person about AI destroying their jobs.
2. As far as jobs are concerned, some people are nowhere near as concerned as the AI community.
a. Some people are much less concerned than the AI community.
b. Some people are slightly less concerned than the AI community.
3. The privacy issues AI may lead to aren’t nearly as serious as we anticipated.
a. The privacy issues are a little less serious than we anticipated.
b. The privacy issues are much less serious than we anticipated.

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Practice 9. Error Correction: Read the paragraph below. If the parts in bold are correct, put a tick. If they
are wrong, correct the underlined mistakes related to compare and contrast language. There are 7
mistakes.

1. ✅______________
Artificial Narrow Intelligence is considered to be 1. by far the safest form
of AI. This is mainly because any issues that may be triggered by a Narrow
AI going wrong would be local and isolated. This means that although
narrow AI could also cause damage, at the very least, it is possible to
intervene as soon as a problem is detected. Examples of this have been
observed in economy. For instance, the 2016 pound flash crash is claimed
to have been triggered by a trading algorithm malfunction. Algorithmic
trading is the use of computers to make large trades 2. no more
effectively and efficiently – so basically, some software makes trade – 2. ______________

buys and sells automatically – without any human input. We have such
software because trading can be done faster and 3. accurate by AI 4. 3. More accurate
among by a human. How can it be 5. much more accurate than humans? 4. Than________
First of all, it removes human emotion from investing decisions. And 5. ✅______________
secondly, 6. unlike humans, the program makes these decisions based on
6. Similar to_____
data by analysing news headlines, social media, and so on. It can analyse
vast amounts of information 7. far quick compared to humans. And
finally, these programmes save on labour costs.
7. Quicker_________
Although problems like the 2016 pound flash crash can be resolved in the
end without too much damage, many people are 8. more willing to have
narrow AI than other types of AI. In fact, they seem to be equally
8. Less__________
unwilling. It is true that we should still be very careful, because the more
technology advances, 9. more complex ecosystems of AI we create.
Banks, Stock Market, Cell phones… AI is all around us. We need to make
9. The more______
sure that each of these AI systems are secure and harmless. AI companies
probably spend more time on ensuring their systems are secure than they
do on 10. design new systems.
10. ✅______________

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