COMPARISONS IN ENGLISH
There are some rules to help you make comparisons in English.
1 If the adjective (describing word) is one syllable, you can add -er.
For example, small – smaller; big – bigger; nice – nicer.
2 If the adjective has two syllables, but ends in -y, you can change the end to -
ier.
For example, lucky – luckier; happy – happier.
3 With other English adjectives of two syllables and more, you can’t change
their endings. Instead, you should use more + adjective.
For example, handsome – more handsome; beautiful – more beautiful and so
on.
4 When you compare two things, use ‘than’.
“She’s younger than me.”
“This exercise is more difficult than the last one.”
5 When you want to say something is similar, use ‘as – as’.
For example, “She’s as tall as her brother” or “It’s as nice today as it was
yesterday.”
6 When you want to say one thing is less than another, you can either use ‘less
than’ or ‘not as – as’.
For example, “This programme is less interesting than I thought” or “This
programme is not as interesting as I thought.”
7 Remember that some adjectives are irregular and change form when you
make comparisons.
For example, good – better; bad – worse; far – further.
Using qualifying expressions
You can vary the strength of the comparison by using “qualifying”
expressions.
1
1. Comparing two things
You can use “a lot”, “much”, “a little”, “slightly” and “far” before “more /
less than”:
“She’s a lot more intelligent than him.”
“This car is much faster than the other one.”
“They are much less wealthy than they used to be.”
“He’s a little taller than his sister.”
“She’s slightly less interested in football than him.
“We are far more involved in charity than they are.”
When you use these qualifying expressions in English, remember the rules
about using -er. If the adjective is one syllable, or ends in -y, add -er:
“He’s far taller than her.” (NOT “He’s far more taller…”)
“I’m much lazier than you!”
When the adjective is two syllables and more, you need either “more” or
“less”:
“He’s a little more prepared for the exam than she is.” (NOT “He’s a little
prepareder…”)
2. Saying how two things are similar
You can use “almost as … as”, “not quite as … as”, “(not) nearly as … as”,
“nowhere near as … as”, “twice as … as” and “half as … as” to change the
extent of the similarity.
“She’s almost as good as you!”
“He’s not quite as confident as Susie.”
“I’m not nearly as intelligent as her!”
“This painting is nowhere near as famous as the first.”
“She’s twice as old as him!
“He’s half as interesting as you!”
EXERCISE
2
1. He is __ me.
older
more old than
older than
2. Her garden is __ mine.
more pretty than
prettyer than
prettier than
3. This exercise is __ the last one.
more difficult
more difficult than
difficult than
4. He's more __ his brother.
handsome
handsome than
handsomer
5. She's __ her mother.
as tall as
3
as tall
taller
6. This quiz is __ the last one.
as easy as
as easy than
easier
7. He's less rich __ his brother.
than
as
8. Milan is __ Rome.
more beautiful as
as beautiful than
less beautiful than
9. Her car is __ than mine.
much more old
much older
much old
4
10. I'm a __ you.
little more old than
little older
little older than
11. The lesson is __ than I thought.
far more difficult
far difficult
difficult
12. He __ his father.
isn't as tall as
not as tall as
is tall as
13. She isn't __ her mother.
more beautiful as
beautiful than
as beautiful as
14. His new film __ the last one.
isn't as funny than
5
is funnier
is funnier than
15. The situation is __ we thought.
much complicated than
more complicated
more complicated than
16. She's __ her sister at tennis.
more good than
better than
as better than
17. He's __ his brother at driving.
worse than
worst than
more bad than
18. Cambridge is __ Oxford from London.
farer than
more far than
further than
6
19. Italy is __ France.
more hotter than
a bit hotter than
a bit hot than
20. Lemons __ oranges.
aren't as sweet as
aren't sweet as
aren't more sweet as
