Comparison/Modifiers - CAE Advanced

Comparison: modifiers
Let us study the comparatives...
1. MODIFIERS with AS... AS...
We often use the modifiers almost, just, and nearly, and half, twice, three times, etc. with
as...as...
a. You can use so instead of the first as in negative sentences, e.g. She's not nearly so difficult as
people say.
b. After as...as we can either use a subject pronoun + auxiliary verb, or an object pronoun, e.g.
She drives as fast as I do OR She drives as fast as me.
Twice can only be used before as...as. DONT say: Our new flat is twice bigger-than our old one .
However three times, four times, etc. can be used with as...as or with a comparative adjective or
adverb, e.g. The holiday cost three times more than I'd expected. The holiday cost three times as
much as Id expected.
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2.
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5.
6.

My sister's almost as tall as me / almost as tall as I am.

She's just as bossy now as when she was a child.
Their house is nearly as big as yours.
His latest film isn't half as good as his previous one.
Our new flat is twice as big as our old one.
The car cost twice as much as I'd expected.

2. MODIFIERS with comparative adjectives or adverbs

We use far, much, or a lot (informal) + comparative adjective or adverb for a big difference:
1. The French wine is far more expensive than the South African one.
2. The play was much better than I'd expected.
3. He's driving a lot more carefully since he got points on his license.
When we use more + noun for big differences we use much / far / a lot more + an uncountable
noun and many / far / a lot more + a plural countable noun.
4. She earns much more money than I do.
5. Women today have many more opportunities than they used to.
We use slightly, a little, or a bit (informal) + comparative adjective or adverb for a small

difference.
1. She's a little better than she was yesterday.
2. The later train is slightly cheaper than the earlier one.
3. Could you two talk a bit more quietly, please?
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Comparison/Modifiers - CAE Advanced

When we use more + noun for small differences, we use a little / slightly / a bit more + an
uncountable noun and a few / slightly / a bit more + a plural countable noun.
4. A: Would you like some more coffee? B: Just a little more, please.
5. We've only got a few more minutes before the show starts.
3. DOUBLE COMPARATIVES FOR EMPHASIS
We sometimes repeat a comparative adjective or adverb for emphasis. When the comparative is
formed with more, the adjective / adverb is only used after the second more . DONT say : It's
getting more difficult and more difficult). CORRECT: Its getting more and more difficult.
1. The taxi driver drove faster and faster.
2. It's getting more and more difficult to make ends meet nowadays.

4. MODIFIERS with superlatives

We often use by far / much / easily, and nearly / almost to modify superlative adjectives or
adverbs.
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2.
3.
4.

It was by far the nicest of all the hotels we stayed at.

She's much the prettiest of the three children.
That was easily the best fish I've had for ages.
I'm nearly the oldest in my class.

5. THE... THE... + comparatives

We can use comparatives with the...the to say that things change or vary together.
a) When the verb in the first part is be, it can be left out, e.g. The more dangerous a sport
(is), the more some people seem to be attracted to it.
b) We often use more + noun in this structure, e.g. The more coffee you drink, the less well
you sleep.
c) When the second comparative is better, a reduced structure can be used, e.g. the bigger
the better, etc. and also in set phrases like the more the merrier.
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2.
3.
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The more dangerous a sport (is), the more exciting it is to watch.

The bigger the car (is), the more expensive it is to run.
The faster I speak in English, the more mistakes I make.
A: When do you want me to do it? B: The sooner the better.

Comparison/Modifiers - CAE Advanced

PRACTICE
Comparatives
ACTIVITY 1: Complete the second sentence so that it means the same as the first using the words
in BOLD capitals. Then check the answers.
1. My suitcase is only a bit heavier than yours.
Your suitcase mine. ALMOST
2. The repairs were four times more expensive than we had planned.
The repairs cost .. we had planned. MUCH
3. He's not half as outgoing as his sister.
His sister is . he is. FAR
4. The most elaborate dishes are the most difficult to cook.
The more elaborate a dish is, to cook. MORE
5. The shoes were almost as expensive as the bag.
The bag the shoes. SLIGHTLY
6. I'd never eaten such a bad meal before.
It was .. I'd ever eaten. BY FAR
7. Figs have double the calories of plums.
Plums have .. figs. HALF
8. This piece lasts 27 minutes and that one is slightly longer.
That piece only lasts. than this one. MINUTES

Comparison/Modifiers - CAE Advanced

ACTIVITY 2 : Choose the right word or expression to complete each sentence. Then check the
correct answers.
1. The sooner we leave for Uruguay, THE BETTER / THE BEST .
2. She types TWICE / THREE TIMES faster than me.
3. I've got MUCH / MANY more work this week than I had last week.
4. The meal was FAR / VERY cheaper than I expected.
5. I could see Dianne getting MORE AND MORE / MANY MORE frustrated.
6. There were A LITTLE / SLIGHTLY more people at the meeting today than there were yesterday.