Comparative Sentences — Than, As...As, Modifiers
Practice comparative sentence patterns with 'than', equal comparisons with 'as...as', modifiers like much/a bit/less, and 'the + comparative' for exactly two items.
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She runs ___ than her sister.
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faster
'Fast' is one syllable, so add -er — 'faster'.
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I'm not ___ I used to be.
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as fast as
'Not as ... as' is the structure for saying two things are not equal.
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This puzzle is ___ harder than the last one.
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much
Use 'much / far / a lot' with a comparative — not 'very'.
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This phone is ___ expensive than that one.
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less
'Less' + adjective makes a 'smaller' comparative — 'less expensive than'.
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The film was just as ___ as the book.
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exciting
Between 'as ... as' use the base form of the adjective — 'as exciting as'.
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I'm not as tall ___ my brother.
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as
The structure is 'not as + adjective + as'.
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The first option is ___ practical than the second.
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less
'Less + adjective + than' makes a downward comparison — 'less practical than'.
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It's ___ colder today than yesterday — almost zero degrees.
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a bit
Use 'a bit / a little / slightly' with a comparative to weaken it — 'a bit colder'. 'Very' is not used with comparatives.
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Of the two sisters, Sarah is ___.
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the taller
For exactly two items, use 'the' + comparative — 'the taller of the two'.
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My hometown and the capital
My hometown and the capital are very different. The capital is much {1} than my hometown — over five million people live there, while we have only fifty thousand. As you'd expect, it's also a {2} place: traffic and noise never stop. Life in the city centre is far {3} too — a small flat there can cost more than a large house at home. On the other hand, the capital has the {4} cultural life I know — museums, concerts and theatres, all within walking distance. The food in my hometown, though, is {5} — local farmers bring produce to the market every morning. The streets are also {6} — you can hear the birds in the early morning. And the air feels {7} as well; there's almost no pollution. So when I want excitement I take the train to the capital, but for peace of mind my hometown is the {8} place in the world.
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1. bigger — Comparative of 'big' (population difference) — 'much bigger than'.
2. busier — Comparative of 'busy' — '-y' changes to '-ier'.
3. more expensive — 'Expensive' has three syllables, so use 'more' — 'far more expensive'.
4. best — Superlative of 'good' — irregular: 'the best cultural life'.
5. fresher — Comparative of 'fresh' — implicit comparison with capital food.
6. quieter — Comparative of 'quiet'.
7. cleaner — Comparative of 'clean'.
8. calmest — Superlative of 'calm' — 'the calmest place in the world'.
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Choosing a car
A: So, which car are you going to buy — the red one or the silver one?
B: It's hard to choose. The red one is {1} and looks great. But it's also {2} than the silver one.
A: More expensive? By how much?
B: About two thousand euros. Honestly, the silver one might be the {3} option. It uses much less petrol.
A: And what about safety?
B: Both have great ratings, but the silver one is slightly {4} according to the reviews.
A: That matters with two small kids in the car.
B: Exactly. And it's a bit {5} too — easier to park in town.
A: So why are you still hesitating?
B: Because the red one is just {6} to drive. But I know the silver one is probably the {7} choice for our family.Show answer
1. faster — Comparative of 'fast' — implicit comparison with the silver one.
2. more expensive — 'Expensive' has three syllables, so use 'more' — 'more expensive than'.
3. cheapest — Superlative of 'cheap' — 'the cheapest option' overall (because of fuel savings).
4. safer — Comparative of 'safe' — 'slightly safer' (the modifier 'slightly' confirms a comparative).
5. smaller — Comparative of 'small' — 'a bit smaller' (easier to park).
6. more fun — 'Fun' uses 'more' — 'more fun to drive'.
7. best — Superlative of 'good' — irregular: 'the best choice'.
Using the Comparative in a Sentence
Once an adjective has its comparative form, English attaches it to a sentence through a small set of fixed patterns: than for unequal comparisons, as...as for equal ones, and a group of modifiers that strengthen or soften the comparison. Getting the form right is only half the job — using it in the correct structure is the other half.
Than for Unequal Comparisons
This puzzle is much harder than the last one.
As...As for Equal Comparisons
Between 'as' and 'as', use the base form of the adjective, never the comparative: 'as exciting as', not 'as more exciting as'. The negative 'not as...as' is the everyday way to say two things are unequal, more common in speech than a comparative with 'less'.
I'm not as tall as my brother.
Modifiers: Much, A Bit, Less
Strengthen a comparative with much / far / a lot; soften it with a bit / a little / slightly. 'Very' cannot modify a comparative — 'very harder' is always wrong. 'Less + adjective' makes a downward comparison without changing the adjective's form: 'less expensive than', never 'lesser expensive'.
The + Comparative for Exactly Two
When exactly two things are compared, use 'the' with the comparative, not the superlative: 'the taller of the two sisters' — the superlative is reserved for groups of three or more.
Common Mistakes
✗ Of the two sisters, Sarah is the tallest. → ✓ the taller. ('the' + comparative for two)
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