"Learning another language is not only learning different words for the same things, but learning another way to think about things."

Flora Lewis

Types of Comparisons

1. To say two things are the same*:

  • 'as...as': Growth is as slow as it was last year.
  • the same as: The Orion costs the same as the Golf.

2. To say that one thing is more than the other:

  • 'than': Growth is slower than last year
  • twice/ three times etc/ half as... as: She earns twice as much as me

3. To say that smth looks like smth else

  • look, sound, smell, taste + like: That sounds like a goos idea

4. To say that one thing is less than another:

  • less... than: I have less free time than you have
  • the least ... of/in: She has the least free time of all

5. the+ comparative..., the+comparative

The busier the roads are, the longer it will take to get there.

The less you sleep, the more tired you get.

6. comparative+and+comparative

Jobs are getting harder and harder to find

7. would rather/sooner+inf without to+than+inf without to

She'd sooner go alone than go with him.

A big difference* 

  • far more+adjective+than
  • nowhere near as+adjective+as
  • considerably +comparative+ than
  • not nearly as +adjective+ as
  • a great deal + comparative+than

A small difference*

  • almost as+adj+as
  • nearly as+adj+as
  • slightly +comparative+than
  • not quite as+adj+as

No difference*

  • as+adj+as
  • not any+comparative+than
  • no+comparative+than

 

 

 

 

Published in Building Grammar Supporting Skills
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