Strengthening comparative constructions: How and When to Use in English
Quick and simple lesson to help you understand grammar better.
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Strengthening comparative constructions
The following expressions are used to reinforce or specify comparisons.
Philip is much taller than I thought. Philip is a lot taller than I thought.
Is this scene any better than the previous one? Is this scene at all better than the previous one?
It's even better. It is better than the other option, and the other option is very good!
This report is far better than the first draft. This report is a lot better than the original version.
⢠Other examples:
This girl is just as beautiful as her mother. The mother and daughter are equally beautiful.
Your bedroom is twice as big as mine. Your bedroom is 2 times the size of my bedroom.
This tower is three times as tall as the trees. This tower is three times taller than the trees.
Similarly, superlatives can also be emphasized:
the very best in the perfume industry definitely the best in the perfume industry
the very latest news the most recent news, by far
Bruno is by far the most qualified for this job. Bruno is clearly the most qualified for this job.
Exercise 1
children like chocolate more than they like homework.
Most 1 children like chocolate much 2 more than they like homework.
1 Most: 'Most' is the term we need here. 'Most children' means 'the majority of children'. Here's another example: 'Most cars damage the environment'.
1 Much: This is not correct. 'Much' means 'a lot' or 'a big amount', and is used with uncountable nouns. Example: 'I don't have much money at the moment'. This does not make sense here.
2 much: 'Much' is the right answer. If you like something 'much more' than something else, you greatly prefer it. 'Much' is used for emphasis here. Another example: 'I am much less hungry now than I was before I ate that horse'.
2 most: This is not correct. 'Most' is a superlative, and does not make grammatical sense here.
Exercise 2
Rewrite the following sentences without changing their meaning. Each option can only be used once.
1) Is Ben Greenâs new novel any more interesting than his last one?
Is Ben's Green's new novel more interesting than his last one?
2) Is Ben Greenâs new novel much more interesting than his last one?
Is Ben's Green's new novel more interesting than his last one?
3) Yes, itâs even more interesting.
The last novel was , but the new one is more interesting.
4) Yes, it's far more interesting.
The last novel was , but the new one is more interesting.
1) Is Ben Greenâs new novel any more interesting than his last one?
Is Ben's Green's new novel more interesting than his last one?
2) Is Ben Greenâs new novel much more interesting than his last one?
Is Ben's Green's new novel more interesting than his last one?
3) Yes, itâs even more interesting.
The last novel was , but the new one is more interesting.
4) Yes, it's far more interesting.
The last novel was , but the new one is more interesting.
Rewrite the following sentences without changing their meaning. Each option can only be used once.
1) Is Ben Greenâs new novel any more interesting than his last one?
Is Ben's Green's new novel at all 1 more interesting than his last one?
2) Is Ben Greenâs new novel much more interesting than his last one?
Is Ben's Green's new novel significantly 2 more interesting than his last one?
3) Yes, itâs even more interesting.
The last novel was interesting 3, but the new one is more interesting.
4) Yes, it's far more interesting.
The last novel was not very interesting 4, but the new one is more interesting.
1) Is Ben Greenâs new novel any more interesting than his last one?
Is Ben's Green's new novel at all 1 more interesting than his last one?
2) Is Ben Greenâs new novel much more interesting than his last one?
Is Ben's Green's new novel significantly 2 more interesting than his last one?
3) Yes, itâs even more interesting.
The last novel was interesting 3, but the new one is more interesting.
4) Yes, it's far more interesting.
The last novel was not very interesting 4, but the new one is more interesting.
1 at all: The speaker of both of these sentences (using "any more" and "at all") wants to know whether the new novel is more interesting than the last one, even if it is only a small difference. A similar example: "Has the apple tree which we planted got any bigger? Has it grown at all?". Note that "any" is more natural with a comparative adjective like "more interesting", although "at all" isn't wrong.
1 significantly: If the latest novel is significantly more interesting than a previous novel, then the difference between them is large. The sentence "Is Ben Greenâs new novel any more interesting than his last one?" is an enquiry about a difference of any size, not just a big difference.
2 significantly: The person asking this question wants to know if there is a large difference between the two novels. The intensifier "much" is used with comparative adjectives to emphasize them. For example: "I feel much happier since I started my new job".
2 at all: A question using "at all" is concerned with differences or changes of any size. This is not the meaning of a question that uses "much more".
3 interesting: A comparison using "even more interesting" implies that both items are interesting, but one is more interesting. It may also suggest that it is surprising that the second item is more interesting. A similar example: "Today's exam was even more difficult than yesterday's, and I struggled a lot with yesterday's exam".
3 not very interesting: If the new novel is even more interesting, then the previous novel must also have been interesting.
4 not very interesting: The new novel is far more interesting: it is a big improvement on the previous one. This implies that the previous novel was, most probably, not very interesting. Using "far" with a comparative adjective often implies a change from a negative to a positive state. For example: "Last month, I was thinking about firing you. But your work has become far more efficient recently. Well done".
4 interesting: If the new novel is far more interesting, then it is unlikely that the previous one was interesting.
Exercise 3
Complete the following sentences so that they match the descriptions.
I am 6 foot tall, and my daughter is 3 foot tall. I am as tall as my daughter.
Susie finds two cocktails equally delicious. She finds the first cocktail as delicious as the second one.
Bob thinks he should receive a raise of 400%. He thinks he should be paid as much as he is currently paid.
I am 6 foot tall, and my daughter is 3 foot tall. I am as tall as my daughter.
Susie finds two cocktails equally delicious. She finds the first cocktail as delicious as the second one.
Bob thinks he should receive a raise of 400%. He thinks he should be paid as much as he is currently paid.
Complete the following sentences so that they match the descriptions.
I am 6 foot tall, and my daughter is 3 foot tall. I am twice 1 as tall as my daughter.
Susie finds two cocktails equally delicious. She finds the first cocktail just 2 as delicious as the second one.
Bob thinks he should receive a raise of 400%. He thinks he should be paid five times 3 as much as he is currently paid.
I am 6 foot tall, and my daughter is 3 foot tall. I am twice 1 as tall as my daughter.
Susie finds two cocktails equally delicious. She finds the first cocktail just 2 as delicious as the second one.
Bob thinks he should receive a raise of 400%. He thinks he should be paid five times 3 as much as he is currently paid.
1 twice: If I am "twice as tall as" my daughter, then I am double the height of my daughter, or two times (2x) taller than she is. To make a numerical comparison between two things, we can use the formula number of times + as + simple adjective + as. For example: "The sun is a billion times as bright as this light bulb" (which has the same meaning as "The sun is a billion times brighter than this light bulb").
1 very: We use "very" to intensify simple adjectives or superlatives, but we can't use it in a comparison. For example: "Your mother is very tall!"; "This school is the very best in the state".
1 much: We use "much" to emphasize a comparative adjective followed by the word "than". We can't use it with a comparison that uses the word "as". We could say: "I am much taller than my daughter".
2 just: We use the phrase "just as (delicious) as" to communicate that two things are "equally (delicious)". The sentence also makes sense without "just", but "just" adds emphasis and sounds natural. Another example: "Don't worry, I'm sure that flying a plane will be just as easy as riding a bike".
2 any: We can't use "any" immediately before the word "as", or before a simple adjective like "delicious". However, we can use "any" to emphasize a comparative adjective. For example, we might say "I know you found the first seven dresses ugly, but is this one any better?". This question means "Is this dress at all better (even a little bit better) than the other dresses?".
2 so: We can use "so" to emphasize or intensify an adjective, but it must be placed immediately before that adjective. Susie might say "This cocktail is so delicious!". We can't use "so" as part of a comparison of equality, however.
3 five times: "Five times as much as" has the same meaning as "Five times more than". If a number increases by 400%, then the new number is five times greater than the old one. But don't worry too much about the math, Bruno: try to focus on the words. Here's another example: "Providing free contraception is seven times as effective as encouraging abstinence".
3 five: We can't use the number "five" on its own here. We need to know "five what?"!
3 just: If Bob thinks he should be paid "just as much as he is currently paid", then he thinks his pay should not change! "Just as" emphasizes that two qualities or quantities are exactly the same. For example: "My brother earns just as much as I do, even though I'm better qualified" (both people earn the same amount).
3 ever: We can't use "ever" in this position in the sentence. In a different context, we could use the phrase "as much as ever", which means "the same amount as before" or "to the same degree as in the past". For example: "Jimmy came to the dinner party, and he drank as much as ever" (he usually drinks a lot, and he also drank a lot on this occasion).
Exercise 4
Complete the following sentences so that they match the descriptions.
9 people came to my birthday party this year, and only 3 came last year. as many people came to my birthday party this year.
Stockholm is 100 miles from here, and Helsinki is 200 miles from here. Helsinki is as far away as Stockholm.
These two piano pieces are equally difficult to learn. The first piece is as difficult to learn as the second piece.
9 people came to my birthday party this year, and only 3 came last year. as many people came to my birthday party this year.
Stockholm is 100 miles from here, and Helsinki is 200 miles from here. Helsinki is as far away as Stockholm.
These two piano pieces are equally difficult to learn. The first piece is as difficult to learn as the second piece.
Complete the following sentences so that they match the descriptions.
9 people came to my birthday party this year, and only 3 came last year. Three times 1 as many people came to my birthday party this year.
Stockholm is 100 miles from here, and Helsinki is 200 miles from here. Helsinki is twice 2 as far away as Stockholm.
These two piano pieces are equally difficult to learn. The first piece is just 3 as difficult to learn as the second piece.
9 people came to my birthday party this year, and only 3 came last year. Three times 1 as many people came to my birthday party this year.
Stockholm is 100 miles from here, and Helsinki is 200 miles from here. Helsinki is twice 2 as far away as Stockholm.
These two piano pieces are equally difficult to learn. The first piece is just 3 as difficult to learn as the second piece.
1 Three times: "Three times as many as" has the same meaning as "Three times more than". 9 people is three times as many people as 3 people. If that mathematical statement stresses you out, here's a statement with fewer numbers in: "Research shows that there are four times as many ways to leave your lover as Paul Simon predicted".
1 Three: We can't use the number "three" on its own here. We need to know "three what?"!
1 So: We can say "so many", but not "so as many". For example: "There were so many women at the conference this year! I'm so delighted!" (A large or surprising number of women attended the conference).
1 Much: We can't use the word "much" in conjunction with "as many". "Much" can be used to intensify a comparison, for example: "This grammar test is much harder than the previous one" (a lot harder, far more difficult).
2 twice: If one journey is double the distance of another, then it is twice as far as the other journey, or 200% of the length of the other journey. Another example: "I could earn twice as much money working as a consultant than working in-house".
2 more: We can't use "more" in this sentence, immediately before the word "as". We use "more" to write the comparative form of adjectives with two or more syllables. We might say: "Helsinki is more cosmopolitan than Stockholm" (though I'll be honest with you, Bruno: I have no idea whether that's true or not).
2 much: We can't use "much" in this sentence. We can use "much" in certain comparisons of equality, for example: "She eats as much as I do" (we eat the same quantity). We can also use "much" to intensify comparative adjectives, for example: "People in Stockholm are much friendlier than people in Helsinki". (I'll be honest with you, Bruno: I have no idea whether that's true or not.)
3 just: We use the phrase "just as (difficult) as" to communicate that two things are "equally (difficult)". The sentence also makes sense without "just", but "just" adds emphasis and sounds natural. Another example: "That's right, darling. Everyone else is just as special as you are" (You and other people are equally special).
3 even: We don't use "even" in comparisons of equality. Rather, we use it to intensify a comparative adjective. For example: "Wait a second, everyone. I think I may have an idea which is even more ridiculous than Luna's".
3 same: We can't use the word "same" in this way. The word "same" is generally preceded by "the" and generally describes a noun. For example: "I drive the same car as my cousin, we work for the same company⌠our lives are almost exactly the same".
Exercise 5
Complete the sentences below in order to add emphasis to the superlative adjectives.
Jean is only interested in drinking the best wine.
Our company only employs the brightest technicians.
Horatio is the most gifted perfumer I have ever met.
Jean is only interested in drinking the best wine.
Our company only employs the brightest technicians.
Horatio is the most gifted perfumer I have ever met.
Complete the sentences below in order to add emphasis to the superlative adjectives.
Jean is only interested in drinking the very 1 best wine.
Our company only employs the very 2 brightest technicians.
Horatio is by far 3 the most gifted perfumer I have ever met.
Jean is only interested in drinking the very 1 best wine.
Our company only employs the very 2 brightest technicians.
Horatio is by far 3 the most gifted perfumer I have ever met.
1 very: To emphasize a superlative adjective, we can use the formula the + very + superlative adjective. This emphasizes that something is the best without exception, or the absolute best. Another example: "We sell only the very finest chocolate that money can buy". Note that this only works with "short" superlative adjectives (those which end in "-st": biggest, furthest, best, etc.).
1 most: You should never use the word "most" immediately before a superlative adjective ending in "-st". This is redundant because it repeats information unnecessarily. We use "most" to write the superlative form of long adjectives (with two or more syllables), for example: most interesting, most delicious, most outrageous, most distant.
1 extremely: We can use "extremely" to emphasize simple adjectives, but not superlative adjectives. For example: "Please savor this wine, because it is extremely expensive".
2 very: "The very brightest technicians" are the technicians who are absolutely the most intelligent. The use of "very" stresses or emphasizes the superlative adjective "brightest" (which means "most intelligent"). Another example: "She was the very bravest woman I had ever met".
2 by far: We can use the phrase "by far" to emphasize a superlative adjective, but it cannot be placed between "the" and the adjective: this is the wrong word order. We could say: "Our technicians are by far the brightest in the industry" (before the word "the") or "Our technicians are the brightest in the industry by far" (at the end of the sentence).
2 much: We use "much" to emphasize comparative adjectives, not superlative adjectives. We could say: "Our technicians are much brighter than those working for our competitors".
3 by far: Another way of emphasizing a superlative adjective is to add "by far" before the word "the". Note that we could also place "by far" at the end of the sentence: "Horatio is the most gifted perfumer I have ever met by far". Both sentences convey that Horatio is much more gifted than other perfumers. Another example: "That is by far the most beautiful giraffe in the whole zoo".
3 very: Although we can use the word "very" to emphasize superlative adjectives, it must be placed between the word "the" and the adjective. In addition, this only works with "short" superlatives that end in the letters "-st": we can't use it with superlatives that use the word "more". For example: "Horatio is the very greatest perfumer of all".
3 far: We can't use the word "far" on its own to emphasize superlative adjectives. However, it can be used to emphasize comparative adjectives. For example: "Horatio is far more talented than most other perfumers I have met; he is also far ruder".
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