GRAMMAR

Making Comparisons

1-4. Make a comparison by using the word in brackets to complete the sentence.
(1) The architecture in London is far ______________ than in St Petersburg. (modern)
(2) Eating fast food is much ______________ for you than eating home made food. (bad)
(3) Running is a lot ______________ than yoga. (strenuous)
(4) The picture on a High Definition screen is a considerably ______________ than a normal TV
screen. (sharp)

5-10. Add one word to the following sentences to make them correct.
(5) Three times as many people own a mobile phone in the US in France.
___________________________________________________________________________

(6) That was far the worst film I have ever seen.
___________________________________________________________________________

(7) I can’t do this exercise. The longer I work on it, more frustrated I become.
___________________________________________________________________________

(8) The south of England has most hours of sunshine per day.
___________________________________________________________________________

(9) It is lot better to study in the morning than late at night.

___________________________________________________________________________

(10) I am almost bad at listening as I am at reading.

___________________________________________________________________________

11-16. Choose the correct alternatives in brackets to complete the sentences.

(11) There are half as many people working in the finance sector ______________ in the education
sector. (as / than)
(12) I think that people who work from home are ______________ more productive than those who
work in an office. (slightly / just)
(13) Britain uses ____________________________________ France. (twice more energy than /
twice as much energy as)
(14) The less breaks I have, _____________________________ (the less efficient my study is /
the my study is less efficient)
(15) I strongly believe that children who learn to read at a young age achieve ______________
higher marks in exams than those who learn to read later. (far / by far)
(16) London is ______________ the biggest city in England. (twice / easily)

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17-20. Rewrite the sentences using “The + comparative, the + comparative”.
(17) If you start the exercises soon, you will finish them soon.
___________________________________________________________________________

(18) When you get old, you give good advice.

___________________________________________________________________________

(19) If the government takes tax from your salary, they can spend more on infrastructure.
___________________________________________________________________________

(20) If you smoke, you have a high chance of having a stroke or heart attack.
___________________________________________________________________________

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 ANSWERS & COMMENTS

1. more modern Modern has 2 syllables but does not end in –y, so we need to use “more”
2. worse Remember the 3 irregular adjectives” good, bad and far.
3. more strenuous “strenuous” as got 3 syllables so we need to add “more” to make the
comparison.
4. sharper “sharp” has 1 syllable so requires the -er suffix to make a comparison
5. Three times as many people own a mobile phone in the US as in France.
Remember, if you use 1 “as”, you must use a second “as”.
6. That was by far the worst film I have ever seen.
We use “far” with adjectives – “It is far hotter in Australia than Iceland”.
However, we use “by far” with superlatives “Australia is by far the hottest
country I have ever lived in”
7. I can’t do this exercise. The longer I work on it, the more frustrated I become.
8. The south of England has the most hours of sunshine per day.
You always need to use “the” when using a superlative.
9. It is a lot better to study in the morning than late at night.
10. I am almost as bad at listening as I am at reading.
You always need 2 “as” in a comparative sentence.
11. as This is the type of sentences where I see the most mistakes. Remember, you
must always have 2 “as” in one sentence.
12. slightly We can only use “just” in an as/as sentence.
13. twice as much energy as You must always use “as / as” with “twice”.
14. the less efficient my study is
We must always have the comparison directly after “the”.
15. far Remember, “far” with adjectives, “by far’ with superlatives.
16. easily
17. The sooner you start the exercises, the sooner you will finish them.
18. The older you get, the better advice you give.
19. The more money the government takes from your salary, the more they can spend on
infrastructure.
20. The more you smoke, the higher your chance of having a stroke or heart attack.
Apologies to all the smokers out there!

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