Advanced Grammar
Making comparisons
Making comparisons
Making Comparisons
Index:
1. Forming Comparatives
2. Same or different
3. Double comparatives
4. Preference
5. As and like
6. As if and as though
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Making Comparisons. 1. Forming comparatives
We can make adjectives and adverbs comparative with
-er…than or more/less + adj/adv….than
He was much older than I remebered him. (comparative adj.)
He drove less carefully than he should. (comparative adv.)
Some adverbs have an –er comparative (earlier)
Adverbs ending in –ly (formed from adjectives) use more or less:
He started to work even more hurriedly.
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Making Comparisons. 2. Same or different
2.2.1. We can use the following structures and phrases to say
that something is the same as, or different from, another:
Ben has MUCH THE SAME height AS me.
He has DIFFERENT opinions FROM me.
She’s NOT AS bright AS her dad.
Neither are ANYTHING LIKE AS bright AS I am.
This is NOTHING LIKE AS interesting AS I thought it would be.
You’ve kept on trying but your attempts are NOWHERE AS
GOOD AS your first one.
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Making Comparisons. 2. Same or different
2.2.3. In the positive we only use AS…AS. In the negative,
SO…AS can also be used:
Granddad doesN’T get out and about SO easily AS he used to.
2.2.4. SUCH + Noun + AS is used in negative sentences (Note
the change of position of A/AN):
I didN’T have SUCH A good time AS last week. (I didN’T have AS
GOOD A TIME AS…)
2.2.5. We can use AS as a form of inversion with an auxiliary
verb: People can no longer climb the tower at Pisa, AS WAS
possible until a few years ago.
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Making Comparisons. 2. Same or different
2.2.6. We can also use superlatives with THE; we often follow
these with a that-clause:
This is THE BEST meal (THAT) I’ve ever had.
2.2.7. When the superlative isn’t followed by a noun or that-
clause, we can omit THE:
I think this one is (THE) BEST.
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Making Comparisons. 3. Double Comparatives
We use double comparatives with THE to say that one thing
results in another:
THE MORE we discuss this, THE LESS I understand it.
THE LONGER I carried the box, THE HEAVIER it became.
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Making Comparisons. 4. Preference
There are various ways to express preference:
I prefer (playing) basketball to football.
I would prefer to stay here than go out so late.
I’d sooner / rather die than have to go through that exam again!
(I’d far rather die than have to go through that exam again!)
Rather than watch the news, I’d prefer to check what’s new on
Netflix.
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Making Comparisons. 5. AS and LIKE
5.1. When followed by a noun,
- we use AS to give a description, to explain a role, to account
for a job (Peter works as a waiter = He IS a waiter)
- We use LIKE to make a comparison (He works like a farm
horse = He DOES something like a farm horse, but he IS NOT a
farm horse – Comparison)
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Making Comparisons. 5. AS and LIKE
5.2. When we make a comparison, LIKE is followed by a noun
phrase. AS is a conjunction and is followed by a verb phrase.
Although LIKE is used very informally with verb phrases, it is
best avoided:
He looks as me. (As +pronoun / noun phrase. Wrong)
They get up every morning like I do. (Like + verb phrase.
Informal. Avoid!)
He looks like me. (Like +pronoun / noun phrase. Correct)
They get up early every morning, as I do. (As + verb phrase.
Correct)
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Making Comparisons. 6. AS IF and AS THOUGH
We use as if and as though to say what seems to be true,
happening, etc.
6.1. We can use Unreal Past or subjunctive after as if or as
though to emphasise that the comparison is imaginary:
Unreal Past: She looks as if she knew what’s going to happen.
(she doesn’t)
Subjunctive: She looks as if she knows what’s going to happen
(maybe she does)
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Making Comparisons
6.2. We can use just or exactly + as if / as though to emphasise
the comparison. Much or almost + as if / as though weakens
the comparison:
He looks just as though he’d won a million dollars.
(empahasised)
They look almost as if they didn’t want to be here. (weakened)
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Bibliography
Richard Side and Guy Wellman: ‘Grammar and Vocabulary for
Cambridge Advanced and Proficiency’ Longman – Pearson. 2018
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