Comparisons
of adjectives, adverbs and nouns
Prepared by vmhuetn@gmail.com
TOEFL class
Comparisons - prepared by vmhuetn@gmail.com
2
Comparisons of adj. and adv.
Kinds
The absolute / positive: to describe a thing or person

Equal comparisons: 2 entities are or are not exactly the same


The superlative: to compare more than two things / people
She is very attractive.


She is as poor as a church mouse.


She is the most intelligent girl in her class.



Comparisons - prepared by vmhuetn@gmail.com
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Comparisons of adj. and adv.
Kinds
The comparative: to compare two entities.

Double comparatives


Multiple number comparatives
Korean films are more popular in Vietnam than Japanese ones.

The more she knows him, the more she hates him.

Her house is three times as big as mine.

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Equal comparisons
S + V + as + adj. / adv. + as + N / pronoun

Note: “so ... as” is only used in negative form


Subject pronoun must be used after “as”
She is as young as her husband.

He is not so tall as his father


Peter is as tall as I
You are as old as she.
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Equal comparisons
It is not nearly as cold as yesterday.
He is just as strong as ever.
You are nothing like as bad-tempered as you used to be.
She is every bit as beautiful a her sister.
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Equal comparisons
S + V + the same + (N) + as + N/pron.



as + adj. + as = the same + N + as


The same as >< different from

I have the same idea as you.
My idea is the same as yours.

My house is as high as his.
My house is the same height as his.

My nationality is different from hers.
Our climate is different from Canada’s.
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Equal comparisons
S + V: omitted
As soon as possible
As much as necessary
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Equal comparisons
As vs. Like
Like (prep.) + noun / pronoun / Ving
It is like a palace.
Like me, she’s a teacher.
It sounds like a baby crying.
Like = For example
Some sports, like motor racing, are dangerous.
As + S + V
They did as they promised.
As (prep.) + N
As a manager, she has to make important decisions.
They work as goldsmiths.
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Equal comparisons
so / too / also


neither / either


as well

She likes music. So do I. / I do, too.


I have never been to Hawaii. Neither has she./ She hasn’t either.


She not only sings; she plays the piano as well.
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Comparatives
short adj. / adv. + er


more / less + long adj. / adv.


Notes: subject pronouns are used after than

This ring is smaller than that ring.
She types faster than he does.


She drives more carefully than her elder sister.


He speaks Spanish more fluently than I.
He visits family less frequently than she does.

Comparisons - prepared by vmhuetn@gmail.com
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Comparatives
Intensification
Far
Much / Very much
A lot / Lots
A bit
A little
Slightly
Rather
Even

Harry’s watch is far more expensive than mine.
A watermelon is much sweeter than a lemon.
That movie we saw last night was much less interesting than the one on television.
She dances much more artistically than her predecessor.
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Comparatives
Notes
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Irregular comparisons
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Compound adjectives
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Comparatives without “than”
Of the two shirts, this one is the prettier.
Of the landscapes that you have shown me, this one is the more picturesque.
Harvey is the smarter of the two boys.
Please give me the smaller of the two pieces of cake.
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No sooner ... than ...
No sooner + aux. + S + V + than + S + V.
No sooner had we started out for California than it started to rain.
No sooner will he arrive than he will want to leave.
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no longer / no more
not any more / not any longer
John no longer studies at the university.
John does not study at the university any longer.

Cynthia may no longer use the library because her card has expired.
Cynthia may not use the library any longer because her card has expired.
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Double comparatives
The + comparative + S + V + the + comparative + S + V



The more + S + V + the + comparative + S + V




Notes: Verb is omitted.

The sooner you take your medicine, the better you will feel.
The higher we flew, the worse Edna felt.

The more you study, the smarter you will become.
The more he rowed the boat, the farther away he got.



The farther a car moves away from a radar speed trap, the lower the frequency of the radar signal.
The sooner, the better.


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Multiple number comparatives
Include: half / twice / three times / four times ...
S + V +number multiple + as + many / much + (N) + as + N/pron.
Never say: “twice more than”, “three times more than”
This encyclopedia costs twice as much as the other one.
At the clambake last week, Fred ate three times as many oysters as Barney.
Jerome has half as many records now as I had last year.
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Superlatives
much
(by) far
quite
almost
practically
nearly
easily
He’s much the most imaginative of them all.
She’s by far the oldest.
He’s quite the most stupid man I’ve ever met.
I’m nearly the oldest in the firm.
This is easily the worst party I’ve been to this year.
Comparisons - prepared by vmhuetn@gmail.com
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Comparisons of nouns
S + V + as + many / much / little / few + N + as + N/pron.


S + V + more / less /fewer + N + than + N/pron.


He earns as much money as his father.
Before payday, I have as little money as my brother.


I have more books than she.
Their job allows them less freedom than ours does.

Comparisons - prepared by vmhuetn@gmail.com
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Comparisons of nouns
More examples
A harder exam would discourage the students.
The taller boy won the wrestling match.
The earliest time I can come is ten o’clock.
He has the worst temper in the world.
That is the most convincing movie I’ve ever seen.
Puerto Rico has higher average January temperature than Hawaii has.
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Notes
Some adjectives cannot used with comparisons
Perfect
Unique
Matchless
Empty
Square
Round
Circular
Triangular
Wooden
Yearly
Monthly
Daily

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TOEFL strategy
Illogical comparisons: possessive case, that of , those of
His drawings are as perfect as his instructor
→ His drawings are as perfect as his instructor’s

The salary of a professor is higher than a secretary.
→ The salary of a professor is higher than that of a secretary.

The duties of a policeman are more dangerous than a teacher.
→ The duties of a policeman are more dangerous than those of a teacher.


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TOEFL strategy
Incorrect degree
Tribal-owned enterprises of the Navaho Indians include the larger tribal newspaper in the United States and the first Indian-operated college.

Separate the parts of a comparative with a phrase of clause
People are ... the need for health insurance than for life insurance.
A. more likely to see
B. likely to see
C. seeing more like
D. seeing most
Comparisons - prepared by vmhuetn@gmail.com
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TOEFL strategy
Incorrectly formed degree structures
Because some insurance agents work on commission, they must work ......... to earn higher pay .
A. more the long hours
B. hours more long
C. longer hours
D. as longer hours

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The end