Comparison 2 (much better / any better / better and better / the sooner the better)

Question 1

Right or false? Can we use all the words below before comparative forms:

much / a lot / far (= a lot) / a bit / a little /

slightly (= a little)

Answer 1

Right we can use all these comparatives before all those words.

^{<span>Let’s drive. It’s <strong><u>much</u> cheaper</strong>.</span>}

^{<span>Don’t go by train. It’s <strong><u>a lot</u> more expensive</strong>.</span>}

^{<span>Coul you speak<strong> <u>a bit</u> more slowly</strong>?</span>}

^{<span>This bag is <strong><u>slightly</u> heavier</strong> than the other one.</span>}

^{<span>Her illness was <strong><u>far</u> more serious</strong> than we thought at first.</span>}

Question 2

Can we use any an no + comparative (any longer / any bigger)?

Answer 2

Yes we can use any _{<span><span>(<em>ne…plus</em>)</span></span>} an no _{(pas plus…)} + comparative (any longer / any bigger).

I’ve waited long enough. I’m not waiting any longer. _{(not even a little longer)}

We expected their house to be very big, but it’s no _{(or it is<strong>n’t any</strong>)} bigger than our.

This hotel is better than the other one, and it’s no more expensive.

Question 3

To say that something is changing continuously, we can re____ comparatives.

Answer 3

To say that something is changing continuously, we can repeat comparatives.

Your English is improving. It’s getting better and better.

The city is growing fast. It’s getting biger and bigger.

Cathy got more and more bored in her job.

These days more and more people are learnign English.

Question 4

Can we say the sooner the better?

Answer 4

Yes we can say the sooner the better.

“What time should we leave?” “The sooner the better. (= as soon as possible)

“What sort of box?” “The bigger the better”. (= as big as possible)

When you’re travelling, the less luggage you have the better.

Question 5

Can we use the… the… to say that one thing depends on another thing?

Answer 5

Yes we can use the… the… to say that one thing depends on another thing?

^{<span><strong>The warmer</strong> the weather, <strong>the better</strong> I feel. (= if the weather is warmer, I feel better)</span>}

^{<span><strong>The sooner</strong> we leave, <strong>the earlier</strong> we will arrive.</span>}

^{<span><strong>The younger</strong> you are, <strong>the easier</strong> it is to learn.</span>}

^{<span><strong>The more expensive</strong> the hotel, <strong>the better</strong> the service.</span>}

^{<span>The more electricity you use, <strong>the higher</strong> your bill will be.</span>}

^{<span><strong>The more</strong> I thought about the plan,<strong> the less</strong> I like it.</span>}

Question 6

The comparative of old is ol____ or el____.

Answer 6

The comparative of old is older or elder.

David looks older than he really his.

Note that we can use elder (or older) when you talk about people in family:

My elder sister (brother, daughter, son) is a TV producer. (or My older sister)

We can say “my elder sister”, but we don’t say that somebody is elder:

_{My sister is older than me. (not than elder than me)}

Question 7

Use much / a bit / etc. + a comparative form. Use than where necessary.

This bag is too small. I need something ____ (much /big).

Answer 7

Use much I a bit etc. + a comparative form. Use than where necessary.

This bag is too small. I need something much bigger.

Question 8

Use much / a bit / etc. + a comparative form. Use than where necessary.

I’m afraid the problem is ____ it seems. (far / complicated)

Answer 8

Use much / a bit / etc. + a comparative form. Use than where necessary.

I’m afraid the problem is far more complicated than it seems. (far / complicated).

Question 9

Use much / a bit / etc. + a comparative form. Use than where necessary.

lt was very hot yesterday. Today it’s ____ (a bit / cool).

Answer 9

Use much / a bit / etc. + a comparative form. Use than where necessary.

lt was very hot yesterday. Today it’s a bit cooler (a bit / cool).

Question 10

Use much / a bit / etc. + a comparative form. Use than where necessary.

I liked the museum. lt was ____ I expected. (far / interesting).

Answer 10

Use much / a bit / etc. + a comparative form. Use than where necessary.

I liked the museum. lt was far more interesting than I expected. (far / interesting).

Question 11

Use much / a bit / etc. + a comparative form. Use than where necessary.

You’re driving too fa st. Can you drive ____ ? (a little / slowly)

Answer 11

Use much / a bit / etc. + a comparative form. Use than where necessary.

You’re driving too fast. Can you drive a little more slowly ? (a little / slowly)

Question 12

Use much / a bit / etc. + a comparative form. Use than where necessary.

lt’s ____ to learn a language in a country where it is spoken. (a lot / easy)

Answer 12

Use much / a bit / etc. + a comparative form. Use than where necessary.

lt’s a lot easier to learn a language in a country where it is spoken. (a lot / easy)

Question 13

Using any / no + comparative. Use than where necessary.

I’m sorry I’m a bit late, but I couldn’t get here ____.

Answer 13

Using any / no + comparative. Use than where necessary.

I’m sorry I’m a bit late, but I couldn’t get here any sooner/earlier.

Question 14

Using any / no + comparative. Use than where necessary.

This shop isn’t expensive. The prices are ____ anywhere else.

Answer 14

Using any / no + comparative. Use than where necessary.

This shop isn’t expensive. The prices are no higher / no more expensive than anywhere else.

Question 15

Using any / no + comparative. Use than where necessary.

I need to stop for a rest. I can’t walk _____ .

Answer 15

Using any / no + comparative. Use than where necessary.

I need to stop for a rest. I can’t walk any farther / further .

Question 16

Using any / no + comparative. Use than where necessary.

The traffic isn’t particularly bad today. lt’s ____ usual.

Answer 16

Using any / no + comparative. Use than where necessary.

The traffic isn’t particularly bad today. lt’s no worse than usual.

Question 17

Use the structure The sooner the better.

That hole in your sweater is getting ____ (big).

Answer 17

Use the structure The sooner the better.

That hole in your sweater is getting bigger and bigger.

Question 18

Use the structure The sooner the better.

As I waited for my interview, I became _____. (nervous)

Answer 18

Use the structure The sooner the better.

As I waited for my interview, I became more and more nervous.

Question 19

Use the structure The sooner the better.

As the day went on, the weather got ____ . (bad)

Answer 19

Use the structure The sooner the better.

As the day went on, the weather got worse and worse.

Question 20

Use the structure the…. the…

I didn’t really like him when we first met. But the more I got to know him,____. (like)

Answer 20

Use the structure the…. the…

I didn’t really like him when we first met. But the more I got to know him, the more I got to like him / I liked him.

Question 21

Use the structure the…. the…

If you’re in business, you want to make a profit.
The more goods you sell, ____ . (profit)

Answer 21

Use the structure the…. the…

If you’re in business, you want to make a profit.
The more goods you sell, the more / the higher your profit (will be).

Question 22

Use the structure the…. the…

lt’s hard to concentrate when you’re tired.
The more tired you are,____. (hard)

Answer 22

Use the structure the…. the…

lt’s hard to concentrate when you’re tired.
The more tired you are, the harder it is to concentrate.

Question 23

Use the structure the…. the…

Kate had to wait a very long time. The longer she had to wait, ____. (impatient I become)

Answer 23

Use the structure the…. the…

Kate had to wait a very long time. The longer she had to wait, the more impatient she became.