Exercises

105.1 Use the words in brackets to complete the sentences. Use much/a bit etc. + a comparative form. Use than where necessary.

1. Her illness was _much more serious than_ we thought at first. (much/serious)

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

3. I'm afraid the problem is --- it seems. (much/complicated)

4. You looked depressed this morning but you look ---now. (a bit/happy)

5. I enjoyed our visit to the museum. It was --- I expected. (far/Interesting)

6. You're driving too fast. Could you drive ---? (a bit/slowly)

7. It's --- to learn a foreign language in the country where it is spoken. (a lot/easy)

8. I thought she was younger than me but in fact she's --- (slightly/old)

105.2 Complete the sentences using any/no + a comparative. Use than where necessary.

1. I'm fed up with waiting. I'm not waiting _any longer._

2. I'm sorry I'm a bit late but I couldn't get here ---.

3. This shop isn't expensive. The prices are --- anywhere else.

4. I must stop for a rest. I can't walk ---.

5. The traffic isn't particularly bad today. It's --- usual.

105.3 Complete the sentences using the structure in Section C (... and...)

1. It's becoming _harder and harder_ to find a job. (hard)

2. That hole in your pullover is getting ---. (big)

3. My bags seemed to get --- as I carried them. (heavy)

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

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

6. Travelling is becoming ---. (expensive)

7. Since she has been in Britain, her English has got ---. (good)

8. As the conversation went on, he became ---. (talkative)

105.4 These sentences are like those in Section D. Use the word(s) in brackets (in the correct form) to complete the sentences.

1. I like warm weather. The warmer the weather, _the better I feel._ (feel)

2. I didn't really like him when we first met.

But the more I got to know him, ---. (like)

3 If you're in business, you want to make a profit.

The more goods you sell, ---. (profit)

4 It's hard to concentrate when you're tired.

The more tired you are, ---. (hard)

5. She had to wait a very long time.

The longer she waited, ---. (impatient/become)

105.5 Which is correct, older or elder? Or both of them?

1. My _older/elder_ brother is a pilot. (older and elder are both correct)

2. I'm surprised Diane is only 25. I thought she was _older/elder._

3. Ann's younger sister is still at school. Her _older/elder_ sister is a nurse.

4 Martin is _older/elder_ than his brother.

UNIT 106 Comparison (3)--as... as/than

A. Study this example situation:

Shirley, Henry and Arthur are all millionaires. They are all very rich.

Shirley has 10 million pounds, Henry has 8 million pounds and Arthur has 2 million pounds. So:

Henry is rich.

He is richer than Arthur.

But he isn't as rich as Shirley. (= Shirley is richer than he is)

Some more examples of not as... (as):

* Tom isn't as old as he looks. (= he looks older than he is)

* The city centre wasn't as crowded this morning as it usually is. (= it is usually more crowded)

* jenny didn't do as well in the exam as she had hoped. (= she had hoped to do better)

* 'The weather is better today, isn't it? ' 'Yes, it's not as cold.' (= yesterday was colder)

* I don't know as many people as you do. (= you know more people)

You can also say 'not so. (as)':

* It's not warm but it isn't so cold as yesterday. (=... it isn't as cold as...)

Less... (than) is similar to not as... (as):

* I spent less money than you. (= I didn't spend as much money...)

* The city centre was less crowded than usual. (= it wasn't as crowded...)

B. You can use as... as (but not 'so... as') in positive sentences and in questions:

* I'm sorry I'm late. I got here as fast as I could.

* There's plenty of food. You can have as much as you like.

* Let's walk. It's just as quick as taking the bus.

* Can you send me the money as soon as possible, please?

Also: twice as... as, three times as... as etc.:

* Petrol is twice as expensive as it was a few years ago.

* Their house is about three times as big as ours.

C. We say the same as (not 'the same like'):

* Ann's salary is the same as mine. or Ann gets the same salary as me.

* Tom is the same age as George.

* 'What would you like to drink? ' 'I'll have the same as you.'

D. Than me/than I am etc.

We usually say:

* You are taller than me. (not 'than I')

* He is not as clever as her. (not 'as she')

After than/as it is more usual to say me/him/her/them/us when there is no verb. Compare:

* You are taller than I am. but You are taller than me.

* They have more money than we have. but They have more money than us.

* I can't run as fast as he can. but I can't run as fast as him.