Modifying comparatives

Modifying comparatives

Do you know how to use phrases like much shorter than, almost as fit as and exactly the same as? Test what you know with interactive exercises and read the explanation to help you.

Look at these examples to see how comparisons can be modified.

He's much shorter than his brother.
Good-quality socks are almost as important as your running shoes.
Our hotel room was exactly the same as the photos showed.

Try this exercise to test your grammar.

Grammar test 1

Grammar B1-B2: Modifying comparisons: 1

Read the explanation to learn more.

Grammar explanation

There are several different ways to compare things in English. We can also modify comparisons to show big or small differences.

Comparing

We can use comparative adjectives to compare different things.

Max is taller than Judy.
You're more patient than I am.
His first book is less interesting than his second.

We can use as … as with an adjective to say that two things are the same, or not as … as to say that one thing is less than another. 

Her hair is as long as mine.
It's not as sunny as yesterday.

We can also use expressions like different from, similar to and the same as.

England is different from the United Kingdom.
His car is similar to mine.
The results from the first test are the same as the results from the second.

Showing big differences

We can use much, so much, a lot, even or far with comparative adjectives.

Sales in July were a lot higher than sales in June.
He was far less experienced than the other applicant.

We can use nowhere near with as … as.

The interview was nowhere near as difficult as the written exam.

We can use very, really, completely or totally with different from.

They may be twins, but they're completely different from each other.

Showing small differences

We can use slightly, a little, a bit, a little bit or not much with comparative adjectives.

The number of registrations has been slightly lower than we expected.
Houses in my city are not much more expensive than flats.

We can use almost, nearly, not quite, roughly, more or less or about with as … as and the same as.

She's almost as old as I am.
The figures for May are more or less the same as the figures for June.

We can use very or really with similar to.

My son looks really similar to my father when he was that age.

Showing there is no difference

We can use exactly the same as or just as … as to emphasise that there is no difference.

My grandma's cakes still taste exactly the same as when I was a child!
A new phone can be just as expensive as a new computer these days.

Do this exercise to test your grammar again.

Grammar test 2

Grammar B1-B2: Modifying comparisons: 2

Language level

Average: 4.6 (23 votes)
Do you need to improve your English grammar?
Join thousands of learners from around the world who are improving their English grammar with our online courses.

Submitted by polina1526 on Mon, 02/11/2020 - 19:10

Permalink
Learning this rule can be useful for students in Russia who chose to write English Unified State Exam. In this exam one needs to compose quite a large essay on a given topic and this part requires to express two completely different points of view. The great difference between these points can be shown by using modifying comparisons which are easily understandable thanks to this article.

Submitted by lima9795 on Sat, 19/09/2020 - 00:42

Permalink
i have heard the usage on youtube/in movies long as , soon as (contrary to as soon as , as long as) does this rule apply to other adjectives too Ex: (quick as instead of as quick as , difficult as ...etc So are these below examples correct informally? 1)Her hair is long as mine. 2)Soon as i see something cooking, i can't wait to eat it 3)The interview was nowhere near difficult as the written exam.

Hi lima9795,

Well spotted! Yes, this form is sometimes used, especially in speaking. I think the (as) ... as structure is usually at the head of a phrase, for example your sentence 2, or Give me the phone, quick as you can

Best wishes,

Jonathan

The LearnEnglish Team

Thanks for your response Yes i have seen in spoken english (informal situations) So , what do you mean exactly by this structure is only used at the head of phrase ? Could you please elaborate !! is it ok to say these sentences in the following way !! 1) Her hair is long as mine. 2) Soon as i see something cooking, i can't wait to eat it 3) The interview was nowhere near difficult as the written exam.

Hi lima9795,

I mean that (I think) dropping the first as usually happens at the start of a phrase (not in the middle or at the end of a phrase). Your sentence 2 and my sentence above (quick as you can) are examples of this.

In your sentences 1 and 3, the as ... as structure is not at the start of a phrase, so they are less likely to be used. In sentence 1, it's inside a verb phrase which starts with is. In sentence 3, it's inside an adverb phrase which starts with nowhere near.

Best wishes,

Jonathan

The LearnEnglish Team

Submitted by lima9795 on Tue, 11/08/2020 - 00:33

Permalink
They are not as much as cool as you guys are...OR They are not cool as much as you guys are which one is correct ? Are both wrong then how to quantify as....as expressions?

Hello lima9795,

Neither of those are correct. You could say the following:

They are not nearly as cool as you guys.

They are nowhere near as cool as you guys.

They are nothing like as cool as you guys.

They are far from being as cool as you guys.

The final 'are' can be added but it's more natural to omit it.

 

Peter

The LearnEnglish Team

Submitted by Saamongo on Sun, 26/07/2020 - 11:05

Permalink
Very helpful tests but i find them a little more difficult for the level of our teenagers.

Submitted by Papis on Thu, 23/07/2020 - 10:49

Permalink
Hello, it's really helpful understanding the structures of different ways of comparison.