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COMPARISONS C1 EOI 2023 Feb
COMPARISONS C1 EOI 2023 Feb
The comparative form of adjectives and adverbs is followed by than when we compare
two people, animals, things, ideas or situations:
BUT
In formal language, most can be used without the in the superlative form to mean
very/extremely:
When we compare two people or things, we can use the + comparative (not the +
superlative):
Irregular forms
*Farther/farthest are used only for distances. Further/furthest are used for distance
but they also mean more/most:
Elder and eldest mean the same as older and oldest, but we use them to describe
relationships within a family:
● My elder brother is studying in England.
● Jack is the eldest of four brothers.
Or
● Tina found the course NOT SO MUCH demanding AS uninteresting (=Tina found
the course more uninteresting than demanding).
THE + COMPARATIVE, THE + COMPARATIVE (to describe two actions or situations, one
of which comes as a result of the other):
Other expressions:
Modifying comparisons:
We can use adverbs of degree with comparatives, superlatives and as…as to modify
their meaning.
Much, by far, easily, Superlative form You are by far the best
almost, quite, nearly, player in the team.
possibly, just about…
He is just about the best
golfer in the world.
Learning a foreign
language isn’t nearly as
easy as many people
might think.
Watch out!
Twice can only be used with as…as (not with the comparative form). Two times three
times, four times, etc. can be used both with as…as and with the comparative form.
● She earns twice as much as I do. (NOT: She earns twice more than I do.)
● She earns three times as much as I do / She earns three times more than I do.