Comparative and superlative patterns (2)

A Less and least

Less and least are the opposites of more and most. We use less and least with both long and short words. A bus is less expensive than a taxi.

(= A bus is cheaper than a taxi./A bus isn't as expensive as a taxi.) I feel better today, less tired. I'm the least musical person in the world, I'm afraid. We go out less often these days. You should do less work. You do too much.

B Much faster

We can put a word or phrase (e.g. much, far, a bit) before a comparative to say how much faster, cheaper, etc something is. Look at these examples.

It's much faster by tube. A bus is far cheaper than a taxi.

This bed is a bit more comfortable. Business is rather better this year.

I got up a little later than usual. This month's figures are slightly less good.

I'll need a lot more water. A computer will do it much more efficiently. Before a comparative we can use much, a lot, far; rather; slightly, a bit, a little.

We can also use no and any. No has a negative meaning.

Your second throw at the basket was no nearer than your first. We can use any in negatives and questions and with if.

Your second throw wasn't any nearer than your first.

Are you sleeping any better since you've been taking the pills?

If we leave any later than seven, we'll get caught in the rush hour.

C Faster and faster

We use expressions like faster and faster and more and more expensive

to say that something is increasing all the time.

The caravan was rolling faster and faster down the hill.

The queue was getting longer and longer.

Prices go up and up. Everything gets more and more expensive.

The crowd are becoming more and more excited.

The country is rapidly losing its workers, as more and more people are emigrating.

The form depends on whether the comparative is with er (e.g. louder) or with more (e.g. more expensive (see Unit 110B).

We can also use less and less for something decreasing.

As each new problem arose, we felt less and less enthusiastic.

D The faster, the better

We use this pattern to say that a change in one thing goes with a change in another. Look at these example-There's no time to lose. The faster you drive, the better. The higher the price, the more reliable the product.

The more the customer complained, the ruder and more unpleasant the manager became. The sooner we leave, the sooner we'll get there. Are you looking for a cheap holiday? ~ Yes, the cheaper the better.

112 Exercises

1 Less (A)

Complete the sentences. Use less with these words: attractive, busy, convenient, nervous, optimistic, painful, seriously

► Laura once hated flying, but now she feels less nervous about it.

1 David says his leg really hurt at first, but now it's....................................................

2 Mark and Sarah normally have lots to do, but they're……………………………. this week.

3 Rita's old flat was near the shops. Her new place is .............................................. for shopping.

4 Claire used to think Henry was very handsome, but now she finds him…………………….

5 Matthew is always exercising. Maybe he should take his fitness…………………….

6 With United's best player injured, Tom feels …………………………... about their chances.

2 Much faster (B)

Decide what to say. Use a phrase like a bit better or a lot colder.

► You were feeling unwell earlier. Say that you feel better now. A bit, anyway.
1 feel a bit better now.

1 Mention that yesterday was colder than today. A lot colder, in fact.

2 Say that your coat is longer than is fashionable. A bit, anyway.

3 You left work earlier than usual this afternoon. Slightly, anyway. Tell your friend.

4 Say that the shop is more expensive than the supermarket. Much more.

5 Ask if the new machine is reliable - any more so than the old one.

3 Faster and faster (C)

Vicky works very hard at her studies, but she's worried that she's making no progress. Complete her sentences.

? This subject gets harder and harder (hard) all the time.

? I'm just getting more and more confused (confused).

1 It's becoming ……………………………………………… (difficult) for me to keep up.

2 The textbook just gets……………………………………………….. (complicated).

3 I spend .................................................................... (more) time on my work.

4 My list of things to do gets ............................................... …………………. (long).

5 My problems are just getting................... …………………………………. . (bad).

4 The faster, the better (D)

Complete each sentence using the information in brackets.

? (The rent is high.) The bigger a flat is, the higher the rent is.

? (You learn quickly.) The younger you are, the more quickly you learn.

1 (The roads are quiet.) The earlier you leave,..................................... ..

2 (The choice is wide.) The bigger a supermarket is,…………………

3 (I get confused.) The more I try to work this out,............................ …

4 (You can speak fluently.) The more you practise,............... ………..

5 (The beaches get crowded.) The better the weather is,………………

TEST 19 Comparative and superlative (Units 110-112)

Test 19A

Write the comparative form of the words in brackets.

? They've made these chocolate bars smaller (small).

? Sport is more interesting (interesting) than politics.

1 Can't you think of anything ............................................ (intelligent) to say?

2 Well, the place looks................................................... (clean) now.

3 Janet looks ……………………………… (thin) than she did.

4 You need to draw it………………….................... (carefully).

5 The weather is getting................................................. (bad).

6 The programme will be shown at a ............................................... (late) date.

7 I can't stay ........................................... (long) than half an hour.

8 A mobile phone would be a .......................................... (useful) present.

9 I'll try to finish the job ............................................ (soon).

10 It was ……………………………… (busy) than usual in town today.

11 I'll be even ……………………………. . (annoyed) if you do that again.

12 Since the break-in I feel.................................................. (nervous).

Test 19B

Write the superlative form of the words in brackets.

? It's the shortest (short) day of the year.

? It's the most beautiful (beautiful) building in the world.

1 That was the.................................................. (funny) film I've ever seen.

2 It was the ……………. .......................... (horrible) feeling I've ever had.

3 Have you read her ……….................................... (recent) book?

4 It's the .............................................. (large) company in the country.

5 It was the ………………………………. (boring) speech I've ever heard.

6 You've got the ........................................ (far) to travel.

7 That's the................................................... (helpful) idea so far.

8 The factory uses the .............................................. (modern) production methods.

9 This is the …………………………… . (early) I've ever got up.

10 It was the ......... …………...................... (sad) day of my life.

Test 19C

Some of these sentences are correct, and some have a word which should not be there. If a sentence is correct put a tick (/). If it is incorrect, cross the unnecessary word out of the sentence and write it in the space.

? I've got the least powerful computer in the world. V

? London is mere bigger than Birmingham. more

1 Silver isn't as expensive as gold.

2 Indian food is the nicer than Chinese, I think.

3 The telephone is one of the most useful inventions ever

4 I feel a much better now, thank you.

5 The longer you wait, so the harder it'll be.

6 The piano is heavier than the sofa.

7 This is the most quickest way to the hotel.

8 You're taller than he is.

9 Who is the cleverest student in of the class?

10 The weather is getting hotter and more hotter.

Test 19 D

Read this part of Tessa's letter to her friend Angela about her new job.

Then look at the answers after the letter and write the correct answer in each space.

My new job is great. I like it (►)much better than my old one. The people here are

(1) …………………………than I expected. Luckily my new boss isn't as rude

(2) ………………………….my old boss, Mrs Crossley, was. I hated her. She was the

(3) ………………………..... friendly person I've ever met. Everyone here is older

(4)…………………………. In fact I'm the youngest person (5)……………………………. the office. But
I don't mind.

The good thing about the job is that I get a (6)…………………………. more money, although not much

more than I did before. The bad thing is that the journey isn't (7)…………………………… simple as it was

in my old job, where the bus took me straight there. Now I have to change buses. But I'm allowed to start

work early. The earlier I leave home, (8)............... …………….. the journey is because the buses aren't so

crowded.

► a) more b) most c) much d) very

1 a) more nice b) most nice c) nicer d) nicest

2 a) as b) so c) than d) that

3 a) least b) less c) less and less d) so

4 a) as I b) as me c) than I d) than me

5 a) from b) in c) of d) out of

6 a) bit b) less c) lot d) much

7 a) as b) less c) more d) same

8 a) more easier b) more easy c) the easier d) the easy

Test 19 E

Complete the second sentence so that it has a similar meaning to the first. Use the word in brackets.

► This train is more convenient than all the others, (most)
This train is the most convenient.

1 The living-room isn't as big as the kitchen, (bigger)

The kitchen ..................................................................................................................................

2 I'm not as fit as you. (am)

You're ......................................................................................................................................................

3 The table and the desk are the same size, (big)

The table..................................................................................................................................................... the desk.

4 Prices just get higher all the time, (and)

Prices........................................................................................................................................................

5 The dress is cheaper than the skirt, (expensive)

The skirt...................................................................................................................................................... the dress.

6 This crossword is the easiest, (difficult)
This crossword.................................

7 Their excitement was increasing all the time, (excited)

They were getting......................................................................................................................................

8 I've never read a more romantic story, (most)

It's the ...................................................................................................................................................... read.

Date: 2014-12-22; view: 1982