Advanced comparison: the more, the better
Much bigger, by far the best, twice as big as, the sooner the better, more and more: how big a difference is.
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At A2 you compared two things with bigger, more expensive and as ... as, and made a difference bigger with much or a bit. At B2, comparison is about how big the difference is, how two changes go together, and how many times bigger something is.
Pattern | Example |
|---|---|
much, far, slightly + -er | It's much bigger. It's slightly cheaper. |
by far + superlative | It's by far the best. |
the + -er, the + -er | The sooner, the better. |
twice / three times as ... as | It's twice as big as ours. |
-er and -er, more and more | It's getting more and more expensive. |
just / nearly / not nearly as | It's not nearly as good as the first one. |
Big and small differences
Before a comparative, use much, far, a lot or, more formally, considerably and significantly for a big difference. Use a bit, a little or slightly for a small one. Even says that the difference is surprising. Very on its own never goes before a comparative, though very much bigger is fine.
- The new flat is much bigger than the old one.
- Trains are far more comfortable than buses.
- Prices this year are slightly higher.
- I thought the first book was good, but this one is even better.
- Incorrect: This phone is very cheaper than that one.
- Correct: This phone is much cheaper than that one.Use much, far or a lot with a comparative, not very.
The same words work with more + noun and less + noun: much more time, far fewer people, a lot less money.
Making a superlative stronger
By far and easily make a superlative stronger. Put them before the. By far can also go at the end: the best by far.
- This is by far the best pizza in town.
- She's easily the most talented player in the team.
- Incorrect: It's the by far best restaurant in town.
- Correct: It's by far the best restaurant in town.By far goes before the + superlative.
The more ..., the more ...
The + comparative, the + comparative shows that two things change together: when one changes, the other changes too. Both parts need the, and there is usually a comma between them.
- The more you practise, the easier it gets.
- The older he gets, the more he looks like his father.
- The more people come, the better.
- The sooner, the better.
(A short fixed form: as soon as possible would be best.)
- Incorrect: More I read, more I understand.
- Correct: The more I read, the more I understand.
- Incorrect: The more you practise, the more easier it gets.
- Correct: The more you practise, the easier it gets.Easier is already a comparative. Don't add more.
Twice as ... as, three times as ... as
To say how many times bigger something is, use twice, three times, half + as + adjective + as. With nouns, use as much / as many.
- Our new flat is twice as big as the old one.
- Tickets cost three times as much as they did last year.
- There were half as many people as last time.
- Incorrect: Our new flat is twice bigger than the old one.
- Correct: Our new flat is twice as big as the old one.After twice, use as ... as.
Twice the size of and three times the price of say the same with a noun: Their house is twice the size of ours. With three times and more, three times bigger than is also common in everyday English.
More and more: a continuing change
Repeat the comparative with and to show that something keeps changing. With long adjectives, use more and more + adjective.
- It's getting colder and colder.
- Flights are becoming more and more expensive.
- He worked less and less as he got older.
- Incorrect: Life is getting more and more cheaper.
- Correct: Life is getting cheaper and cheaper.With a short adjective, repeat the -er form.
Just as, nearly as, not nearly as
Just, nearly, almost, not quite and not nearly go before as ... as. Not nearly as means "much less", and nowhere near as says the same in informal speech.
- The second film is just as good as the first.
- I'm nearly as tall as my dad now.
- The test wasn't nearly as hard as I expected.
- This hotel is nowhere near as nice as the one we stayed in last year.
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Related rules
Where this rule sits
All B2 rulesAdjectives and adverbs: all rules