Modifying comparatives

Do you know how to use phrases like far bigger than, nearly as strong as, and completely different from? Enhance your knowledge with a lesson given below and the grammar explanation to guide you better.

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

• This tree is far bigger than the one in our garden.

• Her approach was nearly as effective as the previous manager’s.

• The final product was completely different from what we had imagined.

Grammar explanation - Modifying comparatives

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

1. Comparing

We can use comparative adjectives to compare different things.

• Laura is faster than Sarah.

• This laptop is more powerful than the previous model.

• Their house is less spacious than ours.

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.

• This coffee is as strong as the one I had yesterday.

• It’s not as cold as it was last week.

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

• This software is different from the one we used before.

• Her dress is similar to mine.

• The recipe is the same as the one I always use.

2. Showing big differences

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

• The event was far more successful than we expected.

• His new job is a lot less stressful than his old one.

We can use nowhere near with as … as.

• The second season is nowhere near as exciting as the first.

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

• The two proposals are completely different from each other.

3. Showing small differences

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

• The price is slightly higher than I thought.

• The train was not much faster than the bus.

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

• Their scores were almost as high as ours.

• The two designs are more or less the same as each other.

We can use very or really with similar to.

• This movie is really similar to the one we watched last week.

4. Showing there is no difference

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

• His reaction was exactly the same as I expected.

• This meal is just as delicious as the one we had at the restaurant.

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