c1.2 - Unit 4 - Grammar

C1.
2 - UNIT 4
GRAMMAR
COMPARATIVE STRUCTURES
We generally use comparatives to say that a person, a thing, a place, an action,

etc. has more of a quality (size, height…) than another. For example:
The presence and meaning of women is greater than that which is recognised by
development focuses.
Some doctors say that our lymphatic system is far more mysterious and
fascinating than most of the other systems and organs in our bodies.
We can say that there are different comparative structures depending on the degree:
● to a higher degree:
Rail has always been far safer than roads.
It is said that a jury trial is more complicated t han a bench trial.
Use ‘more’ before fun, real, right, wrong.
She could not have been more wrong.
It’d be more f un to go to New Jersey.
You can add -er to unhappy, unhealthy, unlikely, unlucky, unsteady, untidy. For
example:
Your room looks untidier than before.
1
● to the same degree:
His sense of humour is as p

uerile a
s mine.
Both countries are equally beautiful.
● to a lower degree:
Living here is l ess expensive than in Madrid.
These products are not as / so efficacious as the leading products of better brands.
ot such a good idea. (implied: as you might think)

That’s n
COMPARATIVE STRUCTURES WITH ‘AS’
As we have just studied, we use ‘as’ + adjective or adverb + ‘as’ to say that
something or someone is like something or someone else.
s wonderful as his grandfather.

He was a
s hugely as before.

She seems to be enjoying herself a
In negative comparisons, we use ‘not as’ or ‘not so’ + adjective or adverb + ‘as’.
The truth is not so comfortable as you think. (or ‘not as comfortable as’ )
Now let’s learn some other comparative expressions using ‘as’. They might be new
for you! Let’s take a look at them.
2
● If we put a singular countable noun between an adjective and the second ‘as’,
we use ‘a/an’ in front of the noun.
s good a time as any.

This is a
He tried to lead as normal a life as possible, even though he couldn’t work
anymore.
● The negative form of this type of sentences can take either ‘not as’ of ‘not
such’.
ot as big a problem as you might think.

It is n
ot such a big problem as you might think.

It is n
Notice that we use ‘not as’ + adjective + ‘a/an’ + noun, but ‘not such a/an’ +
adjective + noun.
● We use ‘as much/many as’ or ‘as little/few as’ to say that a quantity or
amount is larger or smaller than expected.
s much as his brain can cope with.

That’s a
Gary and Sam see each other as little as possible. They can’t stand each other.
● Use ‘like’ when one person or thing is similar to another, and ‘as’ to describe
the job or role of someone or the function of something.
This house is like a

fridge.
My friend Stephan used to work as an electrician.
3
COMPARATIVE CLAUSES USING ‘SO’, ‘TOO’ & ‘ENOUGH’
Comparative clauses using ‘so’, ‘too’ and ‘enough’ are generally formed with a
that- clause or to- infinitive at the beginning of the clause.
so + adjective + that-clause The difference is so insignificant that many people

don’t even notice.
The price is so high that it’s not even worth enquiring
about.
(Informal)
so + adjective + as + (not) The price is so high as not to be even worth
to-infinitive enquiring about.
(Formal)
too + adjective (+ for) + to If we don’t get a move on, it’ll be too late (for us) to
infinitive catch the last bus home.
(not) adjective + enough + to My CV isn’t good enough to get a job at this
infinitive company.
such a + adjective + noun + It was such a great weekend that we didn’t want to
that- clause go back to work.
In rather formal English, we can use ‘too’ + adjective + ‘a/an’ + noun.
He was much too good an actor for a mediocre film like that.
We can also use ‘go so/as far as’ + to infinitive to talk about actions that
are surprising or extreme.
ent so far as to threaten to sack me.

My boss was so furious that she w
4
INTENSIFYING AND MODIFYING COMPARISONS
We can also make phrases using ‘far more’ or ‘much’ and ‘nowhere near as’ to
modify and intensify comparatives.
● When making an affirmative comparison using the comparative adjective, we

can put ‘much’ in front of it to emphasise the difference between the two. For
example:
The new computer is much faster than the old model.
Remember! If the adjective has more than two syllables, we would use ‘much
more’. For example:
The new computer is much more expensive t han the old model.
● You can also use these words: ‘considerably’ / ‘far’ / ‘a lot’ / ‘a great deal’ +
comparative adjective. For example:
The decision was considerably more complex than I had previously thought.
It was suggested in the meeting that education was a great deal less important
than other matters, but I strongly disagree.
● On the other hand, you can also use these words to emphasise in a lower
degree: ‘a bit’ / ‘slightly’ / ‘a little’ + comparative adjective. For example:
lightly taller than me.

Sarah is s
● Now, when using ‘as’ in a comparative clause, we can say ‘just’ / ‘ quite’ /
‘easily’ / ‘almost’ / ‘not quite’ / ‘nowhere near’ / ‘not nearly’ + as +
adjective + as to emphasise.
She’s j ust as cute as h

er sister.
The old model is nowhere near as fast as the new model.
5
OTHER TYPES OF COMPARISON
Study these other types of comparison in English.
● Repetition of the same comparative form to emphasise increase or decrease.
Your drawing is getting better and better.
They became more and more disheartened as they failed to find any clues.
● We use the … the to say how a change in something affects another thing.
The more I insist, the more she likes me.
The sooner Mike arrives, the better.

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C1.

We generally use ​comparatives to say that a person, a thing, a place, an action,

Rail has always been far saf​er than​ roads.

It is said that a jury trial is ​more​ complicated t​ han​ a bench trial.

Use ‘more’ before​ fun, real, right, wrong​.

She could not have been ​more ​wrong.

It’d be ​more f​ un to go to New Jersey.

Your room looks untidi​er​ than before.

His sense of humour is ​as p

Both countries are ​equally ​beautiful.

Living here is l​ ess ​expensive than in Madrid.

​ ot such a​ good idea.​ (implied: ​as you might think​)

COMPARATIVE STRUCTURES WITH ‘AS’

​ s wonderful as​ his grandfather.

​ s hugely as​ before.

​ s good a time as​ any.

​ ot as big a problem as​ you might think.

​ ot such a big problem as​ you might think.

​ s much as​ his brain can cope with.

This house is ​like a

My friend Stephan used to work ​as​ an electrician.

so + adjective +​ that​-clause The difference is ​so insignificant that many people

In rather formal English, we can use ​‘too’ + adjective + ‘a/an’ + noun​.

​ ent so far as to threaten​ to sack me.

● When making an affirmative comparison using the comparative adjective, we

The new computer is ​much faster​ than the old model.

​ lightly taller​ than me.

She’s j​ ust as cute as h

Study these other types of comparison in English.

● Repetition of the same comparative form to emphasise increase or decrease.

Your drawing is getting ​better and better​.

The more​ I insist, ​the more​ she likes me.

The sooner​ Mike arrives,​ the better​.

You might also like

We generally use comparatives to say that a person, a thing, a place, an action,

Rail has always been far safer than roads.

It is said that a jury trial is more complicated t han a bench trial.

Use ‘more’ before fun, real, right, wrong.

She could not have been more wrong.

It’d be more f un to go to New Jersey.

Your room looks untidier than before.

His sense of humour is as p

Both countries are equally beautiful.

Living here is l ess expensive than in Madrid.

ot such a good idea. (implied: as you might think)

s wonderful as his grandfather.

s hugely as before.

s good a time as any.

ot as big a problem as you might think.

ot such a big problem as you might think.

s much as his brain can cope with.

This house is like a

My friend Stephan used to work as an electrician.

so + adjective + that-clause The difference is so insignificant that many people

In rather formal English, we can use ‘too’ + adjective + ‘a/an’ + noun.

ent so far as to threaten to sack me.

The new computer is much faster than the old model.

lightly taller than me.

She’s j ust as cute as h

Your drawing is getting better and better.

The more I insist, the more she likes me.

The sooner Mike arrives, the better.