Level 4 Chapter 5 - Comparatives

Comparatives and similar forms

Examples
AS ____ AS - used for equality (mostly in the negative or for a question):
The weather isn't as nice today as it was yesterday.

SO ____ AS can be used in the same way:
The sun isn't shining so brightly as it did yesterday.

However SO is also used with THAT in a different way:
Grammar is SO difficult THAT it gives me a headache!
Here the THAT is optional.
Grammar is SO difficult, it gives me a headache!
Both are correct.
AS cannot be used instead.

The bigger vs The biggest
Use -ER ending if comparing 2 things.
Use -EST if there are more than two things.
Lobsters have claws of different sizes. The bigger (one) is used for fighting, the smaller for eating.

This applicant has had _________ I am a bit suspicious of him.
1. as many jobs as
2. so many jobs that
3. so many jobs as
4. so many jobs
This pear is ________ I can’t bite it!
1. as hard as
2. so hard as
3. so hard that
4. harder than
She’s beautiful in her films but when I saw her on stage she wasn’t ________ I expected.
1. so attractive as
2. as attractive as
3. so attractive that
4. as attractive
I see you have two sizes of cups. I think I’ll take half a dozen of ________ ones.
1. the biggest
2. the bigger
3. bigger
4. biggest
I love all three dresses but I think the blue one is ________ attractive of them.
1. most
2. more
3. the more
4. the most
John has two sisters. Mary is the ________ the two.
1. as bright as
2. the brightest
3. the brighter of
4. brighter than
In fact, Mary is ________ member of the family.
1. as bright a
2. the brightest
3. brightest
4. the brighter
Manchester is not the ________ attractive city ________ I have visited.
1. more attractive ________ (nothing)
2. more attractive ________ than
3. most ________ that
4. most _______ (nothing)
Manchester is, however, ________ interesting ________ any other northern city.
1. as ________ as
2. as ________ (nothing)
3. so ________ that
4. so ________ as
“The Cordoban” was ________ a good film ________ I’m sure there will be a follow-up.
1. so ________ that
2. such ________ that
3. such ________ (nothing)
4. as ________ as
So John arrived on time! He’s not usually ________ prompt ________ that.
1. as ________ as
2. so ________ as
3. as ______ (nothing)
4. more prompt
The car repair bill was ________ expensive ________ I told the garage to keep the car.
1. as ________ that
2. more ________ that
3. so ________ that
4. so ________ (nothing)
Generally, Japanese cars use ________less gas ________ American ones.
1. much ________ than
2. more ________ than
3. so ________ that
4. as ________ as
The suspect was driving ________ fast ________ the police motorcyclist couldn’t catch him.
1. as ________ as
2. so ________ as
3. so ________ that
4. as ________ that
The police motorcyclist couldn’t drive ________ fast ________ the suspects car.
1. so ________ as
2. as ________ as
3. so ________ that
4. as ________ (nothing)
Ambroise and Chenonceau both have beautiful chateaux. I find Chenonceau ________ attractive of the two.
1. more
2. the more
3. most
4. the most
For me, Chenonceau is ________ attractive chateau on the Loire.
1. most
2. the most
3. more
4. the more
Of all his works, Harding’s last book is ________ interesting.
1. less
2. the less
3. least
4. the least
Some astronomers now say that Pluto is ________ small ________ it is not really a planet.
1. as ________ as
2. so ________ as
3. so ________ (nothing)
4. so________ that
I’m interested in fashion, but not _______ much _______ I want to visit a whole museum about it.
1. so________ that
2. as ________ as
3. as _______ (nothing)
4. so _______ as