3A

comparatives and superlat ives: comparing two actions

adjectives and adverbs 1 My father drives fas t er tha n n1e. ?) 12l))

comparing two people, places, things, etc. You \.Valk more quickly than I do.
Liverpool played \vorse today t h a n last •veek.
l M y sister is a b it taller t h an rne. ?J 11 l)) 2 i\llax doesn't speak English a s well as his \vife does.
London is more expensive than Edinbu rgh. I don't earn a s much as n1y boss.
T his test is less d iffi cult t h an the last one.
Olive oil is b e t t er for you than butter. 1 We use con1parative adverbs to con1pare t•vo actions.
2 The ne•v sofa isn't a s comfort able as the old • Regular con1parative adverbs: spelling rules
one. fast> Jaster slowly> more slov,1ly careji.tlly > more carefully
I don't have a s m an y books a s I used to. • Irregular con1paratives:
ivell > better
badly> \Morse
l We use con1parative adj ectives to coinpare t\VO
2 We can also use (not) as+ adverb + as to 1nake co1nparisons.
people, places, things, etc.
• Regular co1nparative adjectives: spelling rules superlatives
old> older bi8 > bi88er easy> easier
modern >more modern difficult > more difficult Kevin is the tallest player in rhe tearn. ?) 13 >))
• Irregular con1parative adjectives: Oslo is the most expen s ive capital city in Eu rope.
BOOd > better bad > tvorse far > jiirther The srnall bag is the lea st expen sive.
• One-syl!able adjectives ending in -ed: Lucy is the bes t s tuden t in the class.
bored> more bored stressed> more stressed \V ho dresses the mos t s t ylis hly in yo ur farn ily?
tired > tnore tired 1-hat's the wors t \ve've ever played.
2 We can also use (not) as + adjective + as to 111ake
. • \Ve use superlative a d jectives and ad verb s to con1pare people, things, or
con1par1sons.
actions \.Vith all of their group.
p Object pronouns (me, him, etc.) aft er than
and as
• Forn1 superlatives like con1paratives, but use -est instead of -er and 1nost /
least instead of rnol'e / less.
After than or as we can use an object pronoun • We nor1nally use th e before superlatives, but you can also use possessive
(me, him, her, etc.) or a subject pronoun (/, he, adjectives, e.g. my best friend, their mostfamous son&.
she, etc.) + auxiliary verb.
• We often use a superlative \.Vith present per fect + ever, e.g. Tt's the best book
She's taller than me. OR She's taller than I am.
NOT She's taller thatTI. I've eve!' read.
They're not as busy as us. OR They're not as
busy as we are. NOT They're not as busy as we. / ) in af ter superlat ives
Use in (NOT of) before places after a superlative.
the same as It's the longest bridge in the world. NOT of the world
We use the same as to say t hat t wo people, It's the best beach in England. NOT of England
places, t hings, etc. are ident ical.
Her dress is the same as mine.

a Con1plete \Vith the co1nparative or superlative of the b Complete \Vith one \vord.
bold \vord (and than if necessary). Going by inotorboat is more exciting than travelling by
\Vhat's thej:tJstest \vay to get across London? fast ferrvI ,
l I th ink skiing is ho rse-rid ing. easy l A coach isn't as comfortable a train.
2 A n1otorbike is a scooter. powerful 2 It's most exp ensive car we've ever bo ught .
3 I th in k that travell ing by train is forrn of 3 The traffic v.ras worse \.Ve ex peered.
tran sport. r elaxing 4 This is the longest journey I've been on .
4 You "valk I do. s lo,vly 5 He gets hon1e late, but his \vife arrives later th an _ _
5 tin1e to travel is on holiday \veekends. bad 6 "rhe interesting place l've ever visited is Venice.
6 I've ever driven is from London to 7 I leave hon1e at the san1e ti n1e my brother.
Edinburgh . far 8 He drives carefully than his girlfriend - he's
7 The London Undergrou nd is _ _ _ _ the subway in never had an accident.
N e•v York . o ld 9 \Ve don't go abroad often as \ve used to.
8 This is coach l've ever been on. h ot 10 'vVhat's the longest nlOtOr\·vay _ _ the U K?
9 O f all my fan1ily, n1y niun1 is driver. good
~ p.26
 GRAMMAR BANK
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articles: a I an, the, no article • \Ve use the:
I \vhcn •ve ralk abo ut son1cth ing \ve've already me ntioned.
a l an
2 \Vhen ir's clear \vhat yo u're refe rring to .
I I savv a n o ld ma n \Vith a d og. ?.r 17 >)) 3 \vhen there's on ly one of son1e thing.
2 Ir's a nice house. She's a lawye r . 4 •vit h places in a to•vn, e.g. ci11e111n and theatre.
3 \.Vhat an awfu l day! 5 •virh superla tives.
4 l have classes three rin1es a \VCek .
no a rt icle
• \.Ve use a / an \Vi th singular countable nouns:
l the firs t t i me yo u nlention a thing f person. 1 Women us ua lly talk more tha n men . ~ 19 >))
Love is 1norc in1porta nr tha n money.
2 'vhen you say \Vhat son1ething is or vvhat
2 S he's no t at home today.
somebody docs.
I get bac k from \VOrk at 5.30 .
3 in exclan1arions \Vith 'vVJra t. .. !
3 I never have breakfast.
4 i n expressions of frequency. 4 Sec yo u next Friday.

the • \Ve don't use a n a rticle:

1 \vhen \Ve a re speaking in general ('vith plural a nd uncountable no uns).
I I sa\v an old nla n \Vith a dog . 2 18>))
Con1pare:
The dog \Vas barking.
I lovefloivers. (= flo,vers in general)
2 My fa ther ope ned the door.
T h e childre n are a t school. I love theflo111ers in my Barden. (=the specific flo \vers in nly garde n)
3 T h e n1oon goes ro und the Earth . 2 with son1e no uns, (e.g. ho1ne, 1vork , school, ch11rch) after at / to /Jro111.
4 I'1n going co t he cin ema con ight. 3 before meals, days, and months.
5 Ir's the best restaurant in t O \V n . 4 before next / last+ day, 'veek, e re.

a @ the correct a n s,vers . b Com plete \ V i th a/ an, the, or - ( =n o a rticle).

l love~/ the 1veddi11ns! A \Ve're lost. Let's s top a nd buy n 1nap.
1 Jess is nurse/ a nurse in a hospital. A hospital / B No need . T'll put the address in t.fil sarnav.
The hospital is a lo ng vvay f ro1n her h o use . I A Hovv often do yo u go to gyrn?
2 \Vhat a horrible day f horrible da)1! W e'll B 1\bo ut three titnes \veek. But I never
go on Fridays.
have ro cat o ur picnic in the car f a cnr.
2 A What t i1ne does t rai 11 leave?
3 M y \vife likes love stories/ the love stories,
B ln ten ni inures. Can yo u g ive 111e lift to s tation : >
b ut I prefe r U1e 1.varfilrns / 1va rfil1ns.
3 A What lovely dress!
4 \Ve go to theatre f the theatre a bo ut B Thanks. Tbought ir in sales las t n1on th .
once a tnonth f once the 1110111/i. 4 A \\/ hat's n1ost inte resting place to visit in your tO\\' n?
S T'1n ha ving di1111er f tlte dinn er •vith so m e B Pro bably castle. Tt's oldest build ing in ro,vn.
f riends the next r'riday / next Friday. 5 A ¥/ hat sha ll vvc do next vveeke nd ?
6 My boyfriend is chef/ a chef I think he· n Let's invite SO lllC frie nd s fo r _ _ lunc h . \Ve co uld eat o utside
in ga rden.
the best cook/ best cook in the \vorld.
6 A Do you like dogs?
7 T'n1 nor s ure if l closed tile 1vindo1vs /
B N ot really. l prefer ca ts . I th ink they 're _ _ best pe ts .
1vindo ~vs before l left the ho1ne f h.01ne th is
. 7 A Ts your n1un1 ho use\vifc ?
111or n 1ng.
B o, s he's teach e r. S he's a hvays tired \vhe n s he fi nis hes
8 rn gene ral, I like doBS I the dO[JS. but I do n 'r \VOr k.
like dons/ the doas tha t I ive next door to 111e . 8 A Have you ever had pro ble n1 in your relation s hip?
9 l got to the school / school la te e ve ry d ay B Yes, b ur \Ve got over probl.e rn a nd >ve got n1ar ried
the last 1veek / Inst 1veek. las t year.
9 A \Vhen is _ nieetin g?
I 0 l think happiness/ the happiness is 111o re
B T hey've c ha nged dare. [t's next Tuesday nO\\'.
in1portant tha n success/ the success.
~ p. 29
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