5 Adjectives / Adverbs I Comparisons
Type of Comparisons
• as ... (positive degree)... as
not so/as ... (positive degree)... as such a(n)/so ...as
For hair as soft as silk try this new shampoo. The service isn't as good as it used to be. It's not such a long way as we thought.
• twice/three times etc/half as ... (positive She earns twice as much as me.
degree)... as She's only half as well-qualified as her sister.
• the same as	The Orion costs the same as the Golf.
• look, sound, smell, taste + like	That sounds like a good idea.
•  less ... (positive degree) ... than the least... (positive degree)... of/in	1 have less free time than Cathy but Laura has the least free time of all.
• the + comparative    the + comparative	The busier the roads are, the longer it will take to get there. The less you sleep, the more tired you get.
• comparative + and + comparative	Jobs are getting harder and harder to find.
• prefer + -ing form or noun + to + -ing form or noun (general preference)	She prefers living for the moment to thinking about the future. Most people prefer summer to winter.
• would prefer + to-inf + rather than + inf without to (specific preference)	1 would prefer to book our tickets now rather than wait until the last minute.
• would rather/sooner + inf without to + than + inf without to	He'd sooner go alone than go with Edward.
• clause + whereas/while + clause (comparison by contrast)	Carole enjoys adventure while/whereas her sister prefers peace and quiet.
Complete the sentences using the words in bold. Use two to five words.
1 Wouldn't you prefer to get a takeaway rather than have to cook tonight? sooner    Wouldn't you ...sooner qet a takeaway than... have to cook tonight?
2 If we stay longer, we can spend more time sightseeing.
the The...................................................................................time we can spend sightseeing.
3 I'd rather go home than go to the cinema.
than       I'd prefer.................................................................................................go to the cinema.
4 In some countries men and women are paid the same.
as In some countries women .........................................................................................men.
5 Crisps are not as nutritious as nuts.
less        Crisps...........................................................................................................................nuts.
6 No other job is as well-paid.
best       It.....................................................................................................................................job.
7 John and I have received the same number of job offers.
many       I have received ......................................................................................................... John.
8 Last night I felt more tired than ever.
as I have..........................................................................................................I did last night.
9 Tony finds history easier than geography.
not Geography ...............................................................................................history for Tony.
10 As he gets older, he becomes less tolerant.
the The ...................................................................................................tolerant he becomes.
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5	Adjectives /Adverbs 1 Comparisons	
11	1 love going to football matches but my sister prefers going to tennis tournaments.	
	whereas  1 love going to football matches..................................................	. to tennis tournaments.
12	Helen had twice as much work as Janet.	
	half        Janet had .....................................................................................	...........................Helen.
13	1 like being self-employed. It's better than working for someone else.	
	to          1 prefer ..........................................................................................	
14	My grandfather is getting less and less patient as he gets older.	
	impatient My grandfather is getting.............................................................	...........as he gets older.
15	Laura is a less sensitive girl than her sister.	
		......................her sister.
16	Airships are not as dangerous as they used to be.	
		............they used to be.
17	My father is spending less time at the office now he's nearing retirement.	
	as           My father is...............................................at the office now that he's nearing retirement.	
18	Martha and Julie have the same views.	
	as           Martha's views.............................................................................	...........................Julie's.
19	1 think 1 would prefer to leave rather than wait until he comes.	
	sooner    1 think 1 .........................................................................................	.............until he comes.
20	If we climb higher, the view will be better.	
	the The ...............................................................................................	
As is used
• for similarities.
He works like a mule. (He isn't a mule.)
• after feel, look, smell, sound + noun. She looks like her mother.
It smells like burnt toast.
• with nouns, pronouns or the -ing form to express similarity.
Frogs' legs are supposed to taste just like chicken. Is that your Mum? You look like her. It's like walking on air.
• to say what sb or sth really is (jobs or roles)
He works as a dentist. (He's a dentist.)
• in certain expressions: as usual, as...as, as much, such as, the same as. She was late as usual.
• after: accept, be known, class, describe, refer to, regard, use.
He's regarded as an expert on computers.
• In clauses of manner to mean "in the way that"
We must write the essay as they have shown us.
Fill in as or like.
1 ...As... you mentioned, they are............two peas in a pod. Jack looks exactly............his twin
brother Jim. They even have the same personality............each other.
2 Ugh! This soup tastes just............water. Didn't you make it............I told you?
3 He treats his friends............dirt. I detest people behaving............that. He should treat people
............he'd like to be treated himself.
4 ............he didn't know what his relations looked.............they sent him a photo so he would
recognize them at the airport.
5 I have been working............a tour guide for two years now, but I don't really regard it ............a
serious career. It's time to do something different. I might even go back to college............my sister
has done.
6 ............usual it looks............if it's going to rain. It's no wonder Lancashire is described............the
wettest county in Britain.
7 He drinks............a fish and smokes............a chimney and.............we all keep telling him, he
won't live long.
8 ............much............I admire his work, I don't think he deserves to be known............the greatest
novelist of the century.
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