Adjective/Adverb Trainer: learn by heart

big difference

small difference

formal

considerably, significantly, decidedly, infinitely /ˈɪnfɪnətli/ (all – значительно)

marginally, fractionally (в малой степени, незначительно)

neutral

much/many, a lot, (by) far, a good deal

slightly, a bit, a little, barely any

informal

miles, way, loads

Their technology was considerably more advanced than ours.

We're way better than you at football!

She earns much more money than I do.

Women today have many more opportunities than they used to.

 

1. modifiers with as + adj. + as

a.

To show a big difference, use nothing like, or nowhere (near).

He's nothing like as stubborn as his brother.

She's nowhere (near) as good as me at chess.

b.

To show a small difference use almost or nearly.

He's almost as neurotic as me

c.

 To emphasise no difference use just or every bit

 I’m just as clever as you are.

We’re every bit as good as our competitors

NB1: You can use so instead of the first as in negative sentences

She is not nearly so difficult as people say.

NB2: After as + as we can use these structures:

She drives as fast as I do or She drives as fast as me.

NB3: Twice can only be used before as ... as

Our flat is twice as big as his. not Our flat is twice bigger

However three times, four times, etc. can be used with as ... as or with a comparative

adjective or adverb

The holiday cost three times more than I’d expected.

The holiday cost three times as much as I’d expected.

 

2. You can also use the + adj. + the

The bigger the lie, the more people believe it.

The more you read, the more you'll learn.

3. And progressive comparatives

Use the progressive comparative form to say something is escalating. Use the comparative word twice (separated by and) to emphasise the adjective.

House prices are getting lower and lower

Homework for the

1. Review everything

3. Learn the Comparative rules

4. Translate using comparative forms for the underlined phrases: Для футболиста Tiago Manuel Dias Correia, больше известного как Bebe, жизнь становится все лучше и лучше. Он далеко не так знаменит, как Cristiano Ronaldo, но его история в точности такая же замечательная. Всего через какой-то год после того, как он жил в приюте в Лиссабоне, он находится на пороге славы. Он играл в матче в Боснии в 2009 году, когда в шутку сказал своим друзьям по команде, что однажды он станет намного более великим, чем Рональдо. И хотя ему еще далеко до этого достижения, он только что подошел к своей цели значительно ближе. Как говорит менеджер его команды, он совершенно не такой эпатажный, как его герой. Он простой парень, который не имел многого. В августе 2010 года, британский клуб подписал с ним контракт на 7.4 миллиона фунтов стерлингов, что является существенно большей суммой, чем Tiago когда-либо ожидал увидеть в своей жизни.