English Grammar in Use With Answers » Unit 106: Comparison 2 (much better / any better / better and better / the sooner the better)

Before comparatives you can use:
  • much
  • a lot
  • far (= a lot)
  • a bit
  • a little
  • slightly (=a little)

  • Let's go by car. It's much cheaper. (or a lot cheaper)
  • 'How do you feel now?'  'Much better, thanks.'
  • Don't go by train. It's a lot more expensive. (or much more expensive)
  • Could you speak a bit more slowly? (or a little more slowly)
  • This bag is slightly heavier than the other one.
  • Her illness was far more serious than we thought at first. (or much more serious / a lot more serious)

You can use any and no + comparative (any longer / no bigger etc.):
  • I've waited long enough. I'm not waiting any longer. (= not even a little longer)
  • We expected their apartment to be very big, but it's no bigger than ours. or ... it isn't any bigger than ours. (= not even a little bigger)
  • How do you feel now? Do you feel any better?
  • This hotel is better than the other one, and it's no more expensive.

Better and better / more and more etc.

We repeat comparatives (better and better etc.) to say that something changes continuously:
  • Your English is improving. It's getting better and better.
  • The city has grown fast in recent years. It's got bigger and bigger.
  • As I listened to his story, I became more and more convinced that he was lying.
  • These days more and more people are learning English.

The ... the ...

You can say the (sooner/bigger/more etc.) the better:
  • 'what time shall we leave?'  'The sooner the better.' (= as soon as possible)
  • A: What sort of box do you want? A big one?
    B: Yes, the bigger the better. (= as big as possible)
  • When you're travelling, the less luggage you have the better.

We also use the ... the ... to say that one thing depends on another thing:
  • The warmer the weather, the better I feel. (= if the weather is warmer, I feel better)
  • The sooner we leave, the earlier we will arrive.
  • The younger you are, the easier it is to learn.
  • The more expensive the hotel, the better the service.
  • The more electricity you use, the higher your bill will be.
  • The more I thought about the plan, the less I liked it.

Older and elder

The comparative of old is older:
  • David looks older than he really is.

You can use elder (or older) when you talk about people in a family. You can say (my/your etc.) elder sister/brother/daughter/son:
  • My elder sister is a TV producer. (or My older sister ... )

We say 'my elder sister', but we do not say that 'somebody is elder':
  • My sister is older than me. (not elder than me)

106.1 Use the words in brackets to complete the sentences. Use much / a bit etc. + a comparative form. Use than where necessary.

  1. Her illness was we thought at first. (much / serious)
  2. This bag is too small. I need something __________ . (much / big)
  3. I liked the museum. It was __________ I expected. (much / interesting)
  4. It was very hot yesterday. Today it's __________ . (a bit / cool)
  5. I'm afraid the problem is __________ it seems. (far / complicated)
  6. You're driving too fast. Can you drive __________ ? (a bit / slowly)
  7. It's __________ to learn a language in a country where it is spoken. (a lot / easy)
  8. I thought she was younger than me, but in fact she's __________ . (slightly / old)

106.2 Complete the sentences using any/no + comparative. Use than where necessary.

  1. I've waited long enough. I'm not waiting .
  2. I'm sorry I'm a bit late, but I couldn't get here __________ .
  3. This shop isn't expensive. The prices are __________ anywhere else.
  4. I need to stop for a rest. I can't walk __________ .
  5. The traffic isn't particularly bad today. It's __________ usual.

106.3 Complete the sentences using the structure in Section C ( ... and ... ).

  1. It's getting to find a job. (difficult)
  2. That hole in your sweater is getting __________ . (big)
  3. My bags seemed to get __________ as I carried them. (heavy)
  4. As I waited for my interview, I became __________ . (nervous)
  5. As the day went on, the weather got __________ . (bad)
  6. Health care is becoming __________ . (expensive)
  7. Since Ann a went to Canada, her English has got __________ . (good)
  8. As the conversation went on, Paul became __________ . (talkative)

106.4 Complete the sentences using the structure in Section D (the ... the ... ).

  1. I like warm weather.
    The warmer the weather, . (feel)
  2. I didn't really like him when we first met.
    But the more I got to know him, __________ . (like)
  3. If you're in business, you want to make a profit.
    The more goods you sell, __________ . (profit)
  4. It's hard to concentrate when you're tired.
    The more tired you are, __________ . (hard)
  5. Kate had to wait a very long time.
    The longer she had to wait, __________ . (impatient / become)

106.5 Use the words on the right to complete the sentences

  • any
  • better
  • less
  • elder
  • less
  • longer
  • more
  • no
  • older
  • slightly
  • the
  1. I like to travel light. The (1) luggage, the better.
  2. The problem is getting (2) __________ and more serious.
  3. The more time I have, the (3) __________ it takes me to do things.
  4. I'm walking as fast as I can. I can't walk (4) __________ faster.
  5. The higher your income, (5) __________ more tax you have to pay.
  6. I'm surprised Anna is only 25. I thought she was (6) __________ .
  7. Jane's (7) __________ sister is a nurse.
  8. I was a little late. The journey took (8) __________ longer than I expected.
  9. We have a lot to discuss. We need to start the meeting (9) __________ later than 9.30.
  10. Don't tell him anything. The (10) __________ he knows, the (11) __________ .

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