Comparative and superlative patterns

A Introduction

There are a number of different sentence patterns with comparative and superlative forms, e.g. older than me, the sweetest man in the world.

B The comparative and than

We often use a phrase with than after a comparative.

This restaurant is nicer than the Pizza House.

I had a bigger meal than you.

The steak is more expensive than the fish.

C The superlative

We normally use the before a superlative.

The quickest way is along this path.

The last question is the most difficult.

Note the pattern with one of.

Michael Jackson is one of the most famous pop singers ever.

After a superlative we can use in or of. We use in with places and with groups of people, e.g. team.

It's the most expensive hotel in Oxford.

Who is the best player in the team?

This question is the most difficult of all.

August is the wettest month of the year.

We often use a clause after a superlative.

That was the most delicious meal (that) I've ever eaten.

Melanie is the nicest person you could meet.

D As... as

We use as ... as to say that things are equal or unequal.

Our house is as big as yours. They're the same size. NOT It is so big as yours.

It's warmer today. It isn't as cold as yesterday.

In a negative sentence we can also use so ... as, but this is less common than as ... as.

This flat isn't as big as/so big as our old one.

Here are some more examples of as ... as.

The chair is as expensive as the table.

We can't do crosswords as quickly as you do.

I don't earn as much money as I'd like.

Note also the same as.

The result of the match was the same as last year.

E Than me/than I am

Compare than me and than I am. Both are correct, and they have the same meaning.

You're twenty years older than me.

Harriet's husband isn't as tall as her.

After than or as, a personal pronoun on its own has the object form, e.g. me.

You're twenty years older than I am.

Her husband isn't as tall as she is.

But if the pronoun has a verb after it, then we use the subject form, e.g. I.

F Less and least

Less and least are the opposites of more and most. We use less and least with both long and short words.

A bus is less expensive than a taxi. (A bus is cheaper than a taxi./A bus isn't as expensive as a taxi.)

I feel better today, less tired.

I'm the least musical person in the world, I'm afraid.

We go out less often these days.

You should do less work. You do too much.

G Much faster

We can put a word or phrase (e.g. much, far, a bit) before a comparative to say how much faster, cheaper, etc something is. Look at these examples.

It's much faster by tube. A bus is far cheaper than a taxi. This bed is a bit more comfortable.

Business is rather better this year. I got up a little later than usual. This month's figures are slightly less good.

A computer will do it much more efficiently.

Before a comparative we can use much, a lot, far, rather, slightly, a bit, a little.

We can also use no and any. No has a negative meaning.

Your second throw at the basket was no nearer than your first.

We can use any in negatives and questions and with if.

Your second throw wasn't any nearer than your first.

Are you sleeping any better since you've been taking the pills?

If we leave any later than seven, we'll get caught in the rush hour.

H Faster and faster

We use expressions like faster and faster and more and more expensive to say that something is increasing all the time.

The caravan was rolling faster and faster down the hill.

The queue was getting longer and longer.

Prices go up and up. Everything gets more and more expensive.

The crowd are becoming more and more excited.

The country is rapidly losing its workers, as more and more people are emigrating.

The form depends on whether the comparative is with er (e.g. louder) or with more (e.g. more expensive

We can also use less and less for something decreasing.

As each new problem arose, we felt less and less enthusiastic.

I The faster, the better

We use this pattern to say that a change in one thing goes with a change in another. Look at these examples

There's no time to lose. The faster you drive, the better.

The higher the price, the more reliable the product.

The more the customer complained, the ruder and more unpleasant the manager became.

The sooner we leave, the sooner we'll get there.

Are you looking for a cheap holiday? ~ Yes, the cheaper the better.