Mastering English Comparatives and Quantifiers

Mastering Comparatives in English

Advanced Comparatives

To show things are about the same, we use as (adjective) as. To contrast two things, we add not and use not as (adjective) as. To emphasize that something is constantly changing, we use less and less. To show that two things are linked positively or negatively, we use parallel statements with the (comparative), the (comparative). The better the athletes are, the more exciting they are to watch in their events. To show that two things are inversely linked, we use the more ..., the less ... The more often I see him, the less I like him.

Qualifying Comparatives

To show things are identical with comparisons as ... as, we use just, equally, or exactly. To talk about smaller or bigger differences, we use modifying adverbs (e.g., slightly, a bit, a little; or far, much). To show small or big differences with comparisons that use as ... as, we use almost, clearly, not quite; or nowhere near, nothing like. This dessert is almost as good as the one Mum makes. Not quite is used to show something isn't as good as other things.

Using Articles Correctly

Indefinite Articles (a / an)

• When we mention something for the first time: My town has got a museum.
• When we refer to somebody or something which is one of many similar things: Have you ever been on a motorbike?
• When we don't need to be specific: Can I have a pen?
• With jobs: He's an engineer.

Definite Article (the)

• When we make further references to something: My town has a museum. The museum is famous.
• When we refer to something that there is only one of in existence: Have you seen the Colosseum in Rome?
• When we are referring to something specific: Can I have the TV remote?
• With adjectives to refer to people or things that share the same characteristic: Can you pass me the yellow ones?

Zero Article (-)

• When we talk about people or things for the first time using a plural noun: Maryam knows people from my town.
• When we make a generalization: Bees are really important for the Earth's future.
• With words like school, college, work, etc.: She's already gone to school.

Understanding Quantifiers

Quantifiers (a little, a lot of, another, all, each, every, a few, both, several, some, many, most, no, etc.) are used with countable and uncountable nouns.

• We use some with countable and uncountable nouns.
• Few and a little are used for small amounts.
• We use a few with countable nouns and little with uncountable nouns.