{"id":32250,"date":"2026-04-08T08:35:20","date_gmt":"2026-04-08T06:35:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/phoneenglish.es\/blog\/?p=32250"},"modified":"2026-04-08T08:35:21","modified_gmt":"2026-04-08T06:35:21","slug":"modifying-comparisons","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/phoneenglish.es\/blog\/2026\/04\/modifying-comparisons\/","title":{"rendered":"Modifying Comparisons"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><strong><em>B2 &#8211; Upper Intermediate<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Modifying comparisons<\/strong>&nbsp;means adding words or phrases to fine-tune the degree of difference or similarity between things.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>They answer questions like:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><em>How much more?<\/em><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><em>How much less?<\/em><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><em>To what extent are they similar or different?<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Basic Structure<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Comparisons usually follow:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>comparative adjective\/adverb + than\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><em>faster than<\/em>,\u00a0<em>more complex than<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Modifiers come before the comparative form.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Common Types of Modifiers<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">A. Degree Modifiers (Strength of Difference)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Strong increase:<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>much \/ far \/ a lot \/ significantly \/ considerably<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>This solution is\u00a0<strong>far more effective<\/strong>\u00a0than the previous one.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>She works\u00a0<strong>significantly faster<\/strong>\u00a0than her colleagues.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Small difference:<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>slightly \/ a bit \/ a little \/ marginally<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The new model is\u00a0<strong>slightly cheaper<\/strong>\u00a0than the old one.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>He arrived\u00a0<strong>a bit earlier<\/strong>\u00a0than expected.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Emphatic precision:<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>by far<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>This is\u00a0<strong>by far the best<\/strong>\u00a0option available.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">B. Exact Measurement Modifiers<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Exact measurement modifiers are used for precise, measurable differences.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>twice \/ three times \/ half \/ double<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>X percent \/ X times \/ X units<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Examples:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The new engine is\u00a0<strong>twice as powerful as<\/strong>\u00a0the old one.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>This building is\u00a0<strong>three meters taller than<\/strong>\u00a0that one.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Sales are\u00a0<strong>30% higher than<\/strong>\u00a0last year.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">C. Minimizers and Negative Comparisons<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>no \/ not any<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>This version is\u00a0<strong>no better than<\/strong>\u00a0the original.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>He is\u00a0<strong>no more reliable than<\/strong>\u00a0his predecessor.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Note: These often imply disappointment or equality in a negative sense.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">D. Parallel Comparison Modifiers<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Parallel comparison modifiers are used in structures like:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u201cas\u2026as\u201d with modifiers:<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>just as \/ almost as \/ nearly as \/ not quite as<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>She is\u00a0<strong>just as capable as<\/strong>\u00a0her peers.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>This task is\u00a0<strong>not quite as difficult as<\/strong>\u00a0I expected.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Advanced Structures<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">A. \u201cThe + comparative\u2026, the + comparative\u2026\u201d<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>This structure shows proportional change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>The more<\/strong>\u00a0you practice,\u00a0<strong>the better<\/strong>\u00a0you become.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>The less<\/strong>\u00a0he sleeps,\u00a0<strong>the more irritable<\/strong>\u00a0he gets.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Modifiers can be added:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>The much harder\u00a0<\/strong>you try,<strong>\u00a0the more rewarding\u00a0<\/strong>it feels. (<em>This is less common and more stylistic.<\/em>)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">B. Comparative Correlatives with Nouns<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>There are\u00a0<strong>far more people<\/strong>\u00a0attending this year.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>We have\u00a0<strong>slightly fewer options<\/strong>\u00a0than before.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">C. Ellipsis in Comparisons<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Advanced users often omit repeated elements:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>She is\u00a0<strong>much more experienced than I (am)<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The results were\u00a0<strong>far better than expected<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">D. Comparisons with \u201cever\u201d and \u201cstill\u201d<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>This is\u00a0<strong>even better than before<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The situation is\u00a0<strong>still worse than we anticipated<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Note: \u201cEven\u201d and \u201cstill\u201d act as intensifying modifiers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Subtle Meaning Differences<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u201cMuch\u201d vs \u201cVery\u201d<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>x:\u00a0<em>very better<\/em><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>o:\u00a0<strong>much better<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Note: \u201cVery\u201d does NOT modify comparatives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u201cA lot\u201d vs \u201cmuch\u201d<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Informal:\u00a0<strong>a lot better<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>More formal:\u00a0<strong>much better<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u201cNo more than\u201d vs \u201cNot more than\u201d<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>No more than 10 people attended<\/strong>\u00a0(= only 10)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Not more than 10 people attended<\/strong>\u00a0(= maximum 10, neutral)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Stylistic and Academic Use<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>In formal\/academic English, you\u2019ll often see:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>considerably more significant<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>markedly less efficient<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>substantially higher<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>marginally lower<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Note: These are preferred over informal forms like&nbsp;<em>a lot<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Common Errors<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>x:&nbsp;<em>more easier than<\/em><br>o:&nbsp;<strong>easier than<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>x:&nbsp;<em>very more effective<\/em><br>o:&nbsp;<strong>much more effective<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>x:&nbsp;<em>twice more than<\/em><br>o:&nbsp;<strong>twice as much as \/ twice as many as<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>B2 &#8211; Upper Intermediate Modifying comparisons&nbsp;means adding words or phrases to fine-tune the degree of difference or similarity between things. They answer questions like: Basic Structure Comparisons usually follow: Modifiers come before the comparative form. Common Types of Modifiers A. Degree Modifiers (Strength of Difference) Strong increase: Small difference: Emphatic precision: B. Exact Measurement Modifiers [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":14,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[309],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-32250","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-grammar"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v16.2 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Modifying Comparisons | phone english blog<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/phoneenglish.es\/blog\/2026\/04\/modifying-comparisons\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Modifying Comparisons | phone english blog\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"B2 &#8211; Upper Intermediate Modifying comparisons&nbsp;means adding words or phrases to fine-tune the degree of difference or similarity between things. 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