Grammar: Advanced comparatives-Comparing and contrasting, double comparatives, modifying comparatives
COMPARING AND CONTRASTING
“As…As”
We use “as…as” to show equality.
Examples:
Tom is as tall as Jack.
This test is as difficult as the last one.
My car is as fast as yours.
Comparing Similarities
Similarly, both cities are crowded.
Likewise, both students worked hard.
Both dogs are friendly.
He runs just like his father.
In the same way, children learn through practice.
“Not As…As”
We use “not as…as” to show inequality.
Examples:
Winter is not as hot as summer.
This hotel is not as expensive as that one.
My English is not as good as hers.
Contrasting Differences
She studied hard; however, she failed.
Tom likes coffee, whereas Anna prefers tea.
While my brother is outgoing, I am shy.
Unlike his sister, Mark loves sports.
City life is exciting. On the other hand, it is stressful.
EXERCISES – COMPARING AND CONTRASTING
“As…As” Say it differently
Tom weighs 60 kg, Jack also weighs 60 kg.
Tom finds today’s traffic bad; it was the same yesterday.
Tom’s car is a 1980 model; his brother’s car is also a 1980 model.
Comparing Similarities Say it differently
Saigon’s traffic is chaotic; Hanoi’s traffic is also chaotic.
Tom is very lazy; Jack is also lazy.
My car is fast; his car is also fast.
He speaks fast; his father also speaks fast.
They make their living on the farm; their parents also made their living on the farm.
“Not As…As”
My car looks nice but your car looks nicer.
This year’s storm is violent but last year’s storm was even more violent.
She travels to many countries but her sister travels to even more countries.
Contrasting Differences
She always dresses poorly for someone who spends a lot of money on clothes;
Tom and Anna always disagree on what to eat. He likes meat, she likes fish.
My brother owns a big house and drives nice cars; I live in a small apartment and have no car.
Mark talks a everyone he meets; his sister is afraid to talk to people.
I like Paris, it has nice architecture but I don’t like Parisians, they are not friendly.
DOUBLE COMPARATIVES & REPETITIVE COMPARATIVES
EXERCISES – DOUBLE COMPARATIVES & REPETITIVE COMPARATIVES
MODIFYING COMPARATIVES
Strong modifiers
Today is much hotter than yesterday.
This test is far more difficult than the last one.
She speaks English a lot better now.
Trains are considerably faster than buses.
The new system is significantly more efficient.
Less + Modifier
Examples:
This road is much less dangerous now.
The sequel was slightly less interesting.
My new job is a lot less stressful.
Comparatives with Numbers and Measurement
Examples:
My brother is two years older than me.
This table is 10 cm longer.
Gas is 20% more expensive this year.
The blue whale is many times larger than a human.
EXTERNAL TESTS
REWRITE THE STORY BY FILLING IN THE BLANKS
ORIGINAL STORY
When Maya left her quiet hometown and settled in Toronto, many parts of daily life immediately stood out to her. Cars and people filled the streets from morning until night, while the roads near her old house had usually remained calm and peaceful.
Her new apartment did not offer much space, yet shops, restaurants, and schools could all be reached within minutes.
In the beginning, Maya imagined that living in a large city would bring endless excitement. After spending some time there, she began to notice positive and negative sides in both places.
Her new school contained modern classrooms, an impressive library, and excellent science facilities. Back in her hometown, however, the atmosphere had felt warmer and more personal. The teachers there often took extra time to help students, and classmates usually worked closely together. In Toronto, many students preferred handling tasks on their own.
Little by little, Maya adapted to her surroundings. Each new experience helped her feel more at ease in the city. As her activities and homework increased, she realized that planning her time carefully became necessary. During the colder months, memories of the friendly people and comforting atmosphere of her hometown often returned to her mind.
Eventually, Maya stopped thinking about one lifestyle as perfect and the other as disappointing. City life offered convenience and opportunity, while small-town life provided peace and close relationships. With time, she understood that appreciating both environments depended mainly on keeping an open mind.
FILL IN THE BLANKS
When Maya moved from a small town to Toronto, she quickly noticed many differences between city life and country life. The streets in Toronto were far busier than the quiet roads near her old home.
The apartments were not as spacious as the houses in her hometown, but they were much closer to schools, stores, and restaurants.
At first, Maya thought city life would be much more exciting than life in the countryside. However, after a few months, she realized that each place had both advantages and disadvantages.
Maya’s new school was larger and more modern than her old one. The library was slightly bigger, and the science labs were far better equipped. On the other hand, the teachers in her old school seemed a little friendlier and more patient. The students in Toronto were generally more independent, while the students in her hometown were more cooperative.
As Maya spent more time in the city, she became more comfortable with her new environment.
The more she explored Toronto, the more confident she felt.
She also noticed that the busier her schedule became, the more organized she needed to be.
At the same time, the colder the weather grew, the more she missed the warmth of her small-town community.
Maya eventually discovered that life in the city was not necessarily better or worse than life in the countryside — it was simply different.
Some things were considerably more convenient in Toronto, while others were slightly less enjoyable.
In the end, Maya learned that the more open-minded she became, the easier it was to appreciate both worlds.
METHOD
Listen- Comprehension-Read (Vocabulary, pronunciation) -Grammar- Speaking