COMPARISON WITH INTENSIFIERS
BIG AND SMALL DIFFERENCES IN COMPARATIVES AND SUPERLATIVES
COMPARATIVES
SHOWING A small DIFFERENCE
George Clooney is slightly older than Brad Pitt.
a little
a bit (informal)
Brad Pitt is slightly more attractive than George Clooney.
a little
a bit
SHOWING A BIG DIFFERENCE
Mont Blanc is much higher than Monte Baldo
a lot (informal)
far (formal)
Mont Blanc is much more dangerous than Monte Baldo.
a lot
far
SHOWING A VERY BIG DIFFERENCE
Mount Everest is much, much higher than Monte Baldo.
far, far (formal)
Mount Everest is much, much more dangerous than Monte Baldo.
far, far
SUPERLATIVES
There are various forms to show big differences between one absolute and everything else:
Look at these examples:
a) In area Russia is by far the biggest country in the world/ the biggest country of all.
b) Canada is the second biggest country one of the biggest countries in area, but it is one of the least populated countries in the world.
c) China has by far the largest population/the biggest population of all, and is the third largest country in area.
Some geographical comparisons:
The Nile is far, far longer than the Amazon.
The Nile is by far the longest river in the world.
The Amazon River is a lot shorter than the Nile.
The Vatican City is by far the smallest country in the world.
The Vatican City is much, much smaller than Sao Paolo.
Monaco is much, much more densely populated than Canada.
Hong Kong is much, much more densely populated than Canada.
Monaco is, in fact, far more densely populated than Hong Kong, which we found surprising.
Tokyo is far, far bigger than the other cities.
The Andes in South America are much higher than The Rockies in North America.
New York has a much lower population . (It has fewer inhabitants) than Tokyo.
Practice Activity:
Complete the sentences below so that they are true about you or about your friends or famous people:
Ex. 1) In my family Haggis is by far the noisiest “person”!
1) In my family ________ is by far the ____________ (Use a superlative adjective)
2) The most ________ lesson _______ that I have been to this term was_______
3) My bedroom is much ____________ than _____________________
4) One of the most __________ films I’ve seen this year was ________________
5) When I travel to the university the __________ is a lot ________________ than ___________________
6) My summer holiday was one of the most ___________________ holidays I’ve had.
7) My second favourite food is _______________________.
8) I am much, much __________________ than __________________________
9) My ________ (car/ bike etc.) is a bit ______________ than ______________
10) Studying at university is _________________ than studying at school.
11) ____________ is much more attractive, in my opinion, than __________
12) The most ____________politician of all in my country is ___________
http://www.englishexercises.org/makeagame/viewgame.asp?id=8208
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