The Communicative Grammar of English Workbook - Edward Woods, Rudy Coppieters 2002
11.2. Comparison 2
Unit eleven. Comparison
Sections 225-226; 505-507
To compare two unequal things various structures can be used:
• We are taller than most Sherpas (are).
• Most Sherpas are shorter than we are/ ... than we (= formal)/ ... than us (= informal).
• Most Sherpas are less tall than we are/ ... than we (= formal)/ ... than us (= informal).
• We are less short than most Sherpas (are).
For stating or negating an equal comparison the following structures are used:
• Some Sherpas are as tall as we are / . as we (= formal) / . as us (= informal).
• Most Sherpas are not as/so tall as we are / . as we (= formal) / . as us (= informal).
Task one **
Rephrase the following sentences without changing their basic meaning, giving at least two alternatives to each. Add any stylistic variants as well.
1. My skin is darker than Angela’s.
2. Our politicians are more optimistic than most voters.
3. Cynthia was feeling better than I was.
4. Boris looks healthier than I do.
5. There were not as many casualties in the train as in the coach.
6. I arrived later than Adrian.
7. The hooligans were dealt with more leniently than the anti-globalists.
8. Shy children speak more quietly than assertive ones.
9. My home is not decorated as lavishly as Madonna’s.
10. The British athletes were not running as fast as their Ethiopian counterparts.
Task two ***
Study each row of statistical data below, then write four sentences similar to those that have already been done for you with reference to ’area’.
Example: Australia is a large country.
→ (a) Australia is larger than the UK, Ireland and South Africa.
(b) Australia is smaller than Canada.
(c) Canada is the largest of the five countries.
(d) Ireland is the smallest of the five countries.
1. South Africa is a populous country.
2. Canada is a sparsely populated country.
3. The UK has a low birth rate.
4. Ireland has a young population.
5. Canadians live long.
6. Ireland has a wide gender gap as regards life expectancy.
7. Australia is a rich country.
8. Canada has a wet climate.
9. South Africa has a warm climate.
10. South Africa is far away from the UK.
Task three **
Convert the following sentences by replacing an adjective-and-noun pattern with one structured around an adverb. In some cases antonyms can be used in a number of alternative ways too.
Example: I am as avid a reader of Punch as my granny.
→ I read Punch as avidly as my granny (does).
→ My granny reads Punch as avidly as I do.
(or: ... as I <formal> ... as me <informal>)
→ My granny and I are equally avid readers of Punch.
1. Simpson is a more elegant writer than Williams.
2. Chuck is not as good a baseball player as Pete.
3. Lady Carcrash is a more reckless driver than Lord Slowlane.
4. Americans are less ardent supporters of euthanasia than Europeans.
5. Sarah is as firm a believer in life after death as Monica.
6. Keith Michell was not such a brilliant actor as John Gielgud.
7. Barbara was not as peaceful a protester as Sandra.
8. Conchita is a more fluent speaker of English than Andrikos.
9. Arthur is a much harder worker than Hyacinth.
10. Dorothy is a less energetic swimmer than Sybil.