Preparation Course for TOEFL Assets.

STRUCTURE 4: Comparative structures

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You must first complete Mock TOEFL (ITP/IBT) before taking this course.

I. Comparative structures are used to say how two things or people are similar or diferent.

-er adjective + than / more + adjective than

Use more with adjectives of more than two SYLLABLES and SOME two-syllable adjectives.

less + adjective + than

Note irregular forms: better, worse, further, elder, etc.

Cities are becoming larger and more crowded.
Life in rural areas tends to be less expensive and less stressful.

more + noun

fewer less + noun

More people live in cities today than ever before.
large cities often have fewer parks and green areas than small towns.
Small towns generally have less crime than large cities.

Add much, far, considerably, or significantly to make a comparison stronger.

Cities are significantly larger now than they were 20 years ago.
Poverty and crime are far more common in large cities than in small towns.

II. Negative comparative structures.

not as + adjective + as

rural areas are not as crowded as cities

not as many/much + noun + as

There are not as many job opportunities in rural areas as there are in towns.
There is not as much pollution in rural areas as there is in towns.

Equal comparative structures

as + adjective + as

Living in a small town is as incredible as living in a city.

as many/muich + noun+ as

There are as many museums and other cultural opportunities in smaller towns as in cities.