Comparatives 2 (much better / any better / better and better etc.)

much / a lot / far / a bit / a little / slightly + Comparative

You can put a modifier before a comparative to show how big or small the difference is.

Large difference: much, a lot, far

• I felt ill earlier, but I feel much better now.
• Don’t go by train. It’s a lot more expensive.
• The problem is far more serious than we thought at first.

Small difference: a bit, a little, slightly

• Could you speak a bit more slowly?
• This bag is slightly heavier than the other one.
• I thought he was younger than me, but in fact he’s a little older.

Note: You cannot use “very” before a comparative. Say much better (not very better).

any / no + Comparative

Use any in questions and negative sentences to mean “even a little”:

• Do you feel any better? (= even a little better?)
• I’ve waited long enough. I’m not waiting any longer. (= not even a little longer)
• We expected their apartment to be very big, but it isn’t any bigger than ours.

Use no + comparative to mean “not any”:

• Their apartment is no bigger than ours. (= it isn’t any bigger)
• This hotel is better than the other one, and it’s no more expensive.

Repeated Comparatives: better and better, more and more

Repeat the comparative form to say that something is changing continuously:

• Your English is improving. It’s getting better and better.
• The city has grown fast in recent years. It’s got bigger and bigger.
• As I listened to his story, I became more and more convinced that he was lying.
• *More and more tourists are visiting this part of the country.*

For short adjectives, repeat the comparative: bigger and bigger, worse and worse. For long adjectives, repeat more and more: more and more difficult, more and more expensive.

the … the … (One Thing Depends on Another)

Use the + comparative … the + comparative to say that one thing depends on another:

You can also use the sooner the better, the bigger the better, etc. to mean “as … as possible”:

• What time shall we leave? — The sooner the better. (= as soon as possible)
• What sort of bag do you want? A big one? — Yes, the bigger the better.

older and elder

The comparative of old is older (not elder):

• David looks older than he really is. (not elder than)
• My sister is older than me. (not elder than me)

Use elder only before a noun when talking about family members. You can also use older in this case:

• My elder sister is a TV producer. (or My older sister …)

Quick Self-Check