106 : Comparative 2 (much better / any better etc.)

   A   

Before comparatives you can use:

    much       a lot       far (= a lot)       a bit       a Little       slightly (= a little)    

• Let's go by car. It's much cheaper. (or a lot cheaper)
• 'How do you feel now?'  'Much better, thanks.'
• Don't go by train. It's a lot more expensive. (or much more expensive)
• Could you speak a bit more slowly? (or a little more slowly)
• This bag is slightly heavier than the other one.
• Her illness was far more serious than we thought at first. (or much more serious / a lot more serious)

 

 

   B   

You can use any and no + comparative (any longer / no bigger etc.):

• 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's no bigger than ours. or ... it isn't any bigger than ours. (= not even a little bigger)
• How do you feel now? Do you feel any better?
• This hotel is better than the other one, and it's no more expensive.

 

 

   C   

Better and better / more and more etc.

 

We repeat comparatives (better and better etc.) to say that something changes 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.
• These days more and more people are learning English.

 

 

   D   

The ... the ...

 

You can say the (sooner/bigger/more etc.) the better:

• 'what time shall we leave?'  'The sooner the better.' (= as soon as possible)
• A: What sort of box do you want? A big one?
  B: Yes, the bigger the better. (= as big as possible)
• When you're travelling, the less luggage you have the better.

 

We also use the ... the ... to say that one thing depends on another thing:

• The warmer the weather, the better I feel. (= if the weather is warmer, I feel better)
• The sooner we leave, the earlier we will arrive.
• The younger you are, the easier it is to learn.
• The more expensive the hotel, the better the service.
• The more electricity you use, the higher your bill will be.
• The more I thought about the plan, the less I liked it.

 

 

   E   

Older and elder

 

The comparative of old is older:

• David looks older than he really is.

 

You can use elder (or older) when you talk about people in a family. You can say (my/your etc.) elder sister/brother/daughter/son:

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

 

We say 'my elder sister', but we do not say that 'somebody is elder':

• My sister is older than me. (not elder than me)

 

 

 

※ convince :

 

• convince somebody/yourself Are the prime minister's assurances enough to convince the public?
• I'd be very surprised if this argument convinces anybody.
• to try/manage/fail to convince somebody/yourself
• I managed to convince myself that I was doing the right thing.
• convince somebody/yourself of something You'll need to convince them of your enthusiasm for the job.
• convince somebody/yourself (that)… I’d convinced myself (that) I was right.
• Will the president be able to convince voters that he deserves a second term?
• The experience convinced him that Europe was on the brink of a revolution.
• convince(=persuade) somebody to do something I've been trying to convince him to see a doctor.

 

 

※ on the brink (of something) :

 

• on the brink of collapse/war/death/disaster
• Scientists are on the brink of making a major new discovery.
• He's pulled the company back from the brink (= he has saved it from disaster).