Making basic comparisons in English is a great start, but to speak truly fluently, you need to be able to show how much things differ. There is a massive gap between saying two things are “different” versus saying they are “completely different,” or that a phone is “shorter” versus “much shorter.”
In this ultimate guide, we will explore how to modify comparative adjectives and expressions to express big differences, small variations, or absolute equality.
Modifying Comparisons at a Glance
Look at how modifiers completely change the impact of these everyday comparisons:
- 🦒 Big Difference: He’s much shorter than his brother.
- 🏃♂️ Small Difference: Good-quality socks are almost as important as your running shoes.
- 🖼️ Zero Difference: Our hotel room was exactly the same as the photos showed.
1. The Basics of Comparing
Before we look at modifiers, let’s quickly review the three fundamental ways to build a baseline comparison in English:
A. Comparative Adjectives (Taller / More Patient / Less Interesting)
Used to compare two distinct people, places, or things.
- Max is taller than Judy.
- You’re more patient than I am.
- His first book is less interesting than his second.
B. The ‘As… As’ Structure (Equality or Inequality)
Used to state that two things are identical or to point out that one falls short of the other.
- Positive: Her hair is as long as mine. (They are equal length)
- Negative: It’s not as sunny as yesterday. (Today has less sun)
C. Relational Expressions (Different from / Similar to / The same as)
Used to compare the general identity or traits of things.
- England is different from the United Kingdom.
- His car is similar to mine.
- The results from the first test are the same as the results from the second.
2. Showing Big Differences 🚀
When you want to emphasize that there is a large gap between two things, you can add dynamic intensifiers to your standard comparative structures.
Modifying Comparative Adjectives
To inject power into a comparative adjective, place much, so much, a lot, even, or far directly in front of it:
- 📈 Sales in July were a lot higher than sales in June.
- 👔 He was far less experienced than the other applicant.
- 🚙 This new SUV is even more expensive than their sports car!
Modifying ‘As… As’ Structures
To express that one thing is vastly inferior or miles away from another, use nowhere near with the negative as… as pattern:
- 📝 The interview was nowhere near as difficult as the written exam. (The exam was vastly harder!)
Modifying ‘Different From’
To magnify a contrast between two separate entities, use very, really, completely, or totally:
- 👥 They may be twins, but they’re completely different from each other.
3. Showing Small Differences 🔍
Sometimes, the gap between two things is tiny. To show that things are nearly identical but not quite, use precision modifiers.
Modifying Comparative Adjectives
To show a microscopic or minor variance, use slightly, a little, a bit, a little bit, or not much:
- 📉 The number of registrations has been slightly lower than we expected.
- 🏢 Houses in my city are not much more expensive than flats.
Modifying ‘As… As’ and ‘The Same As’
To indicate that two things are hovering right on the edge of being perfectly equal, attach words like almost, nearly, not quite, roughly, more or less, or about:
- 🎂 She’s almost as old as I am.
- 📊 The figures for May are more or less the same as the figures for June.
Modifying ‘Similar To’
To push a vague similarity closer to an identical match, you can use very or really:
- 👴 My son looks really similar to my father when he was that age.
4. Showing There is Zero Difference 🎯
If you want to place heavy emphasis on absolute, 100% equality, you can use modifiers that lock the two components together.
- Exactly the same as: 🍰 My grandma’s cakes still taste exactly the same as when I was a child!
- Just as… as: 📱 A new phone can be just as expensive as a new computer these days.
🗺️ Comparison Modifier Cheat Sheet
| Desired Effect | Modifiers to Use | Example Phrase |
| Big Difference 🔥 | much / so much / a lot / far / even | …far more convenient than… |
| nowhere near as… as | …nowhere near as fast as… | |
| completely / totally / completely | …completely different from… | |
| Small Difference 🤏 | slightly / a little / a bit / not much | …slightly cheaper than… |
| almost / nearly / more or less / roughly | …almost as good as… | |
| very / really | …really similar to… | |
| Zero Difference 🤝 | exactly / just | …exactly the same as… |
🧠 Test Your Skills Interactively!
Do you want to see if you can manipulate these comparison scales perfectly? Put your grammar instincts to the test! Head to the top of our digital terminal on Advanced English Lab and click on Grammar Test 1. Solve our interactive exercises, check your diagnostic breakdown in real-time, and take total control of your descriptive English today!
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