Advanced Adjectives and Comparisons: B2 Exercises

Every answer with the reason behind it. Read the explanation for the ones you got right as well — that is where you find out whether you were right for the right reason.

Multiple choice questions — answers

1. The new premises are ___ more expensive than the ones we left. → considerably

Very cannot modify a comparative; considerably, far and much all can.

2. The revised model is only ___ faster, which hardly justifies the price. → marginally

Marginally marks a very small difference, which is what only signals here.

3. The sequel was ___ as good as the original, whatever the reviewers said. → nowhere near

Nowhere near as … as expresses a very large gap in the negative direction.

4. The exam was ___ as difficult as everyone had warned us it would be. → not nearly

Not nearly as … as means the gap was large and the expectation was wrong.

5. The generic drug is ___ as effective as the branded version. → just

Just as … as claims exact equality between the two things.

6. Housing in the city is becoming ___ affordable with every passing year. → less and less

The doubled comparative describes a change continuing in the same direction.

7. ___ the delay, the higher the eventual cost to the taxpayer. → The longer

The correlative structure requires the before both comparatives.

8. By the time we found the hotel we were ___ exhausted. → absolutely

Exhausted is non-gradable, so it takes absolutely rather than very.

9. Which sentence is INCORRECT? → The response was very extraordinary.

Extraordinary is already extreme, so very cannot intensify it.

10. Which is the correct order of adjectives? → a beautiful old Italian leather bag

Opinion comes before age, age before origin, and origin before material.

11. The second interview was ___ more demanding than the first. → very much

Very much is one of the few ways very can appear before a comparative.

12. She is by ___ the most experienced candidate on the shortlist. → far

By far is the standard intensifier for a superlative.

13. The difference between 'few' and 'fewer' aside, which sentence compares correctly? → There were fewer applicants this year.

Fewer is used with countable nouns; less belongs with uncountables.

14. The queues got ___ as the afternoon wore on. → longer and longer

Short adjectives double their -er form rather than taking more and more.

15. ___ we leave, the better our chances of missing the traffic. → The sooner

Both halves of the proportional structure need the before the comparative.

16. This year's figures are broadly ___ to last year's. → similar

Similar takes to; same would need the before it and as after it.

17. The site is ___ bigger than the plans suggested — nearly double, in fact. → a good deal

A good deal marks a large difference, which nearly double confirms.

18. The room was ___ freezing when we arrived on Friday evening. → absolutely

Freezing is a non-gradable extreme adjective and takes absolutely.

19. He is not ___ as confident as he appears on stage. → so

In negative comparisons of equality, so can replace the first as.

20. Which sentence quantifies a difference most precisely? → The new engine is about twelve per cent more efficient.

A measured quantity before the comparative is the most precise form available.

Fill-in-the-blank questions — answers

1. The second flat was ___ more expensive, so we took the first. → considerably

This modifier marks a large difference in front of a comparative.

2. The two routes differ only ___ in distance — about half a mile. → marginally

This modifier marks a very small difference.

3. The film was ___ near as frightening as the trailer had promised. → nowhere

This word plus near as begins a strongly negative comparison of equality.

4. The paperwork was not ___ as complicated as I had feared. → nearly

Not nearly as marks a large gap between expectation and reality.

5. The own-brand version is ___ as good as the one that costs twice as much. → just

This word before as claims exact equality between two things.

6. The evenings are drawing in earlier ___ earlier as autumn goes on. → and

The doubled comparative joins the two forms with this conjunction.

7. The more you practise, the ___ you have to think about it. → less

The second half of a proportional structure also carries a comparative after the.

8. After eleven hours on the road we were ___ shattered. → absolutely

A non-gradable extreme adjective takes an intensifier meaning completely.

9. She is ___ far the strongest linguist in the department. → by

This preposition plus far is the standard intensifier for a superlative.

10. There were ___ applicants this year than at any point since 2019. → fewer

Countable nouns take this comparative rather than the uncountable one.

11. There is ___ interest in the scheme than the council expected. → less

An uncountable noun takes this comparative rather than the countable one.

12. The second draft was ___ better than the first, though still not publishable. → significantly

This modifier marks a large difference in front of a comparative adjective.

13. This year's results are broadly similar ___ last year's. → to

Similar is followed by this preposition, never by as or than.

14. The building is roughly twice ___ large as the one it replaced. → as

A multiple before as … as expresses proportional size.

15. He is not ___ confident as he likes people to think. → so

In a negative comparison of equality this word can replace the first as.

16. It was ___ a small difference that nobody noticed it at all. → such

This word is used before an article and an adjective to introduce a result.

17. The sooner we start, the ___ we shall finish this evening. → earlier

The second half of a proportional structure also takes a comparative.

18. A beautiful old Italian ___ desk stood in the corner of the study. → walnut

Material comes last in the adjective order, after opinion, age and origin.

19. The response was ___ extraordinary, given how little notice we gave. → quite

With a non-gradable adjective this word means completely rather than fairly.

20. The new premises are three times ___ expensive as the old ones. → as

Multiples use as before the adjective and as again after it.

Sentence structure: word ordering — answers

1. Mark a large difference in price. → The new model is far more expensive.

Mark a large difference in price.

2. Mark a small difference. → The revised version is only slightly cheaper.

Mark a small difference.

3. Say the gap was very large, in the negative. → It was nowhere near as good as the first.

Say the gap was very large, in the negative.

4. Say something fell well short of its reputation. → The test was not nearly as hard as expected.

Say something fell well short of its reputation.

5. Claim exact equality. → The cheaper brand is just as effective.

Claim exact equality.

6. Describe a trend continuing in one direction. → Housing is becoming less and less affordable.

Describe a trend continuing in one direction.

7. Express a proportional relationship. → The longer the delay, the higher the cost.

Express a proportional relationship.

8. Intensify a non-gradable adjective. → We were absolutely exhausted by the end.

Intensify a non-gradable adjective.

9. Intensify a superlative. → She is by far the best qualified applicant.

Intensify a superlative.

10. Compare a countable quantity downwards. → There were fewer complaints than last quarter.

Compare a countable quantity downwards.

11. Compare an uncountable quantity downwards. → There is less enthusiasm than there used to be.

Compare an uncountable quantity downwards.

12. Double a short comparative to show a continuing change. → The nights are getting colder and colder.

Double a short comparative to show a continuing change.

13. Give advice using a proportional structure. → The sooner you ask, the better your chances.

Give advice using a proportional structure.

14. Compare using an adjective that takes to. → This year's figures are similar to last year's.

Compare using an adjective that takes to.

15. Express a multiple. → The site is twice as large as the old one.

Express a multiple.

16. Write a negative comparison of equality formally. → He is not so reliable as his reputation suggests.

Write a negative comparison of equality formally.

17. Put four adjectives in the standard order. → A beautiful old Italian leather chair stood there.

Put four adjectives in the standard order.

18. Quantify a difference with a measurement. → The engine is about ten per cent more efficient.

Quantify a difference with a measurement.

19. Use an intensifier that means completely, not fairly. → The response was quite extraordinary, frankly.

Use an intensifier that means completely, not fairly.

20. Introduce a result using an article and an adjective. → It was such a small change that nobody noticed.

Introduce a result using an article and an adjective.