Comparative 2 — much better, any better…
much/a lot/far · any/no · better and better · the sooner the better · older vs elder
Comparatif 2 — much better, any better…
much/a lot/far · any/no · better and better · the sooner the better · older vs elder
Learn to intensify comparatives with much/a lot/far/a bit, use any/no with comparatives, express continuous change with better and better, and master the the … the … structure.
Apprenez à renforcer les comparatifs avec much/a lot/far/a bit, utilisez any/no avec les comparatifs, exprimez un changement continu avec better and better, et maîtrisez la structure the … the ….
Unit 106 goes beyond the basic comparative to cover four advanced patterns: how to intensify a comparison (much better, a lot cheaper), how to use any and no with comparatives (any longer, no bigger), how to express continuous change (getting better and better), and the elegant the … the … construction (the sooner the better). There is also an important note on elder vs older.
L’unité 106 va au-delà du comparatif de base pour couvrir quatre structures avancées : comment renforcer une comparaison (much better, a lot cheaper), comment utiliser any et no avec les comparatifs (any longer, no bigger), comment exprimer un changement continu (getting better and better), et la structure élégante the … the … (the sooner the better). Il y a aussi une remarque importante sur elder et older.
much / a lot / far / a bit + Comparative
much / a lot / far / a bit + Comparatif
Place these intensifiers before the comparative to show how big or small the difference is.
Placez ces intensificateurs avant le comparatif pour montrer l’importance de la différence.
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.
The problem is far more serious than we thought. I felt ill earlier, but I feel much better now. (ou a lot better)
Don’t go by train. It’s a lot more expensive. (ou much more expensive)
Could you speak a bit more slowly? (ou a little more slowly)
This bag is slightly heavier than the other one.
The problem is far more serious than we thought.
any / no + Comparative
any / no + Comparatif
Use any in questions and negative sentences to mean “even a little”. Use no to mean “not even a little”.
Utilisez any dans les questions et phrases négatives pour signifier « même un peu ». Utilisez no pour signifier « pas du tout ».
any + comparative
any + comparatif
no + comparative
no + comparatif
or … it isn’t any bigger than ours. (= not even a little bigger) We expected their flat to be very big, but it’s no bigger than ours.
ou … it isn’t any bigger than ours. (= pas même un peu plus grand)
better and better — Continuous Change
better and better — Changement Continu
Repeat the comparative to say that something keeps changing — it continues to increase or decrease.
Répétez le comparatif pour dire que quelque chose continue de changer — cela augmente ou diminue continuellement.
The city has grown fast. 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.
The journey became longer and longer as traffic built up. Your English is improving. It’s getting better and better.
The city has grown fast. 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.
The journey became longer and longer as traffic built up.
the … the … (The sooner the better)
the … the … (The sooner the better)
Use the + comparative … the + comparative to say that one thing depends on another, or to express the best/most extreme option.
Utilisez the + comparatif … the + comparatif pour dire qu’une chose dépend d’une autre, ou pour exprimer l’option la meilleure/la plus extrême.
Do you want a big bag? ‘Yes, the bigger the better.’ (= as big as possible)
The sooner we leave, the earlier we’ll arrive.
The younger you are, the easier it is to learn.
The more expensive the hotel, the better the service.
The more I thought about the plan, the less I liked it. What time shall we leave? ‘The sooner the better.’ (= le plus tôt possible)
Do you want a big bag? ‘Yes, the bigger the better.’ (= le plus grand possible)
The sooner we leave, the earlier we’ll arrive.
The younger you are, the easier it is to learn.
The more expensive the hotel, the better the service.
The more I thought about the plan, the less I liked it.
older and elder
older et elder
The standard comparative of old is older. Elder is used only for family members (my elder sister, their elder son). You can also use older for family members — both are correct. But you cannot say “somebody is elder” — after be, only older is correct.
Le comparatif standard de old est older. Elder s’utilise uniquement pour les membres de la famille (my elder sister, their elder son). On peut aussi utiliser older pour les membres de la famille — les deux sont corrects. Mais on ne peut pas dire « somebody is elder » — après be, seul older est correct.
elder ✓ — family only
elder ✓ — famille uniquement
elder ✗ — after ‘be’
elder ✗ — après ‘be’
Use the words in brackets to complete the sentences. Use much / a bit etc. + a comparative form. Use than where necessary.
Utilisez les mots entre parenthèses pour compléter les phrases. Utilisez much / a bit etc. + un comparatif. Utilisez than si nécessaire.
Complete the sentences using any/no + comparative. Use than where necessary.
Complétez avec any/no + comparatif. Utilisez than si nécessaire.
Complete the sentences using … and … (continuous change).
Complétez les phrases avec … and … (changement continu).
Complete using the … the … .
Complétez avec the … the … .
Frequently Asked Questions — Comparative 2
Questions fréquentes — Comparatif 2
Much/a lot/far better = a big improvement. A bit/a little/slightly better = a small improvement. Example: ‘I feel much better today’ (big change) vs ‘I feel a bit better today’ (small change). All these words go BEFORE the comparative.
Much/a lot/far better = une grande amélioration. A bit/a little/slightly better = une petite amélioration. Ces mots se placent tous AVANT le comparatif.
They mean exactly the same thing. It’s no bigger than ours = It isn’t any bigger than ours. Both mean ‘not even a little bigger’. Use no in affirmative sentences and any in negatives and questions.
Ils signifient exactement la même chose. It’s no bigger than ours = It isn’t any bigger than ours. Les deux signifient ‘pas même un peu plus grand’.
The structure has two parts: the + comparative in each clause. It means one thing changes in proportion to another. The more you practise, the better you get = as you practise more, you get better proportionally. The first clause sets the condition; the second gives the result.
La structure a deux parties : the + comparatif dans chaque proposition. Elle signifie qu’une chose change proportionnellement à une autre.
Elder is used only before a noun when talking about family members: my elder sister, their elder son. You can always use older instead. NEVER use elder after the verb be: ✗ My sister is elder than me. ✓ My sister is older than me.
Elder s’utilise uniquement devant un nom pour parler des membres de la famille. N’utilisez JAMAIS elder après le verbe be : ✗ My sister is elder than me. ✓ My sister is older than me.
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