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 PRACTICE ON POINTS OF ENGLISH GRAMMAR

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Comparisons

Finding Similarities and Differences

 

 

 

The following words and phrases are used to compare and contrast the quality, character or states of two items. The words and phrases include adjective, adverb, preposition and conjunction forms!

 

 

Words for Expressing Similarity and Difference

SIMILARITY	DIFFERENCE
The apples are the same. (pronoun)	The apple and the orange are different. (adj)
These apples are alike. (adj)	The apple and the orange are unalike / not alike. (adj)
The apples are similar. (adj)	The apple and the orange are dissimilar. (adj)
The apples ripen similarly.  (adv)	The apple and the orange grow differently. (adv)
This apple is like that apple. (prep)	The apple is unlike the orange. (prep)

 

 

 

 

Phrases for Similarity and Differences

SIMILARITY	DIFFERENCE
This apple is as red as that apple.  idiom  (adv - adv)	The apple is different from/ than the orange.  (adj - conj)
This apple has the same flavor as that apple.   (noun - adv)	This apple is not as sweet as this orange. (adv - adv)
This apple is the same color as the other. (pronoun - adv)	The apple is more beautiful than the orange.  (adj - conj)
This apple looks like apple. (verb phrase)	The apple is much more beautiful than the orange. (adv - adj - conj)
This apple is similar to that apple.  (adj - prep)	The apple grows more easily than the orange.  (adj - conj)
This apple is like that apple.  (prep)	The apple is more like a pear than the orange.  (prep)
This apple is just the same as that apple.  (adv - pronoun - adv)	The skin of the apple contrasts to the skin of the orange. (verb - prep)
Both this apple and that one are sweet. (paired conjunction)	The orange in contrast to the lemon is sweet.
Neither this apple nor that one is sweet. (paired conjunction)	The orange is sweet in contrast to the lemon which is bitter.

 

 *Same almost always occurs with the: " the same".

 

 

 

Sentence Transition Words for Similarity and Difference

SIMILARITY	DIFFERENCE
This apple is tart.  Similarly, this one is sour. (adverb phrase)	The apple is red.  In contrast, the orange is orange.
This apple is tart.  In the same way, this one is sour.	Some people think the apple is orange.  On the contrary, the apple is red. (on the contrary = not true!)
	While / Whereas the orange is high in fiber, the apple is not. (contrasts two items)
	On the one hand the lemon is high in fiber, on the other hand it is too bitter to eat. (discussing "both sides of the coin")

 

 

- ER & More

-ER	MORE
This apple is better than that one.  (good - better)	This apple is more beautiful than that one.
This apple is redder than the other one.  (red)	This apple is more flavorful than the other one.
This apple is heavier than that one.  (heavy)	This apple is more exceptional than that one.
This apple is uglier than that one.  (ugly)	This apple is more desirable than that one.

 

 

Exceptions (some)

angry — angrier	friendly — friendlier*	handsome — handsomer	good — better
busy — busier	gentle — gentle*	far- farther	bad — worse
happy — happier	little — littler	clever — cleverer / more clever*	little — less
ugly — uglier	narrow — narrower	simple — simpler / more simple*	many — more
funny — funnier	silly — sillier	fun — funner / more fun (see below)

 *may use -er or more

 

 

 

 

Fun / Funner ?

NOUN	ADJECTIVE
The word fun is a word that is changing in use. Orginally used as a noun, it started to be used as a noun modifier and then an adjective dating to around 1850 to 1950. Currently, it is being used as an adjective along side of an earlier adjective form – funny. Both words are in use now with different meanings.	The comparative form of fun is currently more fun; however, advertising is starting to use the expected grammatical pattern of funner. The use may change in time to the -er comparative form or it may remain frozen with the 'more' form.
Let's have some fun. (noun) This is a fun game.  (noun modifier)  This is game is fun.  (adjective - causes amusement)  This is a funny game.   (adjective - causes laughter, or is odd or peculiar)	The new version is funner than the last one.  (causes more amusement - informal use) The new version is more fun than the last one. (causes more amusement) The new version is funnier than the last one. (causes more laughter, or is odder)  Pop-Q 12/6/2009

Resources
Quinion, Michael. "World Wide Words: Funner and funnest." 2009 World Wide Words: English from a British Viewpoint. 03 Dec 2009. <http://www.worldwidewords.org/qa/qa-fun1.htm>
Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of English Usage. Springfield, Mass: Merriam-Webster, Inc., 1993. p. 469.  Also, Merriam-Webster.com. <http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/funner>
Wiki Answers: "Why can't you say funner instead of more fun?." 2009. Answers.com. 03 Dec 2009. <http://wiki.answers.com/Q/Why_can't_you_say_funner_instead_of_more_fun>

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Common Mistake

ERROR	FIX
Eleni and Maria are a bit shorter than me.  Pop-Q 3/15/2009 Than is a connector that introduces a clause of comparison.  Note: some people confuse it with a preposition.  However, it does not indicate movement toward or relationship to an object.	Eleni and Maria are a bit shorter than I. Eleni and Maria are a bit shorter I (am).   Adding the auxiliary verb after the pronoun often helps speakers remember a subject pronoun is needed

 

 

 

 

 

Practice 1

Comparing and Contrasting

 

 

 

1. Select the word that best completes the comparison.
2. Complete all responses before using the answer button at the  bottom.
3. Then, use the "check answers" button at the bottom of the practice to check your responses.

#	YOUR RESPONSE	ANSWERS  (read instructions)
1.	Food in San Francisco is different   than from food in New Orleans.	Food in San Francisco is different food in New Orleans.  (answer button below)
2.	The climate in San Francisco is similar   as to the climate in New Orleans.	The climate in San Francisco is similar the climate in New Orleans.
3.	Both As well as San Francisco and New Orleans have Mardi Gras parades.	San Francisco and New Orleans have Mardi Gras parades.
4.	The fishing wharves in these cities are   like alike .	The fishing wharves in these cities are
5.	The view from San Francisco is   beautifuler more beautiful than in New Orleans.	The view from San Francisco is than in New Orleans.
6.	The food in the French Quarter in New Orleans is   more better better than the food on the wharf in San Francisco.	The food in the French Quarter in New Orleans is than the food on the wharf in San Francisco.
7.	Fisherman's Wharf in San Francisco is the   the most most famous wharf in the world.	Fisherman's Wharf in San Francisco is the famous wharf in the world.
8.	The climate in the spring is   same similar in San Francisco and New Orleans.	The climate in the spring is in San Francisco and New Orleans.
9.	Neither San Francisco   or nor New Orleans has snow in the winter.	Neither San Francisco New Orleans has snow in the winter.
10.	New Orleans is hotter in the summer   that than San Francisco is.	New Orleans is hotter in the summer  San Francisco is.
		Complete your responses first.

 

 

 

Practice 2

As ... As Phrases

 

 

Select the word that best completes the "as ___ as" phrase. 

1. Decide whether to use the noun or the adjective word form.
2. Complete all your responses before using the answer button at the  bottom.

 

#	YOUR RESPONSE	ANSWERS    (read instructions)
11.	He is as sly slyness as a fox.	He is as as a fox.  (answer button below)
12.	The story is as age old as the hills.	The story is as as the hills.
13.	She drives as speed slow as molasses in January.	She drives as as molasses in January.
14.	She is as ugliness ugly as a dog.   (insult!)	She is as as a dog.
15.	He is as dumb dumbness as a horse.(insult!)	He is as as a horse.
16.	Your baby is as cute cuteness as a bug.	Your baby is as as a bug.
17.	She is as stubbornness stubborn as a mule.	She is as as a mule.
18.	She is as prettiness pretty as a picture	She is as as a picture.
19.	He is as craziness crazy as they come.	He is as as they come.
20.	It flies as straight straightness as an arrow.	It flies as as an arrow.
21.	What word form is used in "as   noun adjective as" ?	The expression uses "as as".
		Complete your responses first.

 

 

Practice 3

The Same As Phrases

 

 

 

Select the word that best completes the "the same ____" phrase.

1. Decide whether to use the noun or the adjective word form.
2. Complete all your responses before using the answer button at the  bottom.

 

#	YOUR RESPONSE	ANSWERS
ex	This mouse has the same features as that mouse.	(Answer button is below, at end of practice.)
22.	This car has the same   color red as that car.	This car has the same as that car.
23.	Our pool is the same   deep depth as our neighbor's.	Our pool is the same as our neighbor's.
24.	My school is the same   distance far from our house as yours.	My school is the same from our house as yours.
25.	Brazil is not the same   big size as Russia.	Brazil is not the same as Russia.
26.	Silver is not the same   heavy weight as gold.	Silver is not the same as gold.
27.	My father is the same tall height as I am.	My father is the same as I am.
28.	Your car is the same   expensive price as his.	Your car is the same as his.
29.	The earth is the same   shape round as the moon.	The earth is the same as the moon.
30.	My hair is the same   long length as yours.	My hair is the same as yours.
31.	This paper towel has the same   strong strength as the other.	This paper towel has the same as the other.
32.	What word form is used in the expression: "the same - noun adjective as" ?	The expression uses  "the same as"
		Complete your responses first.

 

Practice 4

Expressions of Comparison

 

 

 

Select the word the expression that best completes the sentence.

1. Decide whether to use the noun or the adjective word form.
2. Complete all your responses before using the answer button at the  bottom.

 

#	YOUR RESPONSE	ANSWER   (read instructions)
33.	San Francisco has cable cars - in contrast to on the contrary Venice which has gondolas (boats).	San Francisco has cable cars Venice which has gondolas.    (Answer button below, at end of practice)
34.	San Francisco has earthquakes and - so does Tokyo Tokyo does so .	San Francisco has earthquakes and .
35.	- Neither Both San Francisco nor Tokyo has much snow.	San Francisco nor Tokyo has much snow.
36.	- As While San Francisco is located on a peninsula, Tokyo is not.	San Francisco is located on a peninsula, Tokyo is not.
37.	San Francisco has a wharf, - and San Mateo too but San Mateo doesn't .	San Francisco has a wharf, .
38.	San Mateo has a central park and - and does New York too and New York does too	San Mateo has a central park and .
39.	Travel books often mention that San Francisco is cold in the summer.  - In contrast, On the contrary, it gets above 90 degrees sometimes.	Travel books often mention that San Francisco is cold in the summer.  it gets above 90 degrees sometimes.
40.	San Francisco can be very beautiful and warm. - On the other hand, On the contrary, it can be very foggy and cold.	San Francisco can be very beautiful and warm. it can be very foggy and cold.
		Complete your responses first.

 

 

 

 

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