Comparatives, superlatives and comparison structures
Task 1 literally asks you to 'make comparisons where relevant'. Master comparatives, superlatives, 'as…as', multiples like 'three times as high as', degree modifiers, 'the…the' and comparison linkers, and get rid of 'more better', 'most highest' and 'higher then' for good.
By the end of this lesson you will be able to:
- Form comparatives and superlatives correctly, including irregular, -y and long adjectives and adverbs
- Show the size of a difference precisely with modifiers (slightly, considerably, far, by far) and exact figures
- Use equality and multiples: as…as, not as…as, twice as many…as, three times as high as, half as much as
- Compare like with like using 'that of / those of' and possessives, and use whereas, while, compared with, unlike and in contrast correctly
- Use 'the + comparative, the + comparative' to develop arguments in Task 2 and Speaking Part 3
Why comparison grammar is examined so closely
In Writing Task 1, the examiner checks whether you have highlighted key features and made comparisons (Task Achievement) and whether your structures are varied and accurate (Grammatical Range and Accuracy). In Task 2 and Speaking Part 3 you constantly compare: past and present, cities and villages, two generations, two policies.
A band 7 writer uses a variety of comparison structures with good control. A band 6 writer usually relies on one pattern (more…than) and makes errors when trying anything harder.
Your comparison toolkit at a glance
| Function | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Difference | comparative + than | Sylhet is wetter than Rajshahi. |
| Extreme | the + superlative | Dhaka had the longest commute. |
| Equality | as + adj + as | Khulna's figure was almost as high as Sylhet's. |
| Size of difference | modifier + comparative | Car ownership was considerably higher. |
| Multiples | twice / three times as…as | Exports were twice as high as imports. |
| Parallel change | the + comparative, the + comparative | The bigger a city grows, the longer its commutes become. |
| Contrast between clauses | whereas, while | Exports rose, whereas imports fell. |
Forming comparatives and superlatives
| Type of word | Rule | Examples |
|---|---|---|
One syllable |
| high → higher → the highest; low → lower; large → larger; fast → faster |
One syllable ending consonant–vowel–consonant | double the final consonant | big → bigger → the biggest; hot → hotter; wet → wetter; thin → thinner |
Two syllables ending in -y | y → -ier / the -iest | busy → busier; heavy → heavier; early → earlier; wealthy → wealthier; easy → the easiest |
Most other words of two or more syllables | more / the most + adjective | more expensive; more popular; more significant; the most crowded; the most common |
A few two-syllable words | either form is possible | narrow → narrower; simple → simpler; quiet → quieter; clever → cleverer (also 'more common' or 'commoner': prefer 'more common') |
Adverbs ending in -ly | more / the most + adverb | rapidly → more rapidly; significantly → most significantly (never 'rapidlier') |
Irregular | learn by heart | good / well → better → the best; bad / badly → worse → the worst; far → further / farther → the furthest; much / many → more → the most; little → less → the least; few → fewer → the fewest |
Negative direction | less / the least + adjective | less expensive; the least popular (often more natural: cheaper, the least popular) |
Showing the size of the difference
| Size | Modifiers (before a comparative) | Example |
|---|---|---|
Very small | slightly, marginally, a little, a bit (informal), fractionally | Khulna's figure was marginally higher than Sylhet's (40 vs 38). |
Medium | somewhat, noticeably, moderately | Commutes in Chattogram were noticeably longer than in Khulna. |
Large | much, far, considerably, significantly, substantially, a lot (informal), a great deal | Dhaka's commute was considerably longer than any other city's. |
Surprisingly large / even more | even, still | In 2024 the gap was even wider than in 2014. |
Superlative, emphasised | by far, easily, much (before 'the') | Rice is by far the most important crop in Bangladesh. |
Ranking | the second / third + superlative | Chattogram had the second longest commute. (Hyphenation 'second-longest' before a noun is also fine.) |
Group membership | one of the + superlative + plural noun | Dhaka is one of the most densely populated cities in the world. |
✗ Never | very, too, so + comparative | ✗ very higher → ✓ much / far higher |
Check: forming and modifying comparisons
7 questions- 1
In the days before Eid, traffic on the highways out of Dhaka is usually (bad) than at any other time of year.
- 2
Find and correct the mistake:
Public transport in Singapore is more better than in most Asian cities.
- 3
The Padma is one of the (wide) rivers in South Asia.
- 4
Choose the correct pair: 'Because ___ cars were on the road during the holiday, there was ___ pollution.'
- 5
Motorbikes were the most popular way to travel to campus, after buses.
- 6
Find and correct the mistake:
The cost of living in Dhaka is very higher than in Rajshahi.
- 7
Online sales grew ___ than in-store sales between 2020 and 2024.
Answer every question to check.
Equality and multiples: the high-band data structures
| Structure | Example | Notes |
|---|---|---|
as + adjective/adverb + as | In 2014, Khulna's commute was as long as Sylhet's (30 minutes each). | Equal. Modify with: just as, almost as, nearly as, roughly as. |
not as / not so + adjective + as | Rajshahi's traffic is not as heavy as Dhaka's. | The first item is smaller. 'Not so…as' is slightly more formal. |
as many + plural noun + as / as much + uncountable + as | Women bought as many smartphones as men. · Households used almost as much electricity as factories. | Keep 'many' for countable, 'much' for uncountable. |
twice as + adj + as / twice as many (much) + noun + as | Dhaka's commute was twice as long as it had been in 2014. | Use 'twice', not 'two times', in formal writing. Avoid 'twice more than'. |
three / four… times as + adj + as | Dhaka's commute was three times as long as Rajshahi's. | The clearest, safest pattern for multiples. |
three times + comparative + than | Dhaka's figure was three times higher than Rajshahi's. | Very common and accepted, but 'three times as high as' is clearer: use that when in doubt. |
half / a third / a quarter as + adj + as | Rajshahi's commute was a third as long as Dhaka's. | Fractions for the smaller item. |
X times that of / those of | Bangladesh's population is roughly eight times that of Sri Lanka. | 'That of' replaces a singular noun; 'those of' a plural noun. |
Verbs of multiplication | The figure doubled / tripled (trebled) / quadrupled / halved. | Excellent for change over time: 'Car sales almost doubled between 2014 and 2024.' |
the same as / similar to / different from | The 2024 figure was almost the same as the 2014 figure. | Never 'same like', 'as same as' or 'similar with'. |
- 2014
- 2024
| 2014 | 2024 | |
|---|---|---|
| Dhaka | 48 minutes | 96 minutes |
| Chattogram | 40 minutes | 64 minutes |
| Khulna | 30 minutes | 40 minutes |
| Sylhet | 30 minutes | 38 minutes |
| Rajshahi | 28 minutes | 32 minutes |
The chart compares the average time people spent commuting each day in five Bangladeshi cities in 2014 and 2024.
Overall, commutes became longer in every city, but the increase was far greater in Dhaka than anywhere else.
In 2014, Dhaka already had the longest commute, at 48 minutes, eight minutes longer than Chattogram's. Over the next decade, however, the figure for Dhaka doubled to 96 minutes, making it three times as long as the commute in Rajshahi, the city with the shortest journeys (32 minutes). Chattogram still had the second longest commute, at 64 minutes, which was considerably shorter than that of the capital.
The three smaller cities saw much more modest increases. Commuting times in Khulna and Sylhet were identical in 2014, at 30 minutes, and by 2024 they were still very similar, at 40 and 38 minutes respectively. Rajshahi, by contrast, recorded the smallest rise of all: just four minutes.
- far greater … than anywhere elseA modifier (far) + comparative in the overview signals the single most important comparison.
- eight minutes longer than Chattogram'sAn exact difference + comparative. The possessive (Chattogram's = Chattogram's commute) compares like with like.
- doubled / three times as long asTwo ways of expressing multiples: a verb of change over time, then a multiple comparing two cities.
- the second longest … that of the capitalA ranking superlative, then 'that of' to avoid comparing a commute with a city.
- identical … very similar … respectivelyEquality language adds range. 'Respectively' matches 40 to Khulna and 38 to Sylhet in the order mentioned.
- by contrast … the smallest rise of allA contrast adverbial between two sentences' ideas, finishing with a superlative. Every sentence in this paragraph compares; none simply lists.
Beyond Task 1: comparisons that build arguments
1. The + comparative, the + comparative shows that two things change together. It is one of the most efficient complex sentences you can write in Task 2:
- The more time children spend on screens, the less they exercise.
- The earlier a child starts learning a language, the more easily they acquire it.
- The higher a family's income (is), the more likely its children are to attend university.
Watch the word order: the more + noun stays together (The more money people earn, the more they spend, not The more people earn money). A short form is possible in Speaking: The sooner, the better.
2. Gradual change: comparative + and + comparative. Cities are becoming more and more crowded. · Fewer and fewer young people are going into farming. This is fine in Speaking; in academic writing, increasingly often sounds better: Cities are becoming increasingly crowded.
3. Speaking Part 3: comparing generations, places and periods. Strong candidates compare naturally and add a reason:
Young people today are far more confident with technology than their parents were, but I'd say they're probably less patient, because everything is instant now. Village life is not nearly as convenient as city life, but it's much less stressful.
Note than their parents were: after than and as, you can repeat the auxiliary (were, do, did, have) to make the comparison precise.
Comparison linkers: grammar and punctuation
| Linker | What follows it | Example |
|---|---|---|
whereas / while | a full clause (subject + verb) | Dhaka's commute doubled, whereas Rajshahi's rose by only four minutes. / While exports rose, imports fell. |
compared with / compared to | a noun phrase | Compared with 2014, commutes in 2024 were considerably longer. |
unlike / in contrast to | a noun phrase of the same type as the subject | Unlike Dhaka, Rajshahi saw only a small rise. (city vs city) |
In contrast, / By contrast, / On the other hand, | a new sentence (or after a semicolon), followed by a comma | Dhaka's figure doubled. By contrast, Rajshahi's barely changed. |
Similarly, / Likewise, | a new sentence, showing a similarity | Khulna's figure rose by ten minutes. Similarly, Sylhet's rose by eight. |
both … and / neither … nor | two parallel items | Both Khulna and Sylhet started at 30 minutes. |
respectively | end of a clause; matches two lists in order | Khulna and Sylhet recorded 40 and 38 minutes respectively. |
the former / the latter | refers back to the first / second of two items | Car and bus use both rose, but the latter grew faster. |
Band 6 vs band 8: the same data
Band 6
In 2024 Dhaka was 96 minutes and Rajshahi was 32 minutes, so Dhaka is more higher than Rajshahi. Khulna was 40 minutes and Sylhet was 38 minutes. Khulna is more than Sylhet. Chattogram was 64 minutes, it is the second most long.
Band 8
At 96 minutes, the average commute in Dhaka was three times as long as that in Rajshahi (32 minutes), while Chattogram had the second longest journey time, at 64 minutes. Khulna and Sylhet, by contrast, recorded almost identical figures of 40 and 38 minutes respectively.
The band 6 answer lists data with 'was', uses a double comparative (more higher), compares cities with 'more than' instead of 'longer than', builds a wrong superlative (most long) and ends with a comma splice. The band 8 answer uses fewer words to make four comparisons with four different structures: a multiple, 'while', a ranking superlative, and equality language with 'respectively'.
The comparison errors examiners see every day
| ✗ Error | ✓ Correction | Rule |
|---|---|---|
This method is more easier. | This method is easier. | No double comparatives. |
It was the most highest figure. | It was the highest figure. | No double superlatives. |
Exports were higher then imports. | Exports were higher than imports. | than compares; then means 'after that'. |
The population of Dhaka is larger than Chattogram. | …larger than that of Chattogram. | Compare like with like. |
The figure was very higher. | The figure was much / far higher. | very cannot modify comparatives. |
There were less students. | There were fewer students. | fewer + countable plural. |
The percentage of women was more than men. | The percentage of women was higher than that of men. | Number words take higher / lower. |
The results were as same as / same like last year's. | The results were the same as last year's. | the same as; similar to. |
Sales were twice more than in 2010. | Sales were twice as high as in 2010. | Multiples: twice as…as. |
Online learning is superior than classroom learning. | …is superior to classroom learning. | superior / inferior / prefer X + to. |
Dhaka is one of the largest city in Asia. | …one of the largest cities in Asia. | one of the + plural noun. |
My brother is elder than me. | My brother is older than me. | elder only before a noun (my elder brother), never with than. |
Check: multiples, linkers and the…the
7 questions- 1
Put the parts in order to make a Task 2 sentence.
Drag the cards (or use the arrows) into the correct order.
- 1children spend on screens,
- 2the less
- 3The more time
- 4they exercise.
- 2
In 2024, Dhaka commuters spent twice long travelling as they did in 2014.
- 3
Find and correct the mistake:
The population of Dhaka is much larger than Chattogram.
- 4
Match each linker to what must follow it.
whereascompared withIn contrast,respectively - 5
Country A produced 300 tonnes of tea and Country B produced 100 tonnes. Which sentence is correct and clear?
- 6
There were 520 female students and 480 male students, so the number of female students was slightly than that of male students.
- 7
Rajshahi, where commutes are short, Dhaka suffers from severe congestion.
Answer every question to check.
Writing Task 1 practice
120+ words · 15 minThe table below shows the number of selected household items per 100 households in a South Asian country in 2005 and 2025.
Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.
Write at least 120 words. (A short practice version: aim for at least five different comparison structures.)
| Item | 2005 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| Mobile phone | 25 | 98 |
| Television | 31 | 62 |
| Refrigerator | 10 | 45 |
| Motorcycle | 4 | 16 |
| Computer | 2 | 14 |
Units: items per 100 households
Self-check before submitting
- ☐ An overview that states the biggest comparison (overall rise; mobile phones by far the most common item in 2025)
- ☐ At least one multiple (doubled, quadrupled, twice as…as, seven times as…as)
- ☐ At least one superlative with a ranking or emphasis (the second most common, by far the most…)
- ☐ At least one modifier + comparative (considerably higher, slightly more, much lower)
- ☐ At least one contrast linker used with correct grammar (whereas / while + clause; by contrast + new sentence)
- ☐ Like-with-like comparisons (the figure for X, that of Y) and no 'more higher' or 'then'
- ☐ Accurate data: every number you mention matches the table
Final quiz: comparisons
11 questions- 1
Find and correct the mistake:
This method is more easier than the old one.
- 2
Find and correct the mistake:
June and July are the most wettest months of the year in Bangladesh.
- 3
Find and correct the mistake:
Tea exports were considerably higher then coffee exports.
- 4
In 2020, there was a ___ percentage of rural households with internet access than in 2015.
- 5
Rice is by the most important crop in Bangladesh.
- 6
Electric cars are still not cheap as petrol cars.
- 7
The a city grows, the worse its traffic congestion tends to become.
- 8
Choose TWO correct sentences.
Select 2.
- 9
Match each pair of figures to the most accurate description.
A = 60, B = 30A = 30, B = 90A = 51, B = 50A = 50, B = 50 - 10
Which sentence uses the linker correctly?
- 11
Put the parts in order to make a Task 1 sentence.
Drag the cards (or use the arrows) into the correct order.
- 1as those in Rajshahi.
- 2commuters in Dhaka spent
- 3three times as long
- 4travelling
- 5In 2024,
Answer every question to check.
Key takeaways
Comparison vocabulary for Task 1
Saved as flashcards with a free accountconsiderably
adverb/kənˈsɪdərəbli/
To a large degree; much (often used before comparatives).
উল্লেখযোগ্যভাবে
Commutes in Dhaka were considerably longer than in any other city.
marginally
adverb/ˈmɑːdʒɪnəli/
By a very small amount.
সামান্য পরিমাণে
Khulna's figure was marginally higher than Sylhet's.
respectively
adverb/rɪˈspektɪvli/
In the same order as the things already mentioned.
যথাক্রমে
Khulna and Sylhet recorded 40 and 38 minutes respectively.
comparable
adjective/ˈkɒmpərəbl/
Similar in size, amount or quality, so that it can reasonably be compared.
তুলনীয়
Spending on health was comparable to spending on education.
outnumber
verb/ˌaʊtˈnʌmbə(r)/
To be greater in number than another group.
সংখ্যায় ছাড়িয়ে যাওয়া
Female students outnumbered male students by almost two to one.
counterpart
noun/ˈkaʊntəpɑːt/
A person or thing that has the same position or function as another in a different place or group.
সমপর্যায়ের ব্যক্তি বা বস্তু
Urban households spent twice as much on transport as their rural counterparts.
whereas
conjunction/weərˈæz/
Used to compare or contrast two facts in one sentence.
অথচ; যেখানে
Exports doubled, whereas imports remained stable.
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