Simple explanation
What are complex comparisons? At lower levels, comparisons often focus on simple patterns such as taller than or more expensive than. At B2 level, you need greater precision. You may want to describe a change that continues over time, show that two developments are connected, indicate whether a difference is large or small, or compare exact proportions. Complex comparison structures help you express these meanings naturally. Two important types of double comparative The term double comparative is commonly used for two different patterns. The first shows gradual change by repeating a comparative, as in colder and colder or more and more expensive. The second links two changing situations with the pattern the + comparative, the + comparative, as in The more you practise, the more confident you become. These two patterns have different meanings and functions. Gradual change with comparative and comparative When a quality changes progressively, the comparative can be repeated with and. With shorter adjectives, use forms such as faster and faster, colder and colder, or harder and harder. With adjectives and adverbs that form the comparative with more or less, use structures such as more and more important or less and less frequently. Linked change with the more..., the more... Use the + comparative, the + comparative to show that one change is connected with another. For example, The more you read, the faster you learn means that an increase in reading is associated with an increase in learning speed. In this pattern, the is not functioning as a normal definite article; it is part of the fixed comparative structure. Strengthening and softening comparisons You can modify a comparative to show how large the difference is. Much, far, and a lot emphasize a strong difference: far more difficult, much better, a lot cheaper. Slightly, a little, and a bit show a small difference: slightly cheaper, a little more convenient, a bit faster. More precise comparisons with as...as Use as + adjective or adverb + as to express equality. At B2 level, this pattern can be extended with words such as nearly, not quite, not nearly, and nowhere near. These forms allow you to express whether two things are almost equal or very different. Expressing exact proportions Structures such as twice as...as and three times as...as are useful when you want to express a precise numerical relationship. For example, This room is twice as large as that one means that the first room has double the size of the second. Incorrect double comparatives Not every combination of two comparative markers is correct. Easier is already the comparative form of easy, so more easier is incorrect. Better is already the irregular comparative of good, so more better is also incorrect. Correct double comparative patterns include better and better and the better..., the easier....
Grammar formula
Gradual change with a short adjective
comparative + and + comparativeThe nights are getting colder and colder.
Gradual increase with more
more and more + adjective/adverbRemote work is becoming more and more common.
Gradual decrease with less
less and less + adjective/adverbI use cash less and less frequently.
Linked changes
the + comparative + clause, the + comparative + clauseThe more you practise, the more confident you become.
Strong comparison
much/far/a lot + comparativeThis route is far quicker than the other one.
Small difference
slightly/a little/a bit + comparativeThe second option is slightly cheaper.
Equality
as + adjective/adverb + asThis laptop is as powerful as mine.
Strong inequality
not nearly/nowhere near + as + adjective/adverb + asThe exam was nowhere near as difficult as I expected.
Exact proportion
number + times + as + adjective/adverb + asTheir new office is twice as large as the old one.
Core rules
- 1
Use comparative + and + comparative for gradual change
Repeat the comparative when a quality is increasing or decreasing progressively: colder and colder, faster and faster, worse and worse.
- 2
Use more and more or less and less with longer forms
When the comparative normally uses more or less, repeat those words: more and more difficult, less and less common, more and more carefully.
- 3
Use the + comparative, the + comparative for linked changes
Use this structure when one changing situation is related to another: The more you practise, the more confident you become.
- 4
Use shortened forms when the meaning is obvious
Some common structures omit part of the clause because the meaning is clear, as in The sooner, the better.
- 5
Use much, far, or a lot for large differences
These modifiers strengthen a comparative: much better, far more effective, a lot cheaper.
- 6
Use slightly, a little, or a bit for small differences
These modifiers soften a comparative: slightly faster, a little cheaper, a bit more practical.
- 7
Use as...as for equality
Use as + adjective/adverb + as when two things are equal in a particular quality: as reliable as, as quickly as.
- 8
Use not nearly as...as or nowhere near as...as for strong inequality
These structures show that one thing is significantly less than another in a particular quality.
- 9
Use times + as...as for exact ratios
Use number + times + as + adjective/adverb + as to express precise proportions: twice as large as, three times as expensive as.
- 10
Do not add more to an existing comparative form
Avoid forms such as more easier, more faster, and more better because easier, faster, and better are already comparative forms.
Useful examples
The weather is getting colder and colder.
The temperature is gradually becoming lower over time.
Colder and colder shows a continuing gradual change.
Online security is becoming more and more important.
Online security is increasing in importance over time.
Because important forms its comparative with more, the gradual pattern is more and more important.
I find myself using cash less and less often.
I am gradually using cash less frequently.
Less and less shows a progressive decrease.
The more you practise speaking, the more natural your English sounds.
Increasing your speaking practice makes your English sound increasingly natural.
The two changes are linked through the the + comparative pattern.
The longer we waited, the more impatient everyone became.
As the waiting time increased, everyone's impatience increased too.
Both parts describe changes that develop together.
The less you sleep, the harder it is to concentrate.
Reducing your sleep makes concentration increasingly difficult.
The first comparative can be formed with less.
The sooner we make a decision, the better.
Making the decision earlier will produce a better result.
The second clause is shortened because its meaning is obvious.
This version is far more reliable than the previous one.
This version is much more dependable than the earlier version.
Far strongly intensifies the comparison.
The train is slightly faster than the bus during rush hour.
The train is only a little faster than the bus at busy times.
Slightly shows that the difference is small.
The new apartment is not nearly as spacious as our old one.
The new apartment is much less spacious than our previous apartment.
Not nearly as...as emphasizes a clear difference.
The task was nowhere near as complicated as I had expected.
The task was much simpler than I had expected.
Nowhere near as...as is stronger than a simple not as...as comparison.
Their current office is twice as large as their previous one.
Their current office has double the size of their previous office.
Twice as...as expresses an exact two-to-one ratio.
Flights become more expensive the closer you get to the holiday period.
Flight prices rise as the holiday period approaches.
The order of the two comparative parts can vary.
The company is growing faster and faster, but its costs are rising too.
The company's rate of growth is increasing, although its costs are also going up.
Faster and faster expresses an increasing rate of change.
Common mistakes
- ❌ This exercise is more easier than the last one. ✅ This exercise is easier than the last one. Easier is already the comparative form of easy, so more must not be added.
- ❌ My English is getting more better. ✅ My English is getting better and better. Better is already the irregular comparative form of good. Better and better is the correct structure for gradual improvement.
- ❌ More you practise, more confident you become. ✅ The more you practise, the more confident you become. The is required before both comparative parts in this correlative structure.
- ❌ The more you practise, the confident you become. ✅ The more you practise, the more confident you become. The second part also needs a complete comparative form: more confident.
- ❌ This laptop is very cheaper than that one. ✅ This laptop is much cheaper than that one. Very does not normally modify a comparative directly. Use much, far, or a lot instead.
- ❌ Their house is twice bigger than ours. ✅ Their house is twice as big as ours. For an exact ratio such as double, twice as + adjective + as is the clearest standard structure.
- ❌ The exam wasn't nearly difficult as I expected. ✅ The exam wasn't nearly as difficult as I expected. The structure requires both instances of as: not nearly as + adjective + as.
Learning tips
- First decide whether you are describing one gradual change or a relationship between two changes.
- Use forms such as colder and colder or more and more difficult for a continuing development.
- Use the in both parts of the pattern the more..., the more....
- Use much, far, and a lot for large differences; use slightly, a little, and a bit for small differences.
- Do not normally put very directly before comparatives such as better, cheaper, or more useful.
- For exact numerical relationships, twice as...as and three times as...as are especially clear.
- Learn The sooner, the better as a complete and highly useful fixed pattern.
- Use complex comparisons only when they add precision; a more complicated structure is not automatically better.
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PlannedRelated grammar
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Frequently asked questions
What does double comparative mean in English?
It commonly refers to two patterns: repeated comparatives for gradual change, such as better and better, and correlative structures such as the more..., the more..., which link two changing situations.
Is more better correct?
No. Better is already the comparative form of good. Depending on the meaning, use better or better and better.
What is the difference between more and more and the more..., the more...?
More and more usually describes a gradual increase, as in more and more expensive. The more..., the more... shows a relationship between two changing situations.
Can very be used before a comparative?
Not normally as a direct modifier. Instead of very cheaper or very better, use forms such as much cheaper, far better, or a lot more useful.
What is the difference between much better and slightly better?
Much better expresses a large difference, while slightly better means that the difference is small.
What is the difference between not as...as and not nearly as...as?
Not as...as simply expresses inequality. Not nearly as...as emphasizes that the difference is substantial.
Is The sooner, the better a complete expression?
Yes. It is a common shortened form of the + comparative, the + comparative structure and means that an earlier action will produce a better result.
How do I say something is double the size of something else?
A clear standard structure is twice as + adjective + as, for example: This room is twice as large as that one.