1 a faster than b longer than c purer than d hotter this week than e stronger

2 a more expensive than b more intelligent than c more dangerously than d more gently than e earlier

3 a hollower/more hollow b shyer/shier than c nobler/more noble than d more surprised than e more boring than

4 a more beer b more things to do here than c more rubbish than d more wine e more of this honeydew melon

5 a livelier (adjective) than b harder than c more happily d tenderer/more tender look than e louder than f wetter than g angrier now than h braver than i windier than j more conservative than k more stressful than l tougher than m more depressed now than n more selfish than o more humid weather than p more energetic now than q more charming than r more informal than s lovelier (adjective) t more convincing than u more considerate v more broad- minded w larger one x more depilatory cream y more than z more effort

6 a the poorest people (that) b the easiest exam (that) c the safest driver of d the most unpredictable in e the fastest car on

7 a eldest child b elder child c the worst d farther/further e further discussion

8 a the richest people in b the most spectacular view (that) c more commonly heard in informal speech than d further e older than f the most influential person in g eldest son h the most powerful person in i the most efficent person (that) j cheaper than k sunnier than l the most comfortable in; the dearest m quieter than n the most boring film (that) o more sherry than p shallower/more shallow q the least talkative of/in r the worst mistake (that) s louder and more slowly t more quietly u nobler/more noble and more faithful v the most populous country in w faster than; the best runner in x the filthiest house (that) y further details z better

9 a so/as jealous of the baby as b so/as secure as c as warm-hearted as d so/as noble as e as crooked as

10 a so/as many garden chairs as b so/as many lizards in this area now as c as much flour as d so/as much sugar as e as much as

11 a less hard than b so/as hard as c so/as fluently as d less fluently than e so/as crazy as

12 a fatter than she is/than her b more efficient than she is/than her c so/as perfectly as they do/as them d so/as well as we do/as us e so/as certain of what has happened as I am/as me

13 a more slowly b more seriously c stiffer regulations d so/as skilful as he is/as him e more carefully f healthier than she is/than her g so/as much as he does/as him h so/as heavily polluted as i the most faithful animals j so/as loyal as k the most vicious dog (that) l as many possessions as m so/as much wheat this year as n the worst student in; harder o kinder p the most fierce dog (that) q the coldest season of r less conservative than/not so/as conservative as s the luckiest person on t the most sensible thing to do; the most appropriate thing u the most sensitive person in; so/as easily as v louder w the fittest and healthiest of x as much as y the most famous bands in z nastier than

14 a richer and richer b more and more often c prettier and prettier d darker and darker e more and more tourists

15 a The more you smoke, the unhealthier you become b The earlier you get up, the more time you’ll have to get to the station c The less you work, the less you earn d The older I get, the less I like going out e The more you eat, the fatter you become

16 a a lot tougher than b much rougher than c no older than d rather younger than e somewhat more difficult than

17 a the better one/the best one b the smallest c the more informal/the most informal d (the) more convincing/the most convincing e the newer/the newest; (the) more economical/the most economical

18 a the same mistakes b the same things as c the same rocking chair that/as d The very same year (that) I was born in my.../...year in which I was born my... e (The) same again

19 a fewer prizes than; a better sportswoman than they are; the best in b as good as; cheaper c the best writer of d the same pipe e (the) more popular/the most popular f gloomier than g the shabbiest beggar in h a little bit more difficult i the most colourful garden in j much more barley this season than k so/as bright as; more affectionate l less bright than; more thoughtful m more and more spiteful n better than o so/as much as p so/as many as you q the same shelter as r more and more frightened s The more you spend, the less money you have t so/as stuffy and smoky as u The same curiosity that v The more lies you tell, the less people will believe you w the most hair-raising story (that) x the most careless person (that) y more affection than z further research