Comparative conjunctions
Comparative conjunctions, also known as correlative conjunctions, are pairs of conjunctions that work together to join two equal grammatical elements, such as words, phrases, or clauses. They often serve to establish relationships of comparison, contrast, or emphasis between these elements. Here are some common examples of comparative conjunctions:
1. **Both…and**: Used to join two similar ideas.
– Example: Both John and Sarah enjoy playing tennis.
2. **Either…or**: Indicates a choice between two alternatives.
– Example: You can either eat now or later.
3. **Neither…nor**: Indicates the absence of both alternatives.
– Example: Neither the cat nor the dog wanted to go outside.
4. **Not only…but also**: Emphasizes additional information.
– Example: She is not only intelligent but also hardworking.
5. **As…as**: Indicates equality or similarity.
– Example: He is as tall as his brother.
6. **So…as**: Indicates equality or comparison.
– Example: She is not so tall as her sister.
7. **More…than**: Indicates a comparative degree.
– Example: This book is more interesting than the last one.
8. **Less…than**: Indicates a comparative degree.
– Example: This exercise is less challenging than the previous one.
9. **Just as…so**: Indicates similarity or comparison.
– Example: Just as he loves to read, so does she.
10. **The…the**: Indicates a proportional relationship.
– Example: The more you practice, the better you become.
These comparative conjunctions help to create coherence and clarity in writing by indicating relationships between different parts of a sentence. They are essential for expressing comparisons, contrasts, and choices in English grammar.
the..the
“The…the” is a correlative conjunction structure used to express a proportional relationship between two elements. It typically indicates that as one thing increases or decreases, the other thing also increases or decreases in a corresponding manner. Here are some examples:
1. **The more…the more**: Indicates that as one quantity increases, another quantity also increases.
– Example: The more you practice, the better you become.
2. **The less…the less**: Indicates that as one quantity decreases, another quantity also decreases.
– Example: The less you procrastinate, the less stressed you’ll feel.
3. **The faster…the better**: Indicates that as one quality or attribute increases, another quality or attribute also improves.
– Example: The faster you respond to emails, the better your communication skills become.
4. **The older…the wiser**: Indicates a general truth or principle.
– Example: The older you get, the wiser you become.
5. **The harder…the faster**: Indicates that as one exerts more effort, the speed or efficiency of a task increases.
– Example: The harder you work, the faster you’ll finish the project.
These structures help to establish clear and logical relationships between two related elements, emphasizing the correlation between them. They are commonly used in both spoken and written English to express comparisons and consequences.
more than
“More than” is a comparative conjunction used to indicate a higher degree or quantity of something compared to another. It’s often used to compare two or more things, showing that one exceeds or surpasses the other in a specific aspect. Here are some examples:
1. She has more than ten books on her shelf.
2. He earns more than his brother.
3. This movie has received more than five awards.
4. The new model is more than twice as fast as the previous one.
5. They spent more than half of their budget on marketing.
In each of these examples, “more than” is used to express a comparison where one thing has a greater amount, number, degree, or quality than another. It’s a straightforward way to indicate a comparative relationship in terms of quantity or degree.
less than
“Less than” is a comparative conjunction used to indicate a lower degree or quantity of something compared to another. It’s the opposite of “more than” and is used to show that one thing falls short of or is inferior to another in a specific aspect. Here are some examples:
1. She has less than five dollars in her wallet.
2. He earns less than his sister.
3. This year’s sales were less than last year’s.
4. The new product is less than half the price of the old one.
5. They spent less than a quarter of their time on administrative tasks.
In each of these examples, “less than” is used to express a comparison where one thing has a smaller amount, number, degree, or quality than another. It’s a straightforward way to indicate a comparative relationship in terms of quantity or degree, with the emphasis on the smaller or inferior aspect.
Exercise
Here’s a worksheet that includes sentences focusing on “more than,” “less than,” and “the…the”:
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**Worksheet on Comparative Conjunctions**
**Fill in the blanks with the appropriate conjunction: “more than,” “less than,” or “the…the.”**
1. She has __________ ten cats in her house.
2. The temperature in summer is often __________ 30 degrees Celsius.
3. __________ you practice, __________ you improve.
4. He earns __________ his brother.
5. The distance from New York to Los Angeles is __________ 2,500 miles.
6. __________ we study, __________ we learn.
7. This book costs __________ the one I bought yesterday.
8. The new smartphone is __________ twice as expensive as the old one.
9. __________ she talks, __________ I understand her.
10. The new employee is __________ qualified __________ the previous one.
11. The population of the city is __________ 1 million people.
12. This car uses __________ fuel __________ the hybrid model.
Answers
Here are the answers to the worksheet:
1. more than
2. more than
3. The…the
4. less than
5. more than
6. The…the
7. more than
8. more than
9. The…the
10. more than…than
11. more than
12. less than
