more / less ... than
Comparing Two Things
More or less with than can compare a quality: This one more expensive than that one. An omitted be verb is a separate local choice, not a change to the comparison itself.
How It Works
More and less compare the degree of a quality, and than names the other side of the comparison. This one more expensive than that one compares price. A missing be belongs to the local predicate pattern, not to a new meaning of than.
Short comparative forms such as bigger and cheaper also remain available. Choose the comparison appropriate to the adjective instead of adding more to every comparative mechanically. The comparison can concern two things, two situations or a present and earlier state, but both sides should be recoverable from the clause or conversation.
Examples (4)
- This one more expensive than that one.
This item is more expensive than that item.
- The lift less crowded than the stairs today.
Today the lift is less crowded than the stairs.
- Your bag bigger than mine.
Your bag is bigger than mine.
- Now the queue shorter than just now.
The queue is shorter now than it was earlier.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Identify the quality being described before comparing its degree across two things.
Learn Next
Patterns that build on this one.
Practice more / less ... than in Bubblegum
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