원급의 경우 긍정문에서는 as ... as를 쓰며, 부정문에서는 not as ... as, 또는 not so ... as를 쓴다.
A boy of sixteen is often as tall as his father. Manslaughter is not as/so bad as murder. Your coffee is not as/so good as the coffee my mother makes.
비교급에서는 than을 쓴다.
The new tower blocks are much higher than the old building. He makes fewer mistakes than you (do).
셋 이상을 비교할 때는 in/of +최상급을 쓴다.
This is the oldest theatre in London. In old folk tales the youngest of the family is always the most successful.
관계대명사에서 최상급과 함께 쓰일 수 있다. 이때 대개 완료형을 쓴다.
It is the least attractive of all the houses I have seen. This is the best beer (that) I have ever drunk. This is the most exciting book (that) I have ever read. This was the worst film (that) he had ever seen. It was the most worrying day he had ever spent.
위의 경우 ever를 쓰고 있는데, never와 함께 쓰고자 할 때는 비교급을 쓴다.
I have never drunk better beer. He had never spent a more worrying day.
최상급의 경우 일반적으로 the와 함께 쓰이는데, 다음과 같이 the를 쓰지 않으면 강조의 의미를 갖는다.
You are most kind. = You are very kind.
the + 비교급, the + 비교급
A: Do you want a big house? B: Yes, the bigger the better. C: I don't agree. The smaller the house, the less it will cost us to heat.
비교급 and 비교급: 점진적인 변화
The weather is getting colder and colder.
행동의 비교
Riding a horse is not as easy as riding a bicycle. It is nicer to go with someone than to go alone.
기타
You are as obstinate as a mule. This one is the better of the two. Chinchilla is more expensive than mink. Helen was the most beautiful woman in Greece. This is less suitable than the last house you showed me.
than/as + 대명사 + 조동사
He has more money than she has. We are taller than they are. I earn less than he does.
than이나 as 다음에 대명사 I, we, you가 오면, 동사를 생략할 수 있다.
I am not as old as you. He has more time than I (very formal).
than 다음에 주격이 와야 하는 경우에 목적격을 흔히 쓴다.
He has more time than me. They are richer than us.