Reading and Writing · 29 · Transitions and Style
Comparisons
Notes
Key points
- than compares; then means next, or at that time.
- Compare like with like: thing to thing, person to person.
- Use that of (singular) / those of (plural) to keep it parallel.
- Two items: -er / more. Three or more: -est / most.
- fewer for things you count; less for amounts.
- between for two; among for three or more.
- Finish the frame: “as … as”, “more … than”.
Rules
Compare like with like.
Tokyo's population is larger than Paris's.
Tokyo's population is larger than Paris.
“that of” stands in for the repeated noun.
The climate of Peru differs from that of Chile.
The climate of Peru differs from Chile.
fewer for counts; less for amounts.
Fewer people came, so we used less food.
Less people came, so we used fewer food.
between for two; among for three or more.
The choice was between tea and coffee.
The choice was among tea and coffee.
Common traps
- Comparing a thing to a person: “her essay is better than Sam” — should be “Sam's”.
- “that of” with a plural noun — plurals need “those of”.
- “most” or -est when only two things are compared.
SAT tip
Name the two things being compared; if they aren't the same kind of thing, the comparison is broken.
Test yourself
10 official SAT questions on Comparisons, easiest first.