APIEGrammar: About, Around, Almost, Nearly, Over, More Than
Ancient Egypt and the pyramids
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About, Almost and More Than
Learn how to talk about numbers when you do not know the exact count.
How to use this lesson
👨🏫 For Teachers:
Use this 12-minute lesson to teach words for numbers that are not exact. Check answers using the answer key after each section.
🎓 For Learners:
First, read the 4 grammar rules in the table carefully. Next, complete the 12 practice items from easy to hard.
Grammar Rules: Numbers That Are Not Exact
4 Key Rulesabout / around
Meaning: about and around mean a little more or a little less than the number. For example, about fifty means 48 or 53.
Rule: Place the word before the number, never after. We say about fifty people, not fifty people about.
The film is about two hours long.
Around 200 people worked at the site.
almost / nearly
Meaning: almost and nearly mean a little less than the number. For example, almost one hundred means 98 or 99.
Rule: Do not use them when the number is more than the target. Side by side: use over for more, but almost for less.
The pharaoh ruled for almost 50 years.
It is nearly twelve o'clock.
over / more than
Meaning: over and more than mean more than the number. For example, more than ten means 11 or many more.
Rule: Do not use over or more than when the number is less than the target number.
The market is open for more than ten hours.
More than 500 priests lived there.
Placement & Single Use
Meaning: Put the word before the number and use only one of these words at a time.
Rule: Never say about almost twenty (double words) or twenty children almost (word at the end).
The trip costs around thirty dollars.
It took over 20 years to build.
DO (Correct Usage)
-
•
Put the word before the number:
"about twenty priests" -
•
Use almost/nearly for numbers slightly smaller:
"almost 100 feet" (when it is 98 feet)
AVOID (Common Mistakes)
-
•
Do not place the word after the number:
"twenty priests about" -
•
Do not mix two words together:
"about almost twenty priests"
Interactive Practice Exercises
12 questions to test your understanding step by step
A Choose the Correct Sentence
The pyramid is 199 metres high or 201 metres high. Which sentence is correct?
The grave is 499 years old. Choose the correct sentence:
Which sentence uses only ONE of these words (about, almost, nearly, over)?
B Sentence Rewrite
Original sentence: "The site has 98 priests."
Task: Rewrite the sentence using almost and 100.
Original sentence: "The wall is 12 miles long."
Task: Rewrite the sentence using over and 10.
Original sentence: "The width of the room is 19 feet."
Task: Rewrite the sentence using about and 20.
C Fill in the Gaps
"The old pharaoh ruled for _____ 40 years." (The real number is 41 years)
"Inside the grave, scientists found _____ 3,000 objects." (The real number is 2,995 objects)
"The mummy is _____ 4,000 years old." (The real number can be 3,990 or 4,010 years)
D Correct the Error in a Message
📱 Message from Alex:
"Hi! I am at the museum. The mummy is 3,000 years nearly old!"
Fix the word order error. Type the corrected phrase below (e.g. about fifty people):
____📱 Message from Sam:
"The guide said the massive pyramid has almost 200 steps, but I counted 215 steps!"
Fix the wrong word. Type the word that should replace 'almost' (since 215 is higher than 200):
____📱 Message from Jordan:
"The ancient site is 2 miles about from our hotel."
Fix the word order error. Type the correct phrase to replace '2 miles about':
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