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Grammar & Vocabulary

Grammar: Running and Marathons

⏱️ 12 minutes

Learn how to say that a difference is big or small when you compare runners.

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How to use this lesson

For teachers

Present the rule table to the class for 5 minutes before students start. You can check answers by asking students to write their sentences on the board.

For learners

Read the rule table first to understand how to compare different aspects of running. Then complete the 12 practice questions to check your knowledge.

📐 Comparison Rules at a Glance

4 Core Rules

1 Showing Big and Small Differences

Put much, far, or a lot before a comparative word to show a big difference. Put slightly, a bit, or a little before a comparative word to describe a small difference. Remember to keep the usual comparative ending like -er or more.

Example 1: "The hill route is much harder than the park route."

Example 2: "The experienced athlete was slightly faster than the beginner."

2 Never Use "Very" with Comparatives

Never use very before a comparative word. Say much faster or far slower instead of very faster. Always avoid mixing very with words ending in -er or words with more.

Example 1: "Her last race was far more tiring than this one."

Example 2: "His legs felt much sorer after the marathon than after the morning jog."

3 Nowhere Near as ... as

Use nowhere near as + adjective + as to explain that the first runner or thing is a long way below the second. The adjective between the words stays in its basic form with no -er or more. Do not use than anywhere in this structure.

Example 1: "My pace is nowhere near as fast as my brother's."

Example 2: "A weekend jogger is nowhere near as fit as an athlete on the podium."

4 Twice as ... as and Half as ... as

Use twice as + adjective + as when an amount or quality is double. Use half as + adjective + as when an amount is fifty percent of another. Keep the adjective in its simple base form without adding comparative endings.

Example 1: "The coach's training plan is twice as long as mine."

Example 2: "The crowd of spectators near the finish line was twice as loud as at the start."

Marathon race finish line with cheering spectators holding banners, determined runners crossing the line, dynamic athlet

Runners push their pace near the finish line while spectators cheer along the barrier.

Practice Exercises

12 questions: choose, fill gaps, rewrite, and correct errors.

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Question 1 Choose the correct sentence

Choose the correct sentence comparing the runners:

____ a. The athlete was far faster than the casual jogger during the race ____ b. The athlete was far more fast than the casual jogger during the race ____ c. The athlete was slightly fastest than the casual jogger during the race

Question 2 Choose the correct sentence

Choose the correct sentence about the marathon finish:

____ a. The breathless runner was very more tired than his teammate ____ b. The breathless runner was very tired than his teammate ____ c. The breathless runner was far more tired than his teammate

Question 3 Choose the correct sentence

Choose the correct sentence about the spectator area:

____ a. The view from the bridge was nowhere near as good as the finish line ____ b. The view from the bridge was nowhere near as better as the finish line ____ c. The view from the bridge was nowhere near so good than the finish line

Question 4 Fill the gap

Fill the gap to complete the sentence:

She looked ____ more determined than the other runners on the track.

Hint: (modifier)

Question 5 Fill the gap

Fill the gap with the modifier that replaces 'very' before a comparative:

His marathon pace was ____ faster than his previous personal record.

Hint: (modifier)

Question 6 Fill the gap

Fill the gap to complete the comparison:

My legs were nowhere ____ as sore as my partner's legs.

Hint: (gap)

Question 7 Rewrite the sentence

Original facts: The marathon winner ran 40 km. The jogger ran 20 km.

Rewrite the sentence with: twice as ... as

Type the complete sentence below:

____

Hint: (twice)

Question 8 Rewrite the sentence

Original facts: The training session was 60 minutes. The warm-up was 30 minutes.

Rewrite the sentence with: half as ... as

Type the complete sentence starting with "The warm-up":

____

Hint: (half)

Question 9 Rewrite the sentence

Original facts: My pace is 6 minutes per kilometer. The podium athlete's pace is 3 minutes per kilometer.

Rewrite the sentence with: nowhere near as ... as

Type the complete sentence starting with "My pace":

____

Hint: (nowhere)

Question 10 Correct the error

Read the message to a running friend and correct the single error:

📱 Text from Chris:

"I got a bad cramp at kilometer eight today and finished slightly breathlesser than yesterday."

Write the correct two words to replace "breathlesser": ____

Hint: (breathless)

Question 11 Correct the error

Read the message to the running coach and correct the single error:

📱 Text to Coach:

"My pace was fine during the intervals but my calves feel very sorer than last week."

Write the correct word to replace "very": ____

Hint: (modifier)

Question 12 Correct the error

Read the message about marathon training and correct the single error:

📱 Text from Maya:

"With our strict training reaching the podium will be twice as easier as last year."

Write the correct form of "easier": ____

Hint: (basic)

Grammar: Running and Marathons

Grammar: Running and Marathons

How to use this lesson

📐 Comparison Rules at a Glance

Practice Exercises

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