In the previous High English grammar quizzes on comparatives we have seen how comparisons can be made and the words which are used to express these comparisons. This quiz is all about comparatives used to describe trends.
We make use of comparatives when we compare two attributes, places or things. We make use of superlatives to highlight when we look at three or more attributes, places or things. A very important aspect of comparisons, apart from the actual bare facts, is the recognition of trends. For instance, if in a city the number of thefts has come down from 286 per month to 143 per month in the preceding six months, then we can say that the number of thefts HAS HALVED. The words in capitals are an expression used to compare the data at the beginning of the period to the data at the end of the period. When we use the ‘has halved’ expression the reader or the listener is immediately able to see the trend in the number of thefts and come to the conclusion that the trend is down.