English — Modifying comparatives
To say how big a difference is, put an intensifier before the comparative: much bigger, a bit cheaper, slightly warmer, even better.
How it works
The intensifier goes directly before the comparative form. much, far and a lot signal a big difference (This one is much better; It's far more expensive; She's a lot taller). a bit, a little and slightly signal a small difference (It's a bit cheaper). even means "more than already expected" (Today is even colder than yesterday), and rather softens the comparison politely (The film was rather longer than I thought).
Examples
| Example | What it signals |
|---|---|
| much bigger | big difference |
| far more expensive | big difference (emphatic) |
| a lot taller | big difference (informal) |
| even better | more than already expected |
| rather longer | somewhat more (polite, understated) |
| slightly warmer | small difference |
| a bit cheaper | small difference (informal) |
Good to know
Use much, not very, before a comparative: much better, not very better. very only modifies the base adjective (very good). With small differences, keep a: a bit cheaper and a little cheaper are correct, but bit cheaper is not.