Comparison: clauses (bigger than we had imagined)

The second part of a comparison (underlined) is often a clause:

The price was higherthan we had expected.

That restaurant is not as goodas it used to be.

It was the best nature documentary I’ve ever seen.

Than-clauses

We can use than to introduce a clause after a comparative adjective, adverb or noun phrase. The clause (underlined) is usually a reduced clause (a clause with ellipsis) or one with a substitute verb do:

The house was biggerthan we had imagined. (… bigger than we had imagined it was)

The journey took longerthan expected. (… longer than people expected it to take)

He finished the second part more quicklythan he did the first part. (… more quickly than he finished the first part.)

He always spent more moneythan George did. (… more money than George spent.)

We use than, not that or as, to introduce a clause after a comparative adjective or adverb:

We finished the job quicker than we had expected.

Not: … quicker that we had expected. or … quicker as we had expected.

See also:

Ellipsis

Substitution

That-clauses

We can use a that-clause after a superlative:

Until 2005, the film had made the most money that any British film had ever made.

In informal situations, we can omit that:

It was the biggest fire (that) anyone had ever seen.

It was the least expensive restaurant (that) we ate at, but the food was excellent.

See also:

Comparative and superlative adjectives

Adverbs: comparative and superlative forms

• bicamerals
• bicarb
• bicarbonate-of-soda
• bicarbonate of soda
• bicarbs
• bicentenaries
• bicentenaries
• bicentenary
• bicentennial
• bicentennials
• bicentennials
• bicep
• bicep-curl
• bicep curl
• biceps
• biceps curl
• biceps-curl
• bicepses
• bicepss
• bichon-frise
• bichon frise
• bichon frises
• bichons frises
• bichons-frises
• bicipital
• 揭秘世界杯国足进球排名榜单（详解国足历届世界杯进球情况，谁是最强射手？）
• NBA现役球员气质排行榜（深入剖析现役球员气质，展现真正的领袖风范）
• 掌握潜游泳技巧的关键步骤（以潜游泳技巧教学完整版为主题的详细指南）
• 掌握足球新手控球技巧，成为球场上的巨星（从零基础到驾驭球场，掌握控球技巧的关键要素）
• 冠军的故事——哥斯达黎加夺得世界杯的辉煌瞬间（一个小国的伟大征程，为世界留下了永恒的记忆）
• 历史上未参加世界杯的明星（揭秘不曾参赛的足坛巨星，窥探他们的非凡辉煌）
• C罗世界杯进球帽子戏法（C罗成就世界杯历史之最，为葡萄牙带来胜利）
• 奥古斯托创造的神奇时刻（以巴西世界杯上的进球和表现引发全球狂热）
• 乒乓球两面胶皮的区别及选择指南（如何根据个人技术选购最适合的乒乓球胶皮？）
• 持续射门（通过持续射门训练，提升踢球准确性和进攻效率）
• 童仁 五香豆的热量有多少卡路里
• Irresistible 薯片(海盐)的热量有多少卡路里
• Holland & Barrett 红莓干的热量有多少卡路里
• 流行E派 优品红薯仔的热量有多少卡路里
• Gerble 无糖可可饼干的热量有多少卡路里
• GRISBI 巧克力饼干的热量有多少卡路里
• 好吃点 甜蜜夹心饼 草莓味的热量有多少卡路里
• 丰熙食品 曲奇的热量有多少卡路里
• 红螺食品 薯仔的热量有多少卡路里
• 美食乐 倔强的石头(原味)的热量有多少卡路里