3 phrases · B1 · B2

Comparing two things in English

Every phrase below is a fixed shape you can fill in and use immediately, ordered from the simplest to the most advanced. Each one carries what it means in English and in Hindi, three examples that vary the slot, and the situations it actually gets said in.

The phrases

Simplest first. The braces mark the part you change.

  • The more {CLAUSE}, the more {CLAUSE}

    B1

    Link two things that grow together.

    जितना ज़्यादा ___, उतना ज़्यादा ___।

    • The more you practise, the better you become.
    • The more I read about it, the less certain I feel.
    • The more we plan, the fewer surprises we get.

    Anywhere · say it as: The more you practise, / the better you become · used at work, college

  • Compared to {NOUN}, {CLAUSE}

    B1

    Put two things side by side and say how one differs.

    ___ के मुक़ाबले, ___।

    • Compared to last year, the numbers are much better.
    • Compared to my old job, this one is far more varied.
    • Compared to the other options, this is the cheapest.

    Anywhere · say it as: Compared to last year, / the numbers are much better · used at work, interviews

  • On the one hand {CLAUSE}, on the other hand {CLAUSE}

    B2

    Lay out both sides before you come down on one.

    एक तरफ़ ___, दूसरी तरफ़ ___।

    • On the one hand it is cheaper, on the other hand it takes twice as long.
    • On the one hand the team is smaller, but on the other hand decisions are quicker.
    • On the one hand I would earn more, on the other hand I would travel four hours a day.

    Formal — writing, presentations, officials · say it as: On the one hand it is cheaper, / on the other hand it takes twice as long · used interviews, college

What goes wrong

The versions that get said instead, and why they land differently.

Commonly saidCorrect English

More you practise, more you become good.

The more you practise, the better you become.

Both halves need "the", and the second half uses a comparative word like better, worse, faster.

Compared with last year, numbers is better.

Compared to last year, the numbers are better.

"Compared with" is not wrong, but "numbers" is plural and needs "are".

On one hand it is cheaper, on second hand it is slow.

On the one hand it is cheaper, on the other hand it is slow.

The phrase is fixed: "on the one hand … on the other hand". There is no "second hand".

Where you will need these

The same phrases, sorted by the room you are standing in.

More phrase groups on the phrases index, or browse by situation on the speaking pages.

Reading it is not the same as saying it.

A phrase you have read is not a phrase you can reach for. CoCap makes you produce it, in a conversation, and corrects what comes out.

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