Problems With Comparatives (4): Multiple Comparatives.

(Fresh fruit costs [twice] [as] [much] [as] canned fruit)

- Fresh fruit costs
- (multiple): twice
- (as): as
- (much): much
- (as): as
- canned fruit

(We have [half] [as] [many] [as] we need)

- We have
- (multiple): half
- (as): as
- (many): many
- (as): as
- we need

Remember that the following are examples of multiple numbers:

- half
- twice
- three times
- four times
- five times

Avoid using (so) instead of (as) after a multiple. Avoid using (more than) instead of (as much as) or (as many as). Avoid using the multiple after (as much as) and (as many as).

Examples:

Incorrect: This one is prettier, but it costs (twice more than) the other one.
Correct: This one is prettier, but it costs (twice as much as) the other one.

Incorrect: The rent at College Apartments is only (half so much as) you pay here.
Correct: The rent at College Apartments is only (half as much as) you pay here.

Incorrect: Bob found a job that paid (as much twice as) he made working at the library.
Correct: Bob found a job that paid (twice as much as) he made working at the library.

Incorrect: The price was very reasonable; I would gladly have paid (three times more than) he asked.
Correct: The price was very reasonable; I would gladly have paid (three times as much as) he asked.

Incorrect: We didn't buy the car because they wanted (as much twice as) it was worth.
Correct: We didn't buy the car because they wanted (twice as much as) it was worth.