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much older, by far the oldest, etc

much, far, etc with comparatives​

We cannot use very with comparatives. Instead, we use, for example, much, far, very much, a lot (informal), lots (informal), any and no (see here), rather, a little, a bit (informal), and even.

  • My boyfriend is much/far older than me. (not … very older than me.)
  • Russian is much/far more difficult than Spanish.
  • very much nicer
  • a bit more sensible (informal)
  • a lot happier (informal)
  • Is your mother any better?
  • rather more quickly
  • She looks no older than her daughter.
  • a little less expensive
  • Your cooking is even worse than Harry’s.

Quite cannot be used with comparatives except in the expression quite better, meaning ‘recovered from an illness’ (see here). Any, no, a bit and a lot are not normally used to modify comparatives before nouns.

  • There are much/far nicer shops in the town centre. (but not … a bit nicer shops …)

many more/less/fewer​

When more (see here) begins a plural noun phrase, it is modified by many instead of much. Compare:

  • much / far / a lot, etc more money
  • many / far / a lot, etc more opportunities

Much and many are not used to modify less or fewer, in plural noun phrases.

  • far fewer words (much/many fewer words)

much, by far, quite, etc with superlative noun phrases​

Superlative noun phrases can be modified by much and by far, and by other adverbs of degree such as quite (meaning ‘absolutely’), almost, practically, nearly and easily. Much and quite are used in this way mostly in British English.

  • He’s much the most imaginative of them all. (BrE)
  • She’s by far the oldest.
  • We’re walking by far the slowest.
  • He’s quite the most stupid man I’ve ever met. (BrE)
  • I’m nearly the oldest in the company.
  • This is easily the worst party I’ve been to this year.

very with superlatives​

Note the special use of very to emphasise superlatives and first, next and last.

  • Bring out your very best wine – Michael’s coming to dinner.
  • You’re the very first person I’ve spoken to today.
  • This is your very last chance.
note

For modification of too, (see here).