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Farther and Further

Average: 3.8 (35 votes)

What's the difference in meaning between farther and further?

Why do we use farther in the first sentence and further in the second?

How much farther is it to the school?
I don’t want to discuss it any further.

Use farther for physical distance: How much farther is it to the school?

Use further for metaphorical/figurative distance (non-physical): I don’t want to discuss it any further.

One simlpe way to remember which is which is, farther has the word far in it, so use farther for a distance.

When it's not clear if you are talking about a physical distance or non-physical distance, use further.

Farther

The station is farther away than I thought.

Brighton is farther south than London.

Which planet is farthest from the sun?

Further

I have no further points to make.

This report needs further investigation.

I hope we have no further delays.

Now decide if farther or further should be used in these sentences:

  • 1) The ___ we travel, the more tired I get.



  • 2) Try not to ___ complicate the matter.



  • 3) Let's discuss it ___ next week.



  • 4) There's no need for ___ introductions.



  • 5) Lucy swam ___ than Paco.