English grammar
Trends: fall by, a rise of, rise to, double
Present figures and trends: fall by, a rise of, rise to, double, against a forecast of.
From the scene Sales have doubled
In short
By gives the size of a change, of follows the noun, to gives the final figure. Double and halve are verbs.
Your turn
Which one goes with size of the change: noun + of?
Options: have fallen by ten per cent · rose to fifteen thousand copies · a rise of thirty per cent
Show answer
size of the change: noun + of → a rise of thirty per cent
How it works
A verb of change takes by for the size of the change: sales have fallen by ten per cent.
Your turn
Pick the word that fits the line.
They've (blank). I do the sums.
Options: tripling · triple · tripled
Show answer
They've tripled. I do the sums.
Se han triplicado. Las cuentas las hago yo.
Good to know
The noun takes of for the size: a rise of thirty per cent. To gives the final figure: sales rose to fifteen thousand.
Good to know
Double, triple and halve are verbs too: sales have doubled. Against a forecast of compares the result with the plan.
size of the change: verb + by have fallen by ten per cent
Nuria
Sales in the children's sector have fallen by ten per cent.
El sector infantil registra un descenso del diez por ciento.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
Sales in the children's sector (blank).
Options: rose to fifteen thousand copies · have fallen by ten per cent · a rise of thirty per cent
Show answer
Nuria
Sales in the children's sector have fallen by ten per cent.
El sector infantil registra un descenso del diez por ciento.
size of the change: noun + of a rise of thirty per cent
Ramón
And rents: a rise of thirty per cent. Not because of me, mind.
Y los alquileres, un aumento del treinta por ciento. No por mí, que conste.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
And rents: (blank). Not because of me, mind.
Options: a rise of thirty per cent · have fallen by ten per cent · rose to fifteen thousand copies
Show answer
Ramón
And rents: a rise of thirty per cent. Not because of me, mind.
Y los alquileres, un aumento del treinta por ciento. No por mí, que conste.
the final figure rose to fifteen thousand copies
Nuria
Sales of Doña Elena's memoirs rose to fifteen thousand copies, against a forecast of five thousand.
Las memorias de Doña Elena alcanzaron quince mil ejemplares, frente a los cinco mil previstos.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
Sales of Doña Elena's memoirs (blank), against a forecast of five thousand.
Options: a rise of thirty per cent · rose to fifteen thousand copies · have fallen by ten per cent
Show answer
Nuria
Sales of Doña Elena's memoirs rose to fifteen thousand copies, against a forecast of five thousand.
Las memorias de Doña Elena alcanzaron quince mil ejemplares, frente a los cinco mil previstos.
two or three times as much sales have doubled, they've tripled
Nuria
But for books about neighbourhoods, sales have doubled.
Pero en libros de barrio, las ventas se han duplicado.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
But for books about neighbourhoods, (blank).
Options: a rise of thirty per cent · sales have doubled · have fallen by ten per cent
Show answer
Nuria
But for books about neighbourhoods, sales have doubled.
Pero en libros de barrio, las ventas se han duplicado.
half as much it halves them
Common mistake
Not by or of here. The final figure.
Sales of Doña Elena's memoirs rose to fifteen thousand copies, against a forecast of five thousand.
Las memorias de Doña Elena alcanzaron quince mil ejemplares, frente a los cinco mil previstos.
Practise it in the story
Meet this rule inside a short animated scene. Answer as it plays, then say the lines yourself.
Practise free in the appSee all forms
| size of the change: verb + by | have fallen by ten per cent |
|---|---|
| size of the change: noun + of | a rise of thirty per cent |
| the final figure | rose to fifteen thousand copies |
| two or three times as much | sales have doubled, they've tripled |
| half as much | it halves them |
| compared with the plan | against a forecast of five thousand |
More lines from the story
- ElenaThey've tripled. I do the sums.Se han triplicado. Las cuentas las hago yo.
- NuriaSorry. They're my characters. The real ones.Perdón. Son mis personajes. Los de verdad.