Adjectives can be positioned before a noun. They describe a noun. Sometimes we use two or more adjectives together. One should remember that opinion adjectives usually go before fact adjectives.
opinion
size/age/shape
colour
origin
material
purpose
noun
lovely
big/old/round
yellow
English
gold
tea
cup
We also use adjectives after link verbs, especially: be, get, become, feel,seem, sound, smell, taste, grow and look (when it means seem). After action verbs we use adverbs.
She looks nice and happy. Compare: She looked at me happily.
I feel well (bad, fine) today. I swim well/ badly.
Ex. 3.Give the comparative and superlative of the following adjectives.
Model: weak – weaker – the weakest; expensive – more expensive – the most expensive; far – father/further – the fathest/the furthest
strong
beautiful
important
good
wide
difficult
magnificent
bad
happy
dangerous
fortunate
little
Ex. 4.Complete the sentences. Use the comparative of the adjectives in the brackets.
Model: Sorry I’m late. It took me (long) to get there than I expected.
Sorry I’m late. It took me longer to get there than I expected.
1. She looks about 18, but in fact she is much (old) than she looks.
2. This problem is not so complicated. It’s (simple) than you think.
3. We always go camping when we go on holiday. It’s much (cheap) than staying in a hotel.
4. It’s (easy) to learn a foreign language in the country where it’s spoken.
5. Your English has improved. You speak (good) than you did when we last met.
6. Health and happiness are (important) than money
7. I like the countryside. It’s (healthy) and (peaceful) than living in a city.
Ex. 5. Ask and answer the questions using the proper degree of comparison.
Model: What is (large) city in the world?
What is the largest city in the world?
1. Who is (popular) singer in your country?
2. What is (expensive) thing you have ever bought?
3. What is (stupid) thing you have ever done?
4. What is (happy) day in your life?
5. Excuse me. Where is (near) metro-station from here?
6. What was (interesting) book you read in childhood?
Ex. 6.Complete the sentences with: a) the superlative form, b) one of the + superlative + the plural of the noun.
Model: It’s a very nice house.
a) It’s the nicest house in our town.
b) It’s one of the nicest houses in our town.
1. He is a very dangerous criminal. He … in the country.
2. The Mississippi is a long river. It’s … in the world.
3. We’ve never made such a bad mistake. It’s …
4. They haven’t had to make such a difficult decision for years. It’s …
5. He is a very good player. He … in the team.
6. She is a very rich woman. She is … in the world.
Ex. 7.Use: more and more or less and less if it is necessary.
Model: Your English is getting (good) and (good).
Your English is getting better and better.
1. Computers are becoming (expensive). 2. People are living (long). 3. Going to church is becoming (popular). 4. Divorce is becoming (common). 5. (Many) people are giving up smoking. 6. The roads are becoming (crowded) with cars. 7. The book is getting (interesting). 8. The weather is getting (bad). 9. My tooth’s getting (painful). 10. Children spend (little) time on reading books but they spend (much) time on watching TV. 11. It’s becoming (difficult) to find a job.
Ex. 8.Write down adjectives opposite in the meaning to the following:
courageous
narrow
slow
healthy
wild
beautiful
cruel
new
hot
civilized
soft
clean
heavy
strong
expensive
friendly
Ex. 9.Use: a) as … as, b) not so … as/not as…asMake some changes if necessary.
Model: My grandfather is younger than he looks.
or:
My grandfather isn’t as old as he looks.
My grandfather is not so old as he looks.
1. The examination was more difficult than we expected.
2. The weather is warmer today than it was yesterday.
3. The situation is still unpleasant but yesterday it was worse.
4. I was a bit nervous before the interview but usually I’m a lot more nervous.
5. The exhibition was less beautiful than we hoped to see.
6. This book is less interesting than the one I read last week.
7. The shops were more expensive than we thought.
8. The film was less interesting than I expected.
9. This business trip is less important for our firm than you think.
10. We are more tired today after our tiring job than usual.
Ex. 10.Complete the sentences and say if you agree or disagree.
Model: If you get married early, it’s better; in fact the earlier you get married the better it is.
1. When you love someone, you have fewer arguments; in fact …
2. When you win an argument, you may lose a friend; in fact …
3. If we work hard, we always become rich; in fact …
4. When people earn much money, they become less careful; in fact …
5. If you have much, you want more; in fact …
6. If you work hard, you always have good results, in fact …
7. If you are happy, you see few unhappy people around; in fact …
8. If you know English well, it’s easy to find a good job; in fact …
9. If a man knows many foreign languages, it’s easy for him to learn a new one; in fact …
Self Check
Ex. 11.Complete the sentences using the adjectives given below in the proper degree.
beautiful
pleasant
young
expensive
bright
cold
short
comfortable
bad
kind
good
close
old
sad
crowded
1. It gets … and … in autumn and the days become … and … . But Italian summer is a very … and … time of the year.
2. We all grow … with years.
3. You look … . What’s the matter? – I feel …
4. I’ll try to do my … to help you – Thank you. It’s very … of you.
5. The hotel was surprisingly cheap. We expected it to be much …
6. This flat is too small for our family. We need something … but not very …
7. The Moon is … neighbour to the Earth.
8. Venus is … planet in our solar system.
9. I prefer watching TV sitting in this old armchair. It’s … than a new one.
10. There were a lot of people on the bus. It was … than usual.
11. A man is as … as he looks and no … than he feels.
Ex. 12. Fill the blank spaces with: later or latter; father or further; nearest or next; older or elder; oldest or eldest.
1. This is the … bank to our house. Take a taxi to get there.
2. The … railway station is two miles from here.
3. He walked off without … ceremony.
4. He is the … member of the School Committee
5. I prefer the … preposition to the former.
6. Is there no … news than the last week’s?
7. The nephew is … than his uncle.
8. No … reasons were given.
9. She is the … of the two sisters.
10. … discussion will be useless.
11. What is … theatre in London?
12. How long does it take you to get to the … river?
Ex. 13.Supply the proper degree of comparison.
1. The Times is one of (powerful) newspapers in England.
2. What is (good) film you’ve ever seen? – I’ve seen so many good films that I can’t say which one is (good).
3. We had a great holiday. It was one of (great) holidays we have ever had.
4. The hotel we stayed at was (cheap) than all the others in the town.
5. Everest is ... mountain in the world. It is ... than any other mountain (high).
6. What’s (quick) way of getting from here to the station?
7. It was an awful day. It was (bad) day in my life.
8. Are you (old) in your family? – No, I’m (young) in our family.
9. I spent (little) money than you but I spent (much) than my mother did.
10. Now her hair isn’t as (long) as it used to be
11. The Nile is (long) river in the world at 6.741 kilometres – slightly (long) than the Amazon, which is the second (long) at 6. 440 kilometres.
12. The (big) city in the world is Tokyo-Yokohama with a population of about 28,5 million.