Comparative constructions.

The form of the comparative degree may be used to indicate choice among many objects. The indefinite article will be used with the noun modified by the adjective in this case: He is a better man (than your friend). But the form of the comparative degree of the adjective may be used to indicate choice between 2 objects. The definite article will be used with the noun modified by the adjective in this case: Yet of the two Elise was the stronger, the more stubbornwilled. It was Elise who always won.

Substantivized adjectives.

The adjective is sometimes substantivized, it is used in this case to denote a group of objects or an object possessing the quality. The adjectives may be substantivized fully or partially.

Partially substantivized adjectives often denote the following:

ñ a class of persons possessing the same quality (the old, the rich)

ñ nationalities (the English, the French)

ñ abstract notions (the beautiful, the plural)

Wholly substantivized adjectives may denote:

ñ persons (a relative, a liberal, a European)

ñ nationalities (a Russian, an Italian)

ñ objects with a collective meaning (used only in the plural) (goods, sweets, valuables etc)

Positive degree	Comparative degree	Superlative degree	Difference in meaning

good	better	best
well (relating to health)
bad (ill)	worse	worst
old	older	oldest
elder	eldest	Used with reference to membership of a human family or social group
late	later	latest	Used with reference to time
latter	last	Used with reference to order of events
near	nearer	nearest	Used with reference to distance
next	Used with reference to order
far	farther	farthest	Both used with reference to distance, though in this sense "farther", "farthest" are preferred. "Further" is preferred in the sense of "another", it shows that something will follow
further	furthest

Irregular forms of the degrees of comparison of adjectives.

Adjectives after verbs.

We use adjectives after be/get/become/seem:

· Be careful!

· I’m tired and I’m getting hungry.

· As the film went on, it became more and more boring.

· Your friend seems very nice.

We also use adjectives to say how somebody/something looks, feels, sounds, tastes or smells:

· You look tired. / I feel tired. / She sounds tired.

· The dinner smells good.

· This tea tastes a bit strange.

But to say how somebody does something you must use an adverb :

· Drive carefully! (not ‘Drive careful’)

· Susan plays the piano very well. (not ‘plays … very good’)

42. What morphological characteristics do adverbs have?

Some adverbs (mainly those of manner) may change their form to express degrees of comparison.

Formation of the degrees of comparison of adverbs:

One-syllable adverbs

fast – faster – fastest

tight – tighter – tightest

low – lower – lowest

long – longer – longest

Two-syllable and many-syllable adverbs

neatly – more neatly – most neatly

frequently – more frequently – most frequently

recently – more recently – most recently

Date: 2015-12-11; view: 1214

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