Very much nicer a lot happier a little less expensive slightly

a bit easier any/no better a little more expensive

far better far too fast by far the fastest

e.g. Is your mother any better (хоть немного лучше) today than yesterday? – Unfortunately, things are no better than before.

Henry is by far the most talented boy I have ever taught.

Boris drives far too fast.

This copy is slightly better than the old one.

Remember: far + comparative degree, e.g. far better = much better

by far + superlative degree, e.g. by far the best = really the best

e.g. There are far fewer cinemas in Kharkiv than there used to be.

There is far less water in the river than usual.

A tram is by far the slowest means of transport today.

9. Most, the most and a most are different things.

   • Most means the majority of,

e.g. Most children like ice-cream.

• A most means extremely, extraordinarily (чрезвычайно, удивительно, крайне, весьма),

e.g. John is a most talented doctor.

Roses are most beautiful flowers.

• The most is the superlative degree,

e.g. Miss Brown is the most experienced teacher of our staff.

10. The degrees of comparison of compound adjectives may be formed in two ways:

1. by adding the words more and the most

e.g. quick-wilted - more quick-witted - the most quick-witted;

2. by changing the first part of the adjective, e.g.

well-known - better-known - the best-known

e.g. Her daughter is the most kind-hearted child I have ever seen.

Shevchenko is the best-known poet of Ukraine.

11. The comparative degree is used to compare two things while the superlative compares more than two, e.g.

This watch is cheaper/ more expensive than that one.

Which suitcase is the heavier of the two? = Какой/ Который из этих двух чемоданов тяжелее?

This watch is the cheapest of the three. = Эти часы самые дешевые из трех.

Which vase is the cheapest of them all? = Какая ваза самая дешовая из всех?

(Which is the cheapest of the two? - is common only for informal speech.)

12. As usual # than usual # usually, e.g.

Bertha woke up at five o’clock as usual.

On her birthday Bertha woke up later than usual.

Usually Bertha wakes up at five o’clock.

*TASK 75. Write the degrees of comparison of the adjectives given below.

1. polite

2. happy

3. glad

4. grey

5. honourable

6. shy

7. accurate

8. wise

9. bright

10. far

11. good-looking

12. old

13. handsome

14. rainy

15. wicked

16. good

17. comfortable

18. sad

19. narrow

20. joyful

21. merry

22. jolly

23. much-travelled

24. kind

25. curious

26. simple

27. cheap

28. fine

29. courageous

30. bad

*TASK 76. Open the brackets and use the correct form of the adjective. Give answers you think are right. Follow the example.

Example. Name the (rainy) country in the world. – In my opinion, Indonesia is the rainiest country in the world.

1. Name a planet, which is (big) than the Earth.

2. Name a mammal, which is (small) than the rat.

3. Name a material, which is (expensive) than cotton.

4. Name an island, which is (large) than Ireland.

5. Name a singer who is (famous) than Madonna.

6. Name an insect, which is (dangerous) than a wasp.

7. Name a colour, which is (bright) than pink.

8. Name a language, which is (difficult) than English.

9. Name (small) country in the world.

10. Name a metal, which is (heavy) than silver.

11. Name the (fast) animal of all.

12. Name a comedian who is (fun) than Charlie Chaplin.

13. Name a (bad) disease than measles.

14. Name a (energetic) sport than golf.

15. Name a (hot) country than Ukraine.

16. Name an object, which is (useful) for writing than a pen.

17. Name a (good) paid job than a factory worker.

18. Name an (easy) subject than Physics.

19. Name a city, which is (crowded) than London.

20. Name an animal, which is (slow) than a tortoise.

21. Name a river, which is (long) than the Thames.

22. Name a king who had (few) wives than Henry VIII.

23. Name the (rain) country in the world.

*TASK 77. Put the adjectives given in brackets into the correct form, adding any necessary words.

Part A.

1. A: Why are you crying?

B: I've just read __________ (sad) book ever written.

2. A: Do you like crisps?

B: Yes, but I think chocolate is much __________ (tasty) crisps.

3. A: This must be__________ (hot) day of the year.

B: I agree. Let's go swimming.

4. A: Kate is a lot __________ (pretty) Anne.

B: Yes. She's __________ (pretty) girl I know.

5. A: Is this ladder __________ (long) the other one?

B: They look the same to me.

6. A: That was by far __________ (good) cake you've ever made.

B: I'm glad you enjoyed it.

7. A: Do you like this dress?

B: Oh, yes. It's __________ (smart) dress I've ever seen.

8. A: Mount Everest is __________ (high) mountain in the world.

B: Everyone knows that!

9. A: Mr. Smith is __________ (old) Mr. Jones.

B: Well, he looks good for his age.

10. A: Did that coat cost a lot of money?

B: Yes, it was by far __________ (expensive) coat in the shop.

11. A: Thank you for your help.

B: That's okay. If you need any __________ (far) advice, come and see me.

Part B.

1. A: Did you enjoy the film?

B: Yes. It was __________ (funny) film I've ever seen.

2. A: James is very tall.

B: Yes. He's __________ (tall) boy in our class.

3. A: Was it a good party?

B: Yes. I left far __________ (late) I had intended to.

4. A: Did you like the black dress?

B: Yes, but it was far __________ (expensive) the blue one.

5. A: Why do you want to go to Spain?

B: Because it's much __________ (warm) England.

6. A: Do you enjoy your job?

B: Oh, yes. It's __________ (good) job I've ever had.

7. A: If you need any __________ (far) help, just ask me.

B: Thank you. That's very kind of you.

8. A: My teacher is very clever.

B: Yes, She's __________ (intelligent) woman I've ever met.

9. A: Dinosaurs were __________ (big) houses.

B: I know. They were enormous.

10. A: How much did you pay for that bag?

B: It was __________ (cheap) one I could find.

11. A: That exam was really difficult.

B: I agree. It was a lot __________ (difficult) I had expected,

12. A: Have you heard James playing the piano lately?

B: Yes, but he doesn't seem to be getting __________ (good).

Part C.

1. I like living in the country. It's a lot __________ (peaceful) than the city.

2. I felt very ill last week, but I'm slightly __________ (good) now.

3. I can't hear you. Could you speak a little __________ (loud), please?

4. Steven is __________ (tall) boy in the basketball team.

5. This computer is very old. I need something __________ (modern).

6. The new library is far __________ (close) to my house __________ the old one.

7. Jane's new haircut makes her look much __________ (attractive).

8. This jacket was by far __________ (expensive) in the shop.

Part D.

Dear Anita,

I'm writing to tell you about the auction I went to last weekend. It was held in __________ (large) house in the village and the items being sold were far __________ (beautiful) I had expected. I saw __________ (pretty) vase I've ever seen, but it was also __________ (expensive) item there. I couldn't afford to buy it. I bid for some chairs. They were far __________ (nice) mine, but unfortunately someone made a __________ (good) offer than me and I couldn't afford to make a __________ (high) bid. In the end, I bought __________ (small) item of all, although it was not __________ (cheap) of all! It was a gold locket, which I'm going to give to my __________ (old) daughter on her 18th birthday, I think it's __________ (lovely) necklace I've ever seen and it was __________ (easy) to carry home than a set of chairs.

I enjoyed the auction very much and hope to go to another one soon. Perhaps next time you'll come with me.

Write soon and tell me all your news.

Love,

Maggie

**TASK 78. Match the correct adjectives to each of these nouns. Make up sentences with both the noun and the adjective.

Example: The adjective for the word "city" is "urban"

Though I don’t like the urban style of life I have to live in the city because of my job.

1. countryside a) solar

2. hand b) fraternal

3. sun c) aural

4. moon d) paternal

5. ear e) maternal

6. mouth f) manual

7. father g) lunar

8. brother h) oral

9. mother i) rural

*TASK 79. Put the adjectives given in brackets into the correct form, adding any necessary words.

Part A.

Yesterday was _________ (cold) day of the year. It had been snowing all night and everything was white. The children woke up _____________ (early) usual. They were _____________ (excited) because the snow was _____________ (deep) ever before and they wanted to go outside and play. We dressed them in _____________ (warm) clothes we could find, and then they went out into the garden. We watched from the window as they built _____________ (big) snowman I have ever seen. As the snow was falling _____________ (hard) ever, the children soon came inside to warm up. They were laughing as if they had heard _____________ (funny) joke ever told. They said that they thought winter was _____________ (good) season of all.

Part B.

A: Well, Mr. Jones, we've interviewed the three most likely (likely) candidates.

Who do you think would be _____________ (good) person for the job?

B: I have to say, I thought Mrs. Shaw was _____________ (intelligent) of the

three, but Mr. Peters was a little _____________ (nice) her.

A: That's true, and we do need someone who can work with people. However, I

thought Miss Brown would be _____________ (popular) the others with our

clients.

B: I also thought that she was by far _____________ (responsible) candidate.

A: Good. Thank you for your help, Mr. Jones. Choosing who to employ is

_____________ (difficult) part of my job. It's always _____________ (easy)

when I hear someone else's views.

B: I'm glad I could help.

Part C. Dear Leo,

I'm writing to tell you about my new house. It's _____________ (big) house I've ever lived in, but also _____________ (expensive). Still, it's much _____________

(nice) than my last house. Although the garden is a little _____________ (small), the rooms are much _____________ (spacious) and there is much _____________ (little) noise. The area I live in now is_____________ (peaceful) place I've ever lived in. The neighbours are _____________ (quiet) here than anywhere else, and they are (friendly) people you will ever meet. There are lots of flowers here, so it's much _____________ (colourful) than my previous home, and there is a bus stop near my house, so it's _____________ (convenient) than before because I don't have to take my car to work. All in all, I can say that finding this house is _____________ (good) thing that's ever happened to me! I hope you will visit me here soon.

Love,

Helen.