12. Степени сравнения прилагательных

(The Degrees of comparison)

Образование

Односложные и двусложные прилагательные образуют форму сравнительной степени с помощью суффикса -er и форму превосходной степени с помощью суффикса -est.

Многосложные прилагательные образуют форму сравнительной степени с помощью слова more более или less менее, а форму превосходной степени с помощью слова most наиболее или least наименее.

Таблица 10

Положительная степень	Сравнительная степень	Превосходная степень
large easy important Исключения: good, well bad, badly many, much little	larger easier more (less) important better worse more less	largest easiest the most (least) important the best the worst the most the least

Особенности некоторых прилагательных:

Older используется при сравнении по возрасту.

She is older than my sister. Она старше чем моя сестра.

Elder означает «старший в семье».

Her elder son is an economist. Ее старший сын экономист.

Further имеет два значения: «дальше» в отношении расстояния и «дальнейший».

Farther используется в значении «дальше».

Go a bit farther/further. Пройдите немного дальше.

His further work will concern management. Его дальнейшая работа будет связана с менеджментом.

При сравнении предметов или лиц, обладающих одинаковыми качествами, употребляется конструкция as…as «такой же, как». При сравнении предметов или лиц, обладающих неодинаковыми качествами, употребляется конструкция

not so…as «не такой, как».

English is as difficult as German. Английский такой же трудный как немецкий.

This book is not so interesting as that one. Эта книга не такая интересная как та.

Exercises

I. Образуйте сравнительную и превосходную степень следующих прилагательных.

Small, wide, old, far, difficult, good, nice, short, bad, interesting, big, attentive, early, busy, long, hot, few.

II. Образуйте нужную степень сравнения прилагательных и наречий, данных в скобках.

1. This company is (competitive) than that one. 2. In fact computers can do many of the things we do but (fast) and (good). 3. A fast Internet connection is (… important) than a comfortable office. 4. Video conferences are (cheap) than face-to-face meetings. 5. Mathematics is (difficult) subject for me. 6. She is (good) student in our group. 7. It is necessary to work (much) to become a good student. 8. January is (cold) month of the year in our country. 9. In Europe the situation with regard to holydays are much (good) than in the States. 10. The (long) examination session is in summer. 11. Our first-year students study (bad) than the senior students.

Ответы: 1 – more competitive; 2 – faster and better; 3 – more important; 4 – cheaper; 5 – the most difficult; 6 – the best; 7 – more; 8 – the coldest; 9 – better; 10 – longest; 11 - worse.

III. Закончите предложения, используя слова, данные в скобках.

Do you know:

... the average European woman lives seven years (long) than the average European man, and women in France have (high) life expectancy of all;

... the rate of heart disease in south Europe is (low) than in north Europe;

... of all Europeans, those from the south generally have (healthy) diet;

... South Europeans eat (much) fruit and vegetables, but (little) meat than north Europeans;

...the consumption of sugar in north Europe is not (high) as it was in the past;

... There are (few) male than female smokers in Denmark;

... Of all European countries, Sweden has (big) percentage of one-person households;

... Convenience foods are one of (successful) developments in the food industry today.

Ответы: 1- linger; 2- higher; 3- lower; 4 – healthier; 5 – more, less; 6 – as high; 7 – fewer; 8 – bigger; 9 – the most successful.

IV. Переведите предложения на русский язык.

1. Such integration will, in turn, involve greater liquidity and further development of the financial markets. 2. What we are finding is that most people want better service. 3. Computers have much better memories and can store huge amounts of information. 4. The last few months were the most difficult for the people in our research and development department. 5. A 35-hour week is more productive than a 40-hour week. 6. Whereas the average working week in most of Europe is 40 hours a week, in Switzerland and in Spain a worker can expect to work 3 or 4 hours longer.

*V. Просмотрите текст и скажите, о чем в нем говорится. Найдите в тексте предложения, в которых употребляются прилагательные в сравнительной или превосходной степени.

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