Part II The superlative degree of adjectives

Exercise 2.1

Write the comparative and superlative forms of these adjectives.

new – newer – the newest busy thin comfortable safe good

little expensive clever few dangerous hot

far heavy boring bad much lucky

Exercise 2.2

Complete the sentences. Use a superlative form + in or of where necessary.

1. This is a very big building. This is the biggest building in the world.

2. This is a very comfortable apartment. This is … here.

3. He bought very expensive flowers. He bought … the shop.

4. This is such a happy day! This is … my life.

5. This is a very cheap hotel. This is … town.

6. She is a really good singer. I think she is … the group.

7. What a wonderful place! It’s … this region.

8. The film is so sad! It’s … I’ve ever seen.

9. This capital city is very dirty. It’s … the world.

10. Most of the students are 18 or 19, and Nick is 21 years old. He is … the class.

11. These are very poor people. These are … the country.

12. She’s a very intelligent student. She’s … all the students.

13. Most of the students are 19 or 20, and Nicole is 17. She’s … the class.

14. The question I didn’t answer was very difficult. I didn’t answer … all the questions.

15. Peter is very strange. I think Peter is … them all.

Exercise 2.3

Match a word in A with a line in B and write sentences with a superlative.

A	B
Australia Australia is the smallest continent in the world. Everest Africa the Nile Jupiter Monaco Lake Baikal	deep lake high mountain hot continent large planet long river small continent small country

Part III The comparative and superlative degree of adjectives

Exercise 3.1

Write the comparative or superlative form of the right adjective.

1. Our hotel wasn’t expensive. It was cheaper than all the others in the town.

2. I felt rather bad yesterday, but I feel a bit … today.

3. She didn’t buy the cheapest watch in the shop. She bought … .

4. Kevin is the oldest in the family. – No, he isn’t. He is … .

5. Melbourne is drier than Dubai. – No, it isn’t. It is … .

6. We didn’t have an interesting holiday. It was one of … we’ve ever had.

7. This exercise isn’t difficult. It is … exercise in the book.

8. Henry is meaner than Alan. – No, he isn’t . He is … .

9. It wasn’t a good day. I think it was … day of my life.

10. I saw the oldest building in this town and now I’d like to see … .

11. Everest isn’t a flat place. It is … than any other mountain.

12. It’s the longest way to get to the station. – No, it isn’t. It is … .

13. Keeping money at home is risky. Keeping money in the bank is … than at home.

14. The shop assistants here are so rude. They are much … in my local shop.

Exercise 3.2

Write the second sentence so that it has a similar meaning to the first.

Use less or the least and the right adjective.

1. A bus is cheaper than a taxi. A bus is less expensive than a taxi.

2. These dresses are the cheapest in the shop.

3. An elephant isn’t as dangerous as a tiger.

4. Unfortunately, we had the most uncomfortable room in the hotel.

5. My new boss isn’t as rude as my old boss.

6. It’s the most unsuccessful film he has ever made.

7. This crossword is the easiest.

8. It was the oldest city I visited.

9. Hetty Green was meaner than Milton Petry.

10. Kate’s dress was cleaner than Alison’s.

11. Chris is the most inattentive child in the class.

12. Living in the country is quieter than living in a big city.

Exercise 3.3

Fill in the blanks with than, of, in and the correct comparative or superlative form.

A

I went on holiday two years ago but it was a disaster! My hotel room was (1) … (small) … the one in the photograph in the brochure. I think it was (2) … (small) room … the hotel. The weather was terrible too. It was (3) … (cold) … in England. The beach near the hotel was very dirty – it was (4) … (dirty) … all the beaches on the island. The food was (5) … (expensive) … I expected and I didn’t have enough money. One day I went shopping in a big department store and I broke a vase. It was (6) … (expensive) vase … the whole shop. But (7) … (bad) thing … all was that I lost my passport and I couldn’t go back home. It was (8) … (horrible) holiday … my life.

B

Bob Jones is a member of (1) … (famous) basketball team … the country. He is (2) … (tall) and (3) … (young) player … the team. Bob is a very good player, but his friend, Terry, is (4) … (good) … he is. George Boyle is (5) … (old) … Terry and Bob and he’s also (6) … (fast) … both of them. He is (7) … (exciting) player to watch and also (8) … (popular) … the team.

Exercise 3.4

Read the dialogue and complete it with comparative or superlative form of the adjectives given and also of, in or than.

Sam: Hi, Sally! I saw (1) … (good) film ever last week.

Sally: What was it called?

Sam: “I would die for you”. It was (2) … (exciting) … “Tomorrow never comes” and it was (3) … (funny) … any other comedy I’ve seen this month. Will Jackson is (4) …(handsome) man … the world. He is a much (5) … (talented) actor … Milton Brosnan. And the car! It is (6) … (amazing) car … the world! Have you seen the film?

Sally: Yes, but I have seen much (7) … (amazing) films. I didn’t think it was so good. “Notting Hill” is (8) … (funny) film … them all.