5.2.3. Study the comparative and superlative forms of the following adjectives.

Positive

Comparative

Superlative

good

better

the best

bad

worse

the worst

far

farther

the farthest (about distance)

far

further

the furthest (about time and

distance)

near

nearer

the nearest (about distance)

near

nearer

the next (about order)

late

later

the latest (about time)

late

latter

the last (about order)

old

older

the oldest (about age)

old

elder

the eldest (for seniority;

used only attributively)

The weather is getting worse instead of better.

His office is further/farther away than mine.

For further information contact Mr. Williams.

The nearest cafe is a five minutes' walk from here.

The next news bulletin comes in ten minutes.

Have you heard the latest news?

The last train leaves in half an hour.

Tim is the oldest of the three friends.

Ted is three years older than Ben.

My elder brother is a fireman.

The eldest of my brothers is twenty-seven.

5.2.4. Use the correct form of the adjectives in brackets.

1. Who was (late) person to leave the building yesterday? 2. (Near) train for Cardiff leaves in an hour. 3. They realized their plan without (far) difficulties. 4. Nell is three years (old) than her husband. 5. Her (old) brother is a well-known pianist. 6. The car was parked in (far) corner of the yard. 7. You will get (far) instructions in a few days. 8. It's (bad) weather we've had for a long time. 9. Can you tell me the way to (near) post office? 10. Hilda is (old) in the family. 11 What do you think of his (late) play? I like it much (good) than his (late) one. 12. I'm looking forward to his (near) letter. 13- Who's (good) footballer in the team? 14. She's actually a good deal (old) than she looks. 15. My (old) daughter does nearly all the housework. 16. Mercury is (near) to the sun and Pluto is (far). 17. You should get the patient to (near) doctor as soon as possible. 18. Your ability to remember things gets (bad) as the years go by. 19. Are there any (far) questions?

5.2.5. A. Complete using comparatives of the adjectives in brackets; add than when necessary.

«Oh, why is English such a difficult language! I think it is (difficult) French. Sometimes I feel that my English is getting (bad), not (good)! When you first start learning English, it seems (easy) other languages and the grammar looks (much/ simple). However, when you become (a little/advanced), it gets (a lot/complicated). There are also so many words in English! The dictionary I bought when I first came to Britain is far too simple. I'm already looking for something (big) and (comprehensive)».

B. Put the adjectives in brackets into the correct form. Add the or a, where necessary.

1. Two weeks ago I went down town to buy a birthday present for my (old) sister. You couldn't meet (wonderful) person than her. She is one of (charming) women I know. She is also (generous-hearted) person I've ever met. Mother says she could be a bit (tidy) than she is. Anyway, the present I wanted to buy her had to be (good) I could afford. Eventually, I came across (beautiful) scarf I had ever seen Imagine my disappointment when I discovered the next day that Mother had bought her exactly the same scarf.

2. One of (embarrassing) experiences that can happen to anyone is to meet old friends, and not recognize them. I once had to welcome a group of students at the airport. I knew (old) person, a Madame Dufort, would be in charge of them, and when the group appeared, this woman came towards me, smiling, and said: «Doctor, what a pleasant surprise!)) If I had been (quick) and (intelligent) I would have said brightly: «How nice to see you, my dear!' as if she were my (old) friend, but I just stood there, my face getting (red) and (red), trying to remember her. The (bad) thing about it was that she got even (embarrassed) than I was, and said: «You don't remember me,» still not giving me (slight) clue. Fortunately, my wife, who is (quick-thinking) and (well-mannered) than I am, said: «Of course he does, Nicole, but he's (absent-minded) person in the world». Nicole had been a student of mine years before, but she looked much (old), her hair was going grey, and her face had more lines in it than is usual at her age. She had got married, too, so her name was changed, and I find names (easy) to remember than faces.

5.3. DEGREES OF COMPARISON OF ADVERBS 5.3.1. Study the following examples.

Regular Comparisons

Irregular Comparisons

Positive

Comparative

Superlative

slowly reluctantly

more slowly more reluctantly

most slowly most reluctantly

positive

Comparative

Superlative

well

better

best

badly

worse

worst

little

less

least

much

more

most

far

farther

farthest

further

furthest

Note: With adverbs of two or more syllables the comparative and superlative degrees are formed by putting more and most before the positive form.

Adverbs consisting of one syllable and the adverb early form the degrees by adding -er, -est.

Ann works harder than most of her friends.

Can you talk a little louder?

You should go to bed earlier.

Could you speak more slowly, please?

Nick should drive more carefully.

He speaks English better than his friend.

The team played worse than before.

He moved as quietly as he could.

5.3.2. Use the correct form of the adverbs in brackets.

1. It's becoming (hard) and (liard) to find a job. 2. Your work isn't very good. I'm sure you can do (well) than this. 3. You're standing too near the camera. Can you move a bit (far) away? 4. Martin drove (slowly) than usual. 5. We have to walk (fast) than this if we want to catch the train. 6. This word is (widely) used in spoken English than in written. 7. Let me ask him. I know him (well) than you do. 8. Jim did (badly) in his examination than he had hoped. 9. Could you speak a bit (distinctly), please? 10.1 don't play tennis much now. I used to play (often). 11. We should run (fast) if we want to catch the bus. 12. The Earth goes round the sun (quickly) than the Jupiter. 13. If you want to pass your exams, you should do your homework (regularly). 14. David plays football and tennis much (well) than last year. 15. She always arrives at work much (early) than anyone else. 16. The children are behaving far (badly) than they normally do. 17. Of all animals in the world, which one lives (long)l 18. He speaks French (fluently) than his sister. 19. John is studying a lot (hard) than usual now that his exams are getting closer. 20. They normally play (well) than they did last night. 21. She runs (fast) of all the girls in her class. 22. Mike can play the guitar (well) than Sarah. 23. They arrived (early) than I had expected. 24. If he had driven (carefully), he wouldn't have got into an accident. 25. Of all children Helen writes (fast).26. She sings (beautifully) than anyone else I've ever heard.