Comparative Levels of Adjectives and Adverbs
Степени сравнения прилагательных и наречий
| Part of Speech | Positive | Comparative | Superlative (the) |
| Adjective | low | lower | lowest |
| Adjective | big | bigger | biggest |
| Adjective | easy | easier | easiest |
| Adjective | famous | more famous | most famous |
| Adverb | slowly | more slowly | most slowly |
| Adverb | easily | more easily | most easily |
| Adverb | hard | harder | hardest |
| Adverb | early | earlier | еarliest |
Irregular Comparatives and Superlatives
Неправильные степени сравнения прилагательных
| Part of Speech | Positive | Comparative | Superlative |
| Adjective | good | better | best |
| Adverb | well | better | best |
| Adjective | bad | worse | worst |
| Adverb | badly | worse | worst |
| Adjective | little (size) | smaller | smallest |
| Adverb | little (amount) | less | least |
| Adjective/ Adverb | far (distance) | farther | farthest |
| Adjective/ Adverb | far (time and distance) | further | farthest |
| Adjective/ Adverb | near (distance) | nearer | nearest |
| Adjective/ Adverb | near (order) | nearer | next |
| Adjective/ Adverb | late (time) | later | latest |
| Adjective/ Adverb | late (order) | latter | last |
| Adjective | old (age) | older | oldest |
| Adjective | old (seniority, used only attributively) | elder (brother) | eldest (brother) |
| Adverb | many | more | most |
| Adverb | much | more | most |
| Adverb | some | more | most |
Using Double Comparatives
Двойные степени сравнения
| (a) The harder you study, the more you will learn. (b) The older he got, the quieter he became. (c) The more she studied, the more she learned. (d) The warmer the weather (is), the better I like it. | A double comparative has two parts; both parts begin with the, as in the examples. The second part is the result of the first part. In (a), for example, the result will be that you will learn more. |
| (e) A: Should we ask Jenny and Jim to the party too? B: Why not? The more, the merrier. (f) A: When should we leave? B: The sooner, the better. | The more, the merrier and the sooner, the better are common expressions. (e) means that it is good to have more people at the party. (f) means that it is good if we leave as soon as possible. |
Using Qualifying Expressions
Уточняющие выражения
You can vary the strength of the comparison by using "qualifying" expressions.
| 1. Comparing two things | 2. Saying how two things are similar |
| You can use a lot, much, a little, slightlyandfarbeforemore / less than: She's a lot more intelligent than him. This car is much faster than the other one. They are much less wealthy than they used to be. He's a little taller than his sister. She's slightly less interested in football than him. We are far more involved in charity than they are. | You can use almost as…as, not quite as…as, (not) nearly as…as, nowhere near as…as, twice as…asandhalf as…as to change the extent of the similarity. She's almost as good as you! He's not quite as confident asSusie. I'm not nearly as intelligent asher! This painting is nowhere near as famous as the first. She's twice as old as him! He's half as interesting asyou!" |
PREPOSITIONS
Предлоги
WITH NOUNS AS ADVERBIAL MODIFIERS
Предлоги с существительными в функции обстоятельства
| at by for in on with | at full speed by profession/byname/bynature/ bychance/ bymistake by sea(air)/ bybus (train, plane,taxi,car) by post(fax,e-mail) for breakfast (supper, dinner, lunch) for a walk for a holiday in advance/inthe end; in the rain in a loud voice in pencil, (pen, ink) in public on foot on business on holiday, (vacation) on television, (the radio, the phone) on time The London train arrived on time (at 8.30). But: We ran all the way to the station and were just in time to catch the train. with a knife |
WITH A NOUN OR GERUND AFTER
BE/ GET + ADJECTIVE/ PARTICUPLE II
Предлоги с существительными или герундием после
BE/ GET + прилагательное/причастие II
| about at by for in on of to with | Be/get worried/ upset/ anxiousabout be sorryabout(He said he was sorry about causing troubles) be goodat be astonished/ surprised/ shockedby (at) be famousfor be grateful for be sorryfor(I am sorry for the animals in the cage) be latefor( classes) be interested in be rich in be keen on be afraid/ ashamed/ proud/ fond/ accused/ guilty of be kind/ nice/ generous/ clever/ typical of sb to do sth be mean/ stupid/ rude of sb to do sth be made of be short of be tiredofsth/ doing sth be familiarto be marriedto be rude/ kind etc. to be/get usedto be angry/ pleased/ popular/ satisfied/ familiar with |