Exercise 25

Fill in the appropriate comparative and superlative forms.

I think that the north of Scotland is one of ________ (beautiful) places I’ve ever been to. The water in the lochs is ________ (clear) I’ve ever seen and I believe that it must be the ________ (picturesque) area in the world. Northern Scotland has _______ (majestic) mountains in Britain and it’s ___________ (green) than anywhere else I’ve been to. The mysterious question of whether or not the “Loch Ness Monster” exists, makes it all _________ (interesting). I certainly can’t think of anywhere else __________ (good) to go for a relaxing break than bonny Scotland.

Exercise 26

Fill in the missing adjectives in the proper degree. Analyze the adjectives used in the song.

Long, green, big, handsome, large, beautiful, strong.

A Bigger Heart

His arms are stronger than mine

His legs are ______ than mine

His car’s always cleaner

And his grass is always _____.

But my heart is ____ than his

And my love for you is stronger than his.

He’s more ____, much more elegant

More charming and more polite than me

He’s more responsible, much more dependable

He is everything I long to be.

His office is ____ than mine

His martinis are drier than mine

His roses are much ____

And his faults are far fewer.

But my heart is ____ than his

And my love for you is ____ than his.

Exercise 27

Complete the sentences using the adjectives given below in the proper degree:

Beautiful, thin, cold, good, large, pleasant, interesting, short, close, bright, young, comfortable, old, kind, interested, expensive, bad, sad, crowded, disappointed.

1. It gets _____ and _____ in autumn and the days become _____ and _____. But Indian summer is a very _____ and _____ time of the year.

2. We all grow _____ with years.

3. You look _____. What’s the matter? – I feel _____.

4. I’ll try to do my _____ to help you. – Thank you. It’s very _____ of you.

5. The hotel was surprisingly cheap. We expected it to be much _____.

6. This flat is too small for our family. We need something ______ but not very _____.

7. The Moon is _____ neighbour to the Earth.

8. Venus is _____ planet in our solar system.

9. I prefer watching TV sitting in this old armchair. It’s _____ than a new one.

10. There were a lot of people on the bus. It was _____ than usual.

11. This jacket is too small for you. You need _____ size.

12. You look _____. Have you lost your weight?

13. He is not keen on his studies. He’s _____ in having a _____ time.

14. I was _____ with the film. It was not _____ for me to see it.

15. A man is as _____ as he looks and no _____ than he feels.

Exercise 28

Supply the proper degree of comparison.

1. Trust a man who hesitates in his speech and is (quick) and (steady) in actions.

2. The (little) men think the (much) they talk.

3. Prevention is (good) than cure. The public is (good) judge.

4. It is good to be clever, but it is (good) to be industrious.

5. Some people have (much) money than brains.

6. Australia is (large) island in the world.

7. He would (soon) die than tell a lie.

8. The Times is one of (powerful) newspapers in England.

9. “What is (good) film you’ve ever seen?” – “I’ve seen so many good films that I can’t say which one is (good)”.

10. We had a great holiday. It was one of (great) holidays we have ever had.

11. The hotel we stayed at was (cheap) than all the others in the town.

12. Everest is (high) mountain in the world. It is (high) than any other mountain.

13. What’s (quick) way of getting from here to the station?

14. It was an awful day. It was (bad) day in my life.

15. “Are you (old) in your family?” – “No, I’m (young) in our family”.

16. Why do you always come to see me at (bad) possible moment?

17. I spent (little) money than you but I spent (much) than my mother did.

18. There are (few) people at this match than at the last one.

19. Now her hair isn’t as (long) as it is used to be.

20. The Nile is (long) river in the world at 6.741 kilometers – slightly (long) than the Amazon, which is the second (long) at 6.440 kilometers.

21. The (big) city in the world is Tokyo – Yokohama with a population of about 28.5 million.

Exercise 29

Use the adjectives in the proper degree.

1. Spring is very busy time. It is (busy) time in the year.

2. That was (boring) film I’ve ever seen.

3. There wasn’t as (much) snow in the fields as in the forests.

4. She is a really nice person – one of (nice) people I know.

5. The (much) snow you have in winter, the (good) crop you have in summer.

6. The weather in November is not so (cold) as in December but it’s (cold) than in October.

7. No park in London is as (popular) as Hyde Park.

8. One of (famous) places of interest in London is St. Paul’s Cathedral.

9. A tram is not so (quick) as a bus. It’s one of (slow) means of transport.

10. The film is (interesting) than the book.

11. Apples are not so (expensive) as oranges, and they are (cheap) than pears.

12. He is not so (bad) as you think, but, perhaps, he is (bad) than she is.

13. My sister is (economical) than I am, but she isn’t as (economical) as our mother.

14. The river was not so (shallow) as we expected. It is one of (deep) rivers in the area.

15. “Your mother was (intelligent) and (little) naïve than you are”, my grandmother used to say.

16. One of (narrow) streets in the world is St. John’s Lane, in Rome; it is 49 sm. Wide but there is a street in Cromwell, England, that is even (narrow); it is 48 sm. (wide) in its (narrow) point.

17. Legends of (large) water-creatures in Loch Ness, an immensely (deep) lake in the north-eastern Highlands of Scotland, go back much (far) than 1993, when a motorist saw a (tremendous) upheaval in the loch.

18. Scientists have seriously suggested that (large) creatures may have been stranded in the (deep) waters of the loch when 60 million years ago it was cut off from the sea.

19. The (near) cinema is (far) from here than the (near) theatre.

20. (High and low, rich and poor, wise and foolish) people, all have the right to be happy.

21. The (young) you are, the (easy) it is to learn. The (early) you start, the (much you reach).

Exercise 30

Complete the sentences with: a) the superlative form; b) one of the + superlative.

Model: It’s a very nice house.

1. It’s the nicest house in our town

2. It’s one of the nicest houses in our town.

1. He is a very dangerous criminal. He _____ in the country.

2. The Mississippi is a long river. It’s _____ in the world.

3. I have never heard such a funny story. That’s _____ I have heard.

4. We have never made such a bad mistake. It’s _____.

5. They haven’t had to make such a difficult decision for years. It’s _____.

6. It was very bad experience. It was _____ in my life.

7. He is a very good player. He _____ in the team.

8. She is a very rich woman. She is _____ in the world.

Exercise 31

Use: a) as … as; b) not so … as / not as …as.

Model: My grandfather is younger than he looks.

1. My grandfather isn’t as old as he looks.

2. My grandfather is not so old as he looks.

1. The examination was more difficult than we expected.

2. The weather is warmer today than it was yesterday.

3. The situation is still unpleasant but yesterday it was worse.

4. I was a bit nervous before the interview but usually I’m a lot more nervous.

5. The exhibition was less beautiful than we hoped to see.

6. This book is less interesting than the one I read last week.

7. Tokyo is exciting but for musicians London is more exciting than Tokyo and, of course, New York is the most exciting of all.

8. London is, of course, much older than New York, but it is younger than Rome.

9. New York has more parks than Tokyo, but less than London.

10. Everything is cheaper in our country than in yours.

11. The shops were more expensive than we thought.

12. The film was less interesting than I expected.

13. This business trip is less important for our firm than you think.

14. We are more tired today after our tiring job than usual.

Exercise 32

Write sentences using one of + superlative + plural noun. Use the phrases given below.

Model: famous landmark in St. Louis, Missouri. – The gateway Arch is one of the most famous landmarks in St. Louis, Missouri.

1. high mountain in the world;

2. big city in Ukraine;

3. large state in the USA;

4. small country in the world;

5. friendly person in our group;

6. good place to visit in the world;

7. famous person in the world;

8. important thing in life;

9. tall building in the world;

10. dangerous sport in the world;

11. stable currency in the world;

12. serious problem in the world.

Exercise 33

Complete the sentences and say if you agree or disagree.

Model: If you get married early, it’s better; in fact the earlier you get married the better it is.

1. If you are generous, you will be popular; in fact …

2. If you have many friends, you will be happy; in fact …

3. If you are honest, you will have fewer problems; in fact …

4. If you smoke, you will be kissed less often; in fact …

5. When you love someone, you have fewer arguments; in fact …

6. When you win an argument, you may lose a fried; in fact …

7. When you are kind, people respect you less; in fact …

8. If we work hard, we always become rich; in fact …

9. When people earn much money, they become less careful; in fact …

10. If you have much, you want more; in fact …

11. If you work hard, you always have good results; in fact …

12. If you are happy, you see few unhappy people around; in fact …

13. If you know English well, it’s easy to find a good job; in fact …

14. If a man knows many foreign languages, it’s easy for him to learn a new one; in fact …

Exercise 34

Give the Ukrainian equivalents to the following proverbs. Use them in the situations of your own.

1. Among the blind the one-eyed man is a king.

2. Appearances are deceptive.

3. Best defence is attack.

4. The devil is not so black as he is painted.

5. Dry bread at home is better than roast meat abroad.

6. False friends are worse than open enemies.

7. Fortune favours the fool.

8. Fortune favours the brave.

9. Gifts from enemies are dangerous.

10. Great talkers are little doers.

11. A good face is a letter of recommendation.

12. New Lords – new laws.

13. Of two evils choose the least.

14. Two heads are better than one.

15. Still waters run deep.

Exercise 35

Which meaning goes with which saying?

1. Two heads are better than one	a) Doing something late is not as bad as forgetting it completely.
2. For better for worse; for richer for poorer.	b) Family ties are very strong.
3. Better late than never.	c) It’s easier to find an answer if someone thinks with you.
4. Better the devil you know than the devil you don’t.	d) Other situations always seem more attractive than your own situation.
5. The grass is always greener on the other side.	e) In every situation in life. (Men and women say these words when they get married)
6. Blood is thicker than water.	f) An unpleasant but familiar situation is better than a new one.
7. Better safe than sorry.	g) It’s better not to talk about it.
8. The least said the better.	h) Take precautions.
9. The best things in life are free.	i) Money doesn’t buy happiness.
10. It’s easier said than done.	j) It’s a nice plan but not very practical.

Exercise 36

All of the following sentences contain errors. Find and correct them. The first sentence is given here as the example.

1. Alaska is large than Texas. – Alaska is larger than Texas.

2. Alaska is largest state in the USA.

3. Ukraine is the larger from Great Britain in land area.

4. Old shoes are usually more comfortable then new shoes.

5. My running shoes are more comfortable as my boots.

6. My running shoes are the more comfortable shoes I own.

7. Mr. Brown writes the most clearly than Mr. Klein.

8. English is the most widely used language from the world.

9. I have one sister and one brother. My sister is youngerer in the family.

10. Bill’s knife was as sharper as a razor blade.

11. I like Chinese food more better than French food.

12. A lion is as dangerous and wild than a tiger.

13. My flat is bigger that yours.

14. In my opinion, reading a novel is much more relaxing than watching a thriller.

15. Ed is the more generous person in the family.

Exercise 37

Read this selection of extraordinary “mind and body” world records. Think of at least three records which can be added to this selection. Be ready to present them to the class. Choose the most interesting information and give reasons to your choice.

THE SHORTEST

One of the shortest men was an American. Calvin Philips (1891 – 1912) weighed less than one kilo at birth and stopped growing when he was five years old. For the rest of his brief life he was just 67 centimeters tall.

The shortest woman was even smaller. Pauline Musters (1876 – 95) came from Holland and measured only 61 centimeters when she was nineteen.

THE TALLEST

The tallest man was an American called Robert Wadlow (1918 – 1940). His height was incredible – 2 meters, 72 centimeters.

The tallest woman came from China. She was born in 1964, her name was Zeng Jinlian and when she died in 1982 she measured 2 meters, 47 centimeters.

THE MOST

The most children born to one mother is 69. That’s the number of babies which an eighteenth-century Russian woman had in the years between 1720 -60. They included 16 pairs of twins, 7 sets of triplets (three babies) and 4 sets of quadruplets (four babies).

THE STRONGEST

The strongest substance in the human body is tooth enamel (that’s the hard white substance on the surface of teeth).

Can you guess where the strongest muscles in the body are? Well, the answer is in the jaw. They are the muscles which are used for chewing and biting.

The longest bone in the human body is the tight bone or femur. Robert Wadlow’s femur (he was the tallest man) measured 74 centimeters.

The longest fingernails are on the left hand of Shidar Chillal from India. Added together, their total length is 4.52 meters.

The world record for the longest hair belongs to Marta Jagdamba from India. In March 1989 her hair was 6.4 meters long.

Exercise 38

Practice the correct use of –ing and –ed (passive) emotive adjectives.

1. (To interest) The man is _____ in the TV game. The TV game is _____ to the man.

2. (To surprise)The teacher is ____ at the pupil’s answer. The pupil’s answer is ____ .

3. (To annoy) The girl was ____ by her friend’s indifference. Her friend’s indifference was ____ .

4. (To irritate) The woman was _____ by his habit of interrupting people. His habit of interrupting people was _____ .

5. (To tire) The students were _____ of writing a test. It was a very _____ day.

6. (To exhaust) The tourists were ____ by their long journey. The journey was too ____ .

7. (To frighten) The children were _____ by the dark. The dark was ____ .

8. (To bore) The students were ____ by the lecture. The lecture was ______ .

9. (To interest) The man is watching an _____ game. An _____ TV viewer doesn’t like to be interrupted.

10. (To surprise) The pupil made a ______ mistake. The _____ teacher was at a loss.

11. (To annoy) The noise in the corridor was ______ .The pupils heard the _____ voice of the teacher.

12. (To irritate) He had an _____ habit of interrupting people. The _____ woman stopped talking.

13. (To tire) The ____ day was dull. The _____ worker went home.

14. (To exhaust) It was an _____ experience. The _____ travelers arrived at the hotel at night.

15. (To frighten) That’s a ____ thought. The _____ child didn’t move.

16. (To bore) They disliked the _____ play. The ______ spectators didn’t want to watch the play.

Exercise 39

Choose the right adjective.

Model: I was disappointing / disappointed with the film. I had expected it to be better.

1. We were all horrifying / horrified when we heard about the disaster.

2. It’s sometimes embarrassing / embarrassed when you have to ask people for money.

3. Are you interesting / interested in football?

4. I enjoyed the football match. It was quite exciting / excited.

5. It was a really terrifying / terrified experience. Afterwards everybody was shocking / shocked.

6. I had never expected to be offered a job. I was really amazing / amazed when I was offered it.

7. The kitchen hadn’t been cleaned for ages. It was really disgusting / disgusted.

8. Do you easily get embarrassing / embarrassed?

9. Everyone was surprised / surprising that he passed the examination.

10. He is always tired / tiring when he gets home from work.

Exercise 40

Gradable adjectives: adjectives like ‘good’, ‘small’ or ‘pleasant’ can go with adverbs like ‘very’, ‘fairly’ and ‘rather’. For example: very good; fairly small; rather pleasant. You cannot use adverbs like ‘absolutely’ and ‘totally’ with these adjectives.

Absolute adjectives: strong adjectives like ‘incredible’ can go with adverbs like ‘absolutely’ and ‘totally’. For example: absolutely perfect; totally unique. When Mike did his first jump, he shouted, ”This is absolutely incredible!”

Put the given adjectives under these two headings: very or absolutely.

For example:

Very – angry; absolutely – furious.

Adjectives:

Angry, excited, exhausted, incredible, furious, tired, thrilled, awful, good, hilarious, funny, strange, bad, brilliant.

Exercise 41

Translate into English.

1. Боюся, ця квартира не така зручна, як ваша.

2. Вона не настільки гарна, як її сестра.

3. Цей його роман так само популярний як і попередній.

4. У кімнаті так само спекотно, як і на вулиці.

5. Зараз у нього не така висока температура, як уранці.

6. У нас не такий великий будинок, як у вас, але він так само затишний.

7. Цей килим такий же строкатий, як і наш.

8. Хоча це плаття не таке дороге, як моє, воно чудово носиться.

9. Ваш собака так само розпещений, як і ваша дитина.

10. Ця вправа не така довга, як та, що ми щойно зробили.

11. Чому ви думаєте, що в нас так само мало грошей, як і в нього?

12. Його думка так само важлива для нас. Як і ваша.

13. Я не впевнений, що в мене такий самий сучасний комп’ютер, як у вас.

14. Доміно не така стародавня гра, як шахи.

15. Ця лекція не видається мені такою нудної, як попередня.

Exercise 42

Translate into English.

1. Ваша машина новіша за мою? – Ні, вона старіша. Це найстаріша машина у місті.

2. Цей телевізор дорожчий за той? – Ні, не дорожчий. Він дешевший. Власне, це найдешевший телевізор у цьому магазині.

3. Цього року весна холодніше, ніж минулого? – Ні, вона тепліша. Можливо, це найтепліша весна яку я пам’ятаю.

4. Цей ресторан більш гомінкий ніж той. Давайте підемо у спокійніше місце.

5. Місто розташоване далі від нашої ферми, а село – ближче.

6. Весна більш хмарна, а літо більш сонячне цього року. – Так, і зима морозніша, а осінь більш дощова.

7. Що може бути кращим за чашку духмяного чаю? – Тільки чашка ароматної кави.

8. мені здається, що це найхолодніша весна за останні десять років.

9. Чим простіша задача, тим менше часу потрібно для її вирішення.

10. Цього року ми вивчаємо менше дисциплін, ніж у минулому, але складаємо більше іспитів.

11. І це ти називаєш найщасливішим і найбезтурботнішим часом у твоєму житті?

12. Наша екскурсія виявилася набагато веселішою, ніж я очікував.

13. Не може бути, що ти стомився більше, ніж я.

14. Навіть якщо у мене менше друзів, ніж у тебе, вони надійніші та відданіші мені.

15. Думаю, ти будеш почувати себе зручніше у спортивному костюмі.

16. Най2щастливіша та дитина, яку розуміють її батьки.

17. Ситуація набагато серйозніша, ніж ти можеш собі уявити.

18. Мені б хотілося, щоб ти досяг набагато кращих успіхів, ніж я.

19. Нема у світі нічого гіршого, ніж зрада.

20. Ніхто не буде сперечатися, що найзручніший вид транспорту – це метро.