Focus 15 comparative and superlative adverbs

1. Could you speak more quietly, please?

The patient is recovering more slowly than other.

I see Peter more often than David.

This machine works most efficiently when room temperature is constant.

I play squash less often than I used to.

Usually, comparative adverbs are formed with more … than or less … than, and superlative adverbs with (the) most and (the) least.

2. He arrived later than he promised.

Who ran quickest?

A few adverbs can take –or in the comparative and –est in the superlative just like adjectives do. They are one- syllable adverbs, and include late, hard, long, fast, slow, loud, and quick.

3. Alan treated the boy worse than anyone else.

The film turned out better than I hoped.

There are some exceptions and irregular forms of adverbs in the comparative and superlative.

Well – better – best,

Much – more – most,

Far – further – furthest,

farther – farthest,

Badly – worse – worst,

Little – less – least.

4. He walked as quickly as he could.

I didn’t play as well as other members of the team.

As + adverb + as can also be used to show the manner in which something is done, or how it is done.

For more information see the corresponding topic in Part II.

EXERCISES

Ex.1 Fill in the comparative form of the adverb in brackets.

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1.Dana speaks French … I do.(well).2. Paul drives … Luke does.(carefully).3. We see our friends … I would like (frequently).4. The water project took … the government anticipated.(long).5. Wooden houses can be built … stone houses.(quick)

Ex.2 Fill in the Superlative form of the adverb in brackets.

1. Joanna works … when she is part of a team (well).2. The student who argued his case … of all was eventually elected president of the student’s union (convincingly).3. The consequences of drug abuse can be presented … by bringing a former addict into the classroom to talk to pupils (dramatically).4. Road accidents occur … within five miles of your own home, according to government statistics(frequently).5. The people who reacted … to the new income tax were, in fact, the wealthiest (violently).

Ex.3 Rewrite the following sentences using an adverb.

1. Paul plays tennis better than Luke. Luke …

2. The fashion show was not a success because of poor organization. The fashion show failed because

it … .

3. I go to the club several times a week. John only goes once a week. John … .

4. I can run faster than you. You … .

5. She could read his letter, but with great difficulty. She … .

Part 2 test yourself

Ex.1 Correct these sentences.

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. They are quicker doing this as I am. 2. I got there more earlier than everyone else. 3. They are not as good at using a computer than me. 4. I don’t think this novel is so good than his last one. 5. I ate pretty the same much as the last time I went to his restaurant. 6. The longer I sit here, less I feel like moving. 7. I prefer Tarantino’s films than Oliver Stone’s. 8. He ran as the wind. 9. He has worked like a clerk for the same bank for most of his life. 10. They seemed as they didn’t really understand what was going on.

Ex. 2 Finish each of the following sentences in such a way that it is as similar as possible to the sentence before

.

1.The Apls are a lot higher than the Pindus range.

The Pindus range is nothing ...

2. For me doing menial tasks from 9 to 5 would certainly be preferable to being out of work.

I’d far..

3.We used to be much closer than we are now.

We’re nowhere ...

4.To hear him talk you’d think he owned the place.

He talks as ...

5.They‘re by no means as intelligent as their father.

They’re far...

6.Our special offer was taken up by as many as 70,000 people.

No ...

7.I’m not too keen on watching football but I really enjoy playing it.

I much prefer ...

8. Like many of my friends, I’ve given up smoking.

I’ve given up smoking, as ...

Ex. 3 Fill each of the gaps in the sentences with a suitable word or phrase

.

1.She looks much the ... did ten years ago.

2.The longer I study ...I realize what an interesting language it is.

3. I don’t spend anything ... money as my husband.

4. I’d sooner have ten ... children at all.

5. They accepted their award much ... expected it all along.

6. He staggers around nowadays as ... weight of the world on his shoulders.

Ex. 4 Circle the adjectives listed a,b,c or d, that can fill each gap. One, two, three or all of them may be possible

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1.The ... child was comforted by his aunt.

a. sick b. afraid c. frightened d. ill

2. They had stories ... about their travels through India.

a. unlikely b. galore c. a-plenty d. countless

3. A speedy solution is ... .

a. main b. principal c. chief d. crucial

4. He was taken ... by the ferocity of the criticism.

a. aback b. unawares c. surprised d. unaccustomed

5. The .... train is almost never on time.

a. last b. late c. early d. stopping

6. This is ... reward for twenty years of loyal service.

a. due b. scant c. meager d. proper

Ex. 5 Put one of these words in each of the gaps below, using each as many times as you want to.

That to with at of on for in by

1. I am relieved ... see that they are pleased ... their accommodation. It seems entirely compatible ... their wishes.

2. I am almost embarrassed ... admit that I feel extremely ashamed ... my fellow-countrymen on occasions such as this, particularly when they seem utterly devoid ... any manners at all.

3. I’m afraid ... speak to her about this because I’m frightened ... upsetting her.

4. It is probable ... he will prove to be the most likely person ... the job and the one most likely ... do it properly.

5. I am aware ... your deficiencies and the areas you are lacking practice ... just as I am aware ... you share these weaknesses with many others.

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. O know he’s very sure ... himself and is intent ... proving he can pass, but we are not convinced ... his success can be taken for granted .

7. I was interested ... read that many fans had expressed amazement ... the result. Isn’t it amazing ... so many people take interest ...such obscure sports?

8. I know I should be ashamed ... admit that I am saddened ... young Paula’s being written out of my favourite soap. It’s a pretty awful thing ... have to admit, but I really am upset ... she’s leaving.

Ex.6 Put the adjectives and adverbs into the correct order and position.

1. (tall, very) Sandy was.

Sandy was very tall.

2. (blond, soft, large, blue) She had hair and eyes.

3. (often, lonely) She felt because

4. (isolated, rather, country) she lived in a village.

5. (bad, too) The summer weren’t because

6. (crowded, lively) the streets were with tourists who

7. (interesting, quite) made the village.

8. One July afternoon Sandy met (famous, very) the Eileen Ford,

9. (highly, successful) the head of the New York Modelling Agency.

10. (enthusiastic, rather) Mrs. Ford was about Sandy and

11. (discovered, newly) hired her as a model.

12. (totally, different) After that, Sandy lived a life.

13. In fact, (sometimes, overly, peaceful) she missed the days of her youth.

К теме Degrees of Comparison

Ex.7 Complete the sentences by using the correct comparative or superlative form of the adjectives in brackets

.

Add as, than or the when necessary.

1. Your son is the tallest in the class. (tall)

2. The grass in summer is not ... the grass in spring (green)

3. Soccer is ... game in the world. (popular)

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. Alexandra is more ... her sister. (musically talented)

5. I found Forman’s last film ... than his previous ones. (good)

6. Tim is a lot ... he used to be. (responsible)

7. The president seemed ... as usual (confident)

8. These are ... cherries I have ever eaten. (sweet)

9. Why do you think Heather is ... Janet? (pleasant)

10. In my opinion Tom Cruise is ... actor of all. (attractive)

Ex.8 Select the right adjectives.

1. (little, less) We have less money than last year.

2. (good, well) Mother Theresa of Calcutta is world-famous for being a ... person.

3. (oldest, eldest) The ... sister took care of the family after the parents died.

4. (nearest, next) The ... petrol station is behind those buildings.

5. (good, well) Despite her advanced age, she is ... .

6. (latest, last) This is the ... time I am going to invite her.

7. (much, many) There isn’t ... news this morning.

8. (farther, further) The company provides ... assistance on request.

9. (nearest, next) The ... concert is in August.

10. (older, elder) This painting appears ... than that one.

Ex. 9 Transform the adjectives in brackets into their correct adverbial form, and then build comparative sentences. In some cases there is more than one possibility.

1. Gween Smith signs (beautiful). Sal Collins does, too.

Gween Smith signs aas beautifully as Sal Collins.

2. This motor runs (fast). That other one does, too.

3. Our children behave (good). So do theirs.

4. Arlene studies (hard). Philip doesn’t study as hard.

5. Miss Modison writes (good). Mr. Carter does not.

6. The applicant speaks Enflish (fluent). The head of our department does not.

7. Jash arrived (early). Victor arrivedon time.

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. Mr. Brayant teaches mathematics (thoroughly). Mr. Poole does not.

9. The Hardy brothers carry out their investigations (logic). So does Nancy Drew.

10. The Weavers fared (bad). The Carters did not.

Ex. 10 Translate into English.

1. Вы самый медленный бегун, какого я когда-либо встречал. 2. Вечером море стало еще красивее. 3. Он был самый добрый и самый приятный человек, которого я ко­гда-либо знала. 4. Эта комната казалась больше и удобнее, чем та. 5. Я думаю, что Джейн самая красивая девушка из всех. 6. Я рада, что вы более добрый человек, чем я, Том. 7. Ее назвали Эллой, так как это было самое модное имя для девочек в то время. 8. Этот цветок желтее того. 9. Вам следует помнить, что Том на десять лет моложе Джека. 10. Она учила его, где находится Черное море, какая самая длинная река и как называется самая высокая гора в Рос­сии. 11. Я сейчас больше устала, чем когда-либо. 12. Мой отец, бывало, говорил, что он был самым способным чело­веком из всех его друзей. 13. Он увидел, что бледное лицо его двоюродного брата стало еще бледнее. 14. Вы самая храбрая женщина, которую я когда-либо знал. 15. Мой младший брат умнее Джона. 16. На столе стояла тарелка с печеньем, две чашки и сахарница. Печенье было самое дешевое. 17. Он самый лучший пианист, не правда ли?

Ex.11 Put in the missing adjectives and adverbs. Use the following words: beautiful, best (twice), careful, cheap, early, far, fast, full, hurried, important, last, new, past, quick, rapid, silly,

A SPLASH OP COLOUR

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……… Thursday I had an ………….. interview for a job. I got up ... and dressed ... I put on my ... jacket and trousers, to look my ... I had to travel by train so I walked to the station which isn't ... from my house. I was walking quite ... when I saw a man just ahead painting his fence with red paint. He didn't notice me as I walked .... Then he turned suddenly and splashed my ... trousers! He had acted ... and he apologized, but the damage was done. There was a big store on the cor­ner, so I decided to buy a new pair... . I could change on the train. I ... found a nice pair, which I bought quite.... . The shop was ... , so I paid ..., grabbed my shopping-bag and left. In the train, I went to the toilet to change. I took off my stained trousers and threw them out of the window. Then I opened the bag to get my ... ones, but all I found was a pink woollen sweater!

Test 1

1. One of ... games is chess, which originated in India or probably China. It is a game of ... tradition and is ... popular.

a) old, the oldest, international

b) the most ancient, old, internationally

c) the more ancient, older, internationally

d) ancient, the oldest, the most international

2. You know still waters run ..., but ... I get to know him, ...embarrassed I feel. I would like to have ... information because I don’t know what his ... move is going to be.

a) deeply, the better, the more, farther, next

b) deep, better, more, further, nearest

c) deeper, the best, the most, father, near

d) deep, the better, the more, further, next

3. She did not have to change trains and went to Glasgow ... . She felt ... and thought if Harry would be able to meet her. But ... had she stepped on the platform in Glasgow ... she saw him with a bundle of flowers.

a) direct, lonely, hardly, when

b) directly, alone, hardly, than

c) more directly, lonely, no sooner, when

d) the most direct, alone, hardly, ___

4. ... they hurried ... it was they would be in time to see him off. They came ... after his departure.

a) The more, the less obvious, short

b) The more, the more obviously, shortly

c) The more, the less obvious, shortly

d) The most, the least obviously, short

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5. She opened two bottles of perfume. The perfume in the oval bottle smelt ... that reminded her of ... summer; but ... had a strange smell.

a) so sweetly, last, latter

b) so sweet, late, the latter

c) such sweetly, the latest, the former

d) such sweet, later, last

6. The almonds, which I bought in the shop ... our office, tasted ... . I threw away ... half of them.

a) nearly, bitterly, almost

b) near, bitter, nearly

c) next to, bitter, near

d) by, bitterly, all but

7. ... had we got out of the car ... he and his ... brother rushed to us. It was ... how they could guess where we were going.

a) No sooner, when, older, strange

b) Hard, and, elder, strangely

c) No sooner, than, elder, strange

d) Hardly, when, eldest, strangely

8. There was an obvious weakness in the argument ... but they were too ... to admit their mistake. The most ... thing was that Nick, the ... friend of theirs, did not support them.

a) presenting, alarming, embarrassing, old

b) presented, alarmed, embarrassed, eldest

c) presented, alarmed, embarrassing, oldest

d) presenting, alarmed, embarrassed, elder

9. It was far ... than expected, so he made up his mind to spend twice as ... money as he had wanted.

a) more cheaper, more

b) more cheap, a lot

c) the cheapest, the most

d) cheaper, much

10. This is ... task and I hope he will cope with it. He remains ... in any circumstances. His results are always ... .

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a) challenging, calmly, pleased

b) challenging, calm, pleasing

c) challenged, calm, pleased

d) challenged, calmly, pleasing

11. When he saw them standing ... each other, he laughed ... as though a weight had been lifted from him. But his wife cut him ... saying his laughter was not to the point.

a) closely, joyfully, shortly

b) close, joyful, short

c) closely, joyful, short

d) close, joyfully, short

12. What is he backing out? It is not ... . He earns ... money as I do, and maybe even a lot ... than we both.

a) fairly, much, much

b) fair, much, more

c) fair, more, much

d) fairly, many, much

13. ... after she left the village, she felt too tired to go any ... . She took a nap lying ... on the grass.

a) Shortly, further, flat

b) Shortly, farther, flatly

c) Short, further, flat

d) Short, farther, flatly

14. To the ..., ... child this task would be ... .

a) brighter, more advanced, challenged

b) more bright, the most advanced, challenging

c) the most bright, the most advanced, challenged

d) brighter, more advanced, challenging

15. Yesterday I got lost in the forest. I shouted ... and ... but nobody came. Suddenly I felt somebody watching me .. . I ran ... to the right and soon found myself near the spring, which was ... to my home. This was the most ... experience I had ever had.

a) loudly, longly, close, fastly, closely, excited

b) loudly, long, closely, fast, close, exciting

c) loud, long, close, quickly, close, exciting

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d) loud, longer, close, quick, closely, excitement

16. Many fruits taste ... and delicious, and have the advantage of being relatively ... in calories and ... in nutrients.

a) sweetly, lower, highly

b) sweet, low, high

c) more sweet, more low, more high

d) sweeter, much more low, much more high

17. The most ... accepted theory of the origin of the universe proposed that a huge explosion set ... all the matter and energy in the universe.

a) wide, free

b) widely, freely

c) wide, freely

d) widely, free

18. During the French and Indian War, several colonies had refused to cooperate ... in the war effort when their own borders were not ... at risk.

a) in full, immediately

b) fully, immediately

c) in full, immediate

d) full, immediate

19. The task of drafting the decoration fell to Jefferson, who was known for his ... style.

a) powerfully written

b) powerful written

c) powerful writing

d) powerfully writing

20. These colonies stayed ... to the coastline, never penetrating far inland, and in fact each was linked ... to England than to the other colonies.

a) close, more closely

b) closely, closely

c) closely, more closely

d) close, more closer

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21. Although the British considered the act to be ..., many American colonists saw it as a violation of their rights.

a) perfect fair

b) perfectly fairly

c) perfect fairly

d) perfectly fair

22. ... a land bridge between two continents, Panama developed plant and animal life ... than almost anywhere else on Earth

a) as, more diverse

b) being, diversely

c) like, diverselier

d) as, diversely