Section 2. The Comparative and the Superlative Degrees

Exercise 1. Form the degress of comparison of the following abjectives.

A. Tall, green, new, short, great, warm, fresh, young, light, cold, full, thick, long, sweet, high, poor, small, clear, quick, free.

B. Heavy, early, easy, hearty, happy, naughty, merry, duty, pretty, funny, lovely, angry, busy, lazy, clever, slender, bitter, simple, noble, stable, able, narrow, yellow, polite, concise, complete, sincere, severe.

C. Famous, active, wicked, forlorn, serious, stupid, splendid, immense.

D. Beautiful, general, careful, interesting, outstanding, pleasant, favourite, attentive, wonderful, comfortable, excellent.

E. Good, bad, little, many, far, near, old.

Exercise 2. Translate into English.

А. Темнее, хуже, ярче, несчастнее, значительнее, проще, старше, глубже, дороже, умнее, ленивее, дешевле, веселее, лучше, регулярнее, прекраснее, серьезнее, радостнее, благороднее, уже.

Б. Самый способный, самый ранний, самый горький, самый глупый, самый любимый, самый удобный, новейший, удивительнейший, отличнейший, счастливейший, умнейший, добрейший, самый быстрый, самый интересный.

Exercise 3. Write down the comparative and the superlative degrees of the following adjectives.

A. High, light, cold, tall, full, thick, quick, young, deep, sweet, weak, slender, clever, narrow, yellow.

B. Big, sad, red, flat, fat, mad, hot, thin, wet, fit.

C. Fine, brave, pale, large, late, white, nice, simple, able, noble, stable, free.

D. Heavy, hearty, early, tiny, lazy, angry, busy, happy, dry, shy, sly, lovely, dirty, funny, pretty, grey, gay.

E. Good, bad, little, far, near, old.

Exercise 4. Translate into English and spell correctly.

А. Веселее, гуще, тоньше, ниже, краснее, зеленее, серее, синее, чернее, больше, тяжелее, желтее, проще, грязнее, горячее, свободнее, умнее, благороднее, глубже, белее, суше, хитрее, слаще.

Б. Самый желтый, самый слабый, самый безумный, самый серьезный, самый сердитый, самый занятый, самый дальний, самый плохой, ближайший, наилучший, храбрейший, благороднейший, тончайший, самый стеснительный, малейший, глупейший, самый хитрый.

Exercise 5. Read each of these phrases aloud paying special attention to the phrase stress. Translate them into Russian.

stronger than death	older than the world
fresher than air	hotter than the sun
whiter than snow	wiser than a snake
colder than ice	sweeter than a song
father than the stars

more wonderful than life

more immense than space

more splendid than fine weather

more thrilling than a detective story

more beautiful than the stars

more comfortable than an easy chair

more generous than a noble heart

more serious than an old professor

more attentive than a good pupil

more pleasant than a summer day

Exercise 6. Build ten phrases of your own by analogy with those given in the previous exercise.

Exercise 7. Read the following sentences aloud and translate them into Russian.

A. 1. He is brighter than his brother. 2. She is taller than her sister. 3. The kitten is gayer than the puppy. 4. His eyes are blacker than coal. 5. Her forehead is whiter than snow. 6. Her lips are redder than a rose. 7. The day is warmer than the morning. 8. August is hotter than September. 9. April is milder than March. 10. His reading is better than his spelling.

B. 1. This box is heavier than that one. 2. This house is higher than that one. 3. This boy is cleverer than that one. 4. This road is longer than that one. 5. My old dress is lovelier than the new one. 6. Her blue hat is prettier than the green one. 7. The new street is broader than the old one. 8. This book is more interesting than that one. 9. He is more attentive than his neighbour. 10. She is more serious than her sister.

C. 1. My health is worse than his. 2. Your face is paler than hers. 3. His flat is larger than ours. 4. Her coat is warmer than mine. 5. Our river is deeper than theirs. 6. My son is smaller than hers. 7. This room is colder than ours. 8. His hair is blacker than mine. 9. Your task is easier than his. 10. My glass is fuller than yours. 11. His voice is deeper than yours.

D. 1. Their flat is larger than their mother's. 2. Their library is richer than their parents'. 3. Our task is easier than our friends'. 4. His feet are larger than his father's. 5. Her children are younger than her sister's. 6. His garden is more beautiful than his neighbour's. 7. Your story is more wonderful than your brother's. 8. My flat is more comfortable than my father's.

Exercise 8. Read the sentences aloud and translate them into Russian.

A. 1. Her answer is the best. 2. This apple is the sweetest. 3. My bag is the heaviest. 4. This flat is the largest. 5. His room is the warmest. 6. This road is the dirtiest.

B. 1. This is the best answer of all. 2. She is the prettiest girl of the group. 3. He is the best friend of mine. 4. She is the most stupid of our girls. 5. He is the most famous of our writers. 6. He is the most outstanding of our poets. 7. This is the most interesting book of all. 8. She is the busiest of the family. 9. They are the dearest friends of my parents. 10. This is the most favourite book of hers.

C. 1. This is the shortest way to the tram-stop. 2. This poem is the longest in the Reader. 3. This news is the most exciting in the world. 4. This story is the most interesting in the book.

Exercise 9. Give full answers to the following questions.

A. 1. Is your sister taller than you? 2. Is my room warmer than yours? 3. Is his flat larger than his sister's? 4. Is she prettier than her mother? 5. Is he stronger than his father? 6. Is honey sweeter than sugar? 7. Is this path narrower than that one? 8. Is he cleverer than his brother? 9. Is she more stupid than her sister? 10. Is he more attentive than his neighbour? 11. Is your flat more comfortable than mine?

B. 1. Is his work the best? 2. Is this bag the heaviest? 3. Is this month the hottest? 4. Is this path the shortest? 5. Is he the brightest boy of the group? 6. Is she the prettiest girl of the group? 7. Is he the best friend of yours? 8. Is he the most outstanding writer of the world? 9. Is this the most favourite film of his? 10. Is this the most interesting play of the season? 11. Is he the worst student of the faculty? 12. Is this the coldest room in the house? 13. Is this story the longest in the book? 14. Is this the shortest way to the station?

Exercise 10. Translate into English.

1. Ее комната больше моей. 2. Эта книга интереснее той. 3. Она красивее своей сестры. 4. Это озеро глубже, чем то. 5. Наш лес гуще, чем их. 6. Ее ответ лучше, чем мой. 7. Ее платье длиннее твоего. 8. Эта аудитория меньше нашей. 9. Сегодня теплее, чем вчера. 10. Январь - самый холодный месяц в году. 11. Июль - самый жаркий месяц. 12. Он самый прилежный ученик в классе. 13. Мой чемодан легче твоего, 14. Он ленивее своего брата. 15. Она умнее своей сестры. 16. У нее более темные волосы, чем у ее брата. 17. Эти книги труднее тех. 18. Их ответы лучшие в группе. 19. Этот диктант труднее того. 20. Нынешнее лето самое сухое. 21. Твое голубое платье красивее, чем белое. 22. Она серьезнее своей подруги. 23. Сегодня утром трава сырее, чем вчера. 24. Сегодня ты бледнее, чем обычно. 25. Сегодня она самая счастливая девушка на свете. 26. Твой брат выше моего. 27. Его произношение хуже твоего.

Exercise 11. Fill in the blanks with the comparative or superlative degree of the adjectives in the margin.

1 . She is ... woman in the world. 2. His pride is ... part of his nature. 3. I think you are ... than any one else. 4. The old Prince is ... stag in the whole forest. 5. I don't know a ... lad than his grandson. 6. His cheeks are ... than any one else's. 7. Now they are going at a ... pace. 8. He is ... partner I can think of. 9. You are ... man in the world. 10. The June grass is ... than the boy. 11. The last of them is ... than any of the others. 12. I spend my ... hours with you. 13. This deer looks ... and ... than the others. 14 . They seem ... than the rest. 15. And now ... yell of all is heard. It is coming from a group of boys. 16. That is ... thing, it is ... than anything else. 17. He says it is one of ... times he knows of. 18. Every month his life is growing ... . 19. The park seems even ... than before. 20. He has no doubt that his grandfather is ... of elderly gentlemen. 21. The old stag looks... than the others. 22. By day the deer are ... and ... than at night. 23. It's one of ... of all the beaches. 24. Love is ... than Philosophy and ... than Power.

lovely strong pretty big fine red fast bad kind tall big happy tall, proud pretty, wild good, good serious interesting beautiful generous powerful careful, nervous safe, wise mighty

Exercise 12. Answer the following questions.

1. Is Leningrad as big as Moscow? Is it bigger than Moscow? It is not so big as Moscow, is it? It is as big as Moscow, isn't it? Which is bigger, Leningrad or Moscow? Moscow is the biggest of the two, isn't it? Which is the biggest of the two? 2. Is your sister as tall as you? Is she taller than you? She is not so tall as you, is she? She is as tall as you, isn't she? Who is taller, your sister or you? Who is the tallest of the two? 3. Is this road as short as that one? Is it shorter than that one? It is not so short as that one, is it? It is as short as that one, isn't it? Which road is shorter, this or that one? Which is the shortest road of the two? 4. Is Newton as famous as Einstein? Is Newton more famous than Einstein? Newton is not so famous as Einstein, is he? Newton is as famous as Einstein, isn't he? Who is more famous, Newton or Einstein ? Who is the most famous of the two? 5. Is the moon as far as the sun? Is the sun farther than the moon? The sun is not so far as the moon, is it? The sun is as far as the moon, isn't it? Which is farther, the sun or the moon? Which of the two is the farthest?

Exercise 13. Translate into English.

1. Он самый способный мальчик в классе. 2. Она такая же стройная, как ее сестра. 3. Он лучший рабочий на нашем заводе. 4. Она выше своей матери. 5. У нее не такие красивые глаза, как у ее подруги. 6. Кто самый сильный студент в твоей группе? 7. Он старший из трех братьев. 8. Она моя старшая сестра. 9. Кто старше, ты или твоя сестра? 10. Это самый красивый парк из всех, какие я знаю. 11. Январь обычно бывает холоднее февраля. 12. Февраль обычно бывает не такой холодный, как январь. 13, Ее старший брат учится на пятом курсе. 14. В августе трава не такая зеленая, как в июне. 15. Эта девочка -худшая ученица в классе. 16. Немецкий язык труднее английского. 17. Кто из вас самый смелый? 18. Это самая интересная книга из всех, что у меня есть. 19. Это правило такое же простое, как то, которые вы уже знаете. Возможно, оно даже проще. 20. Эти розы краснее тех. 21. Мой дом дальше от института, чем твой. 22. Кто следующий? 23. Эта дорога кратчайшая. 24, У меня такая же красивая собака, как у моего приятеля. 25. У них не такая большая семья, как у нас.

Exercise 14. Translate into Russian paying special attention to the phrases italicized.

1. My sister is six у ears older than I. 2. Our new house is five storeys higher than the one we lived in before. 3. I am seven centimetres taller than my brother. 4. She is three years younger than her husband. 5.I won't buy this pair of shoes, it is ten dollars dearer than the pair you have bought. 6. Let's take this way, it's miles shorter than that one. 7. This stuff is some dollars cheaper than the one you have got on you. 8. Take this piece of string, it's about two metres longer. 9. The temperature is rising. It is already four degrees higher than it was in the morning. 10. This rucksack is some kilos heavier than mine.

Exercise 15. Translate the following phrases into Russian. Insert suitable ones into the sentences given below.

Five years older, two months younger, ten miles shorter, some metres longer, eight dollars cheaper, twenty dollars dearer, some degrees higher, four degrees lower, three kilos heavier, seven pounds lighter, three metres wider, a metre narrower.

1. This street is ... than that one. 2. My son is ... than, hers. 3. She is ... than her husband. 4. The road through the fields is ... than the road through the forest. 5. Today the temperature is ... than yesterday. 6. This bag is about... than that one. 7. My room is ... than yours. 8. This dress is ... than that one. 9. This piece of road is ... . 10. The temperature of the water is ... today. 11. Her coat is ... than yours. 12. I am ... than you.

Exercise 16. Translate into English.

1. Она выше меня на пять сантиметров. 2. Этот сыр на пять тысяч рублей дороже того. 3. Я старше сестры на два года. 4. Эта дорога на восемь километров длиннее, чем та. 5. Сегодня у него температура на градус ниже, чем вчера. 6. Мое платье на пятьдесят тысяч рублей дешевле твоего. 7. Это платье на несколько сантиметров короче того. 8. Она, вероятно, лет на пять младше мужа. 9. Не бери этот чемодан: он тяжелее того на несколько килограммов. 10. Эльбрус выше Казбека на 586 метров. 11. Монблан ниже Эльбруса на 2 700 футов. 12. Сегодня температура воды на два градуса ниже, чем вчера.

Exercise 17. Build some sentences of your own using the following phrases.

Two years younger, five months older, ten kilometres longer, three inches shorter, four pounds lighter, some kilos heavier, ten degrees lower, ten degrees higher, some dollars cheaper, a kilometre wider, about two metres narrower.

Exercise 18. Translate the following phrases into Russian. Insert suitable ones into the sentences below.

A. Three times as wide, four times as deep, five times as narrow, twice as big, ten times as clever, twice as strong, ten times as fascinating, twice as hot, many times as long.

1. The lake we have just crossed is ... as the one we crossed yesterday. 2. Now the road seemed ..., which always happens when you are dead tired. 3. The streets in the new district were ... as in the old one. 4. Have you seen the new film? To my mind it is... as the one you took me to last week. 5. Take care! This cup is .., as that one. 6. Tom boasted that he was ... as myself. 7. She was ... as her husband, that's why everybody sought her advice. 8. This house is ... as that one. 9. The canyon before them was ... as the one they had so successfully got over the day before.

B. Half as strong, half as large, half as wide, half as good, half as long; half as long again, half as quick again, half as heavy again.

1. Now he seemed ... as he used to be before his illness. 2. Little by little the road became ... as it was early in the morning. 3. At last the days got... as they were in summer. 4. The river here is ... as it is in our part of the world. 5. The old park was ... as the new one. 6. Due to the lack of proper training she is ... as she has been. 7. My bag was ... as the bag she was carrying on her shoulder. 8. Now the way seemed ... .

Exercise 19. Translate into English.

A. 1. Эта дорога в два раза длиннее той. 2. Она во много раз умнее своего брата. 3. Ночи стали вдвое длиннее, чем летом. 4. Температура воздуха нынче в три раза ниже, чем вчера. 5. В этом месте Волга стала вдвое шире, чем была когда-то. 6. После длительных тренировок он стал вдвое сильнее, чем был/ 7. Ее сочинение было в три раза короче моего. 8. Еще совсем недавно наша речка была в несколько раз уже, чем теперь. 9. Она выглядит во много раз лучше, чем до поездки на юг.

Б. 1. В этом месте речка была вдвое уже, чем около моста. 2. Скоро лес стал вдвое реже. 3. Этот карандаш вдвое короче того. 4. Она почти вдвое ниже меня. 5. Моя квартира вдвое меньше твоей. 6. После болезни она стала вдвое медлительнее. 7. Мой чемодан вдвое легче твоего. 8. Дорога, по которой мы пойдем, будет вдвое короче. 9. Это окно в полтора раза уже того. 10. Их комната в полтора раза меньше столовой. 11. Эта ткань в полтора раза дешевле той. 12. Эта веревка в полтора раза короче.

Exercise 20. Build some sentences of your own making use of the following phrases: two times as dear, three times as old, four times as wide, several times as good, many times as slow, twice as he', ten times as long, twice as quick, ten times as witty, three times as heavy.

Exercise 21. Insert the forms older, elder, oldest, eldest.

1. What is your ... brother? 2. My sister is two years ... than I. 3. Mary is the ... of the three sisters. 4. He is the ... boy in our group. 5. Moscow is one of the ... towns in our country. 6. Her ... sister is five years ... than she. 7. She is the ... of the two of them. 8. He is the ... of the two brothers. 9. This is the ... oak-tree in the whole park. 10. It is ... than any of the trees in the wood. 11. My father is ... than yours. 12. Uncle Billy was the ...-man in the village. 13. Children are supposed to be always polite to their ... . 14. You see, she is my ..., so I'll have to consult her first. 15. Though I am ... than he, still he is my... .

Exercise 22. Translate into English using the words: very, too, quite, much, rather, far, by far, wherever required.

1. Она умная студентка. Она довольно умная. Она очень умная. Она умнее своей подруги. Ее подруга умна, но она еще умнее своей подруги. Она гораздо умнее своей подруги. Она намного умнее своей подруги. Она слишком умная для своих лет. Она самая умная студентка в группе. 2. Это яблоко спелое. Оно довольно спелое. Оно совсем спелое. Оно очень спелое. Это яблоко спелее того. Оно еще спелее того. Оно намного спелее того. Оно самое спелое. Оно слишком спелое. Оно чересчур спелое. Оно самое наиспелейшее. 3. Это скучная книга. это довольно скучная книга. Это совсем скучная книга. Это очень скучная книга. Это более скучная книга, чем та. Это еще более скучная книга, чем та. Это гораздо более скучная книга, чем та. Это намного более скучная книга, чем та. Это слишком скучная книга. Это самая скучная книга. Это наискучнейшая книга. 4. Это трудный текст. Это довольно трудный текст. Это весьма трудный текст. Это очень трудный текст. Это уж совсем трудный текст. Это слишком трудный текст. Это самый трудный текст в книге. Это более трудный текст, чем тот. Это гораздо более трудный текст, чем тот. Это намного более трудный текст, чем тот. Это наитруднейший текст из всех.