Lecture no 4

B. COMPARISON OF MULTISYLLABLE ADJECTIVES Multisyllable adjectives form their comparative of superiority by putting more (the comparative of superiority form of the irregular adjective much) in front of their positive form, followed by the preposition than: intelligent more intelligent (than) The other forms of the comparative degree, i e of e!uality and inferiority, are built in a similar way to that of one"syllable adjectives: as as (for e!uality in the affirmative), less than /not as (so) as (for inferiority in the affirmative and, respectively, in the negative): less interesting than; not as (so) interesting as The superlative forms are built as follows: a most (the superlative form of the irregular adjective much) which is preceded by the definite article the when the superlative form is used attributively placed before the positive form of the respective adjective: This book is (the) most interesting (of all). This is the most interesting book Ive ever read. The negative superlative uses the articulated superlative form of the irregular adjective little, i e least: the least interesting The absolute superlative of multisyllable adjectives is built by means of the adverb very in front of the adjective: very interesting #bs Li$e in the case of %er and %est adjectives, the absolute superlative of multisyllable adjectives can be formed with the prefi&es ultra ! su"er and %over, as well as with a number of intensifying adverbs such as a#fully! grossly! highly! greatly! dee"ly! e$traordinary! e$tremely! terribly! tremendously placed in front of a positive degree adjective: grossly mistaken; greatly encouraged; a#fully clever; e$tremely efficient.

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Lecture no 4

Exercises: 1. My house is (big) bigger than yours ' ) + 4 / 1 2 3 4 This flower is (beautiful) ( than that one This is the (interesting) ( boo$ * have ever read ,on"smo$ers usually live (long)(than smo$ers -hich is the (dangerous) (animal in the world. 0 holiday by the sea is (good) (than a holiday in the mountains *t is strange but often a co$e is (e&pensive)( than a beer -ho is the (rich)( woman on earth. The weather this summer is even (bad)( than last summer 5e was the (clever)( thief of all

2 Paying attention to which adjectives form the comparative with the adverb more and which form the comparative with the ending er, rewrite the following sentences as comparisons, in the manner indicated by the examples. Use the words given in brac ets as the second parts of the comparisons. !or example: "ollies have long hair. #dalmations do$ "ollies have longer hair than dalmatians do 5e is an e&perienced architect (we thought) 5e is a more e&perienced architect than we thought ' Terry is a good coo$ (* am) ) That is a comple& !uestion (you reali6e) + My puppy has big feet (yours does) 4 *t was a difficult decision (you might thin$) / That is a sandy part of the beach (this is) 1 5e runs a successful business (his father did) 2 7liff has a bad temper (his brother does) 3 This rose bush has small flowers (that one does) 4 They own e&pensive bicycles (we do) '8 9obin proved to be a courageous leader (anyone had e&pected) '' The school has a large auditorium (the city library does) ') That car has an efficient engine (this one does) %. Each of the following sentences contains a comparison which is logically incorrect. &ewrite the sentences, adding whatever no'ns or phrases are necessary in order to ma e the comparisons logically correct. !or example: The price of honey was higher than sugar The price of honey was higher than the price of sugar The average rainfall for :eptember is the same as ;ebruary The average rainfall for :eptember is the same as the average rainfall for ;ebruary ' The vegetation of <urope differs from ,orth 0merica ) The ta&es in :ingapore are lower than 7anada

Lecture no 4

+ The invention of the clarinet occurred more recently than the flute 4 The speed limit in residential areas is lower than uninhabited areas / The grammar of <nglish is simpler than 0rabic 1 The climate of 7alifornia is somewhat similar to =reece 2 The boiling point of oil is higher than water 3 The geometry of a pentagon is more comple& than a s!uare 4 The density of water is greater than ice '8 The location of the library is more convenient than the post office (. )ive the following degrees of comparison as specified between brac ets: ' big (comparativ) ) small (superlativ) + tall (superlativ) 4 blue (comparativ) / happy (comparativ) 1 pretty (superlativ) 2 good (comparativ) 3 good (superlativ) 4 little (superlativ) '8 little (comparativ) '' much (superlativ) ') many (comparativ) '+ few (comparativ) '4 fat (comparativ) '/ old (superlativ)

C. Comparison of Compoun A !"#$i%"s 7ompound adjectives usually form their degrees of comparison li$e multisyllable adjectives, i e by putting more and (the) most in front of them for their comparative of superiority and superlative degrees and by using the same means of comparison belonging to all adjectives in the other degrees of comparison: nerve racking; more nerve racking; most nerve racking 5owever, a number of compound adjectives have as their first part one"syllable adjectives or adverbs which are conse!uently compared, the second part of the compound staying unchanged: good looking; better looking; (the) best looking

Lecture no 4

#ther such compound adjectives are: high "aid! long lasting! lo# "aid! lo# ranking! short lived! #ell behaved! #ell dressed! #ell kno#n! #ell off. Exercise: &"''()no&n #comparative of s'periority, e*'ality$, *a ($"mp"r" #comparative of inferiority$, o' ('oo)in+ *ui' in+ #s'perlative relative$. D. Irr"+u'ar Comparison 0 small group of highly fre!uent adjectives have comparative of superiority and superlative degree forms with stems which are different from their base good bad much (also many) little (also adverb) far old (regular and irregular) better #orse more less further farther older elder % noun best #orst most least furthest farthest oldest eldest

#bs ' The two pairs farther/farthest and further/furthest (which are both adjectives and adverbs) are used by many people alternatively to e&press both physical and abstract relations The basic distinction, however, is that farther and farthest are mostly used to e&press physical distance, and, in all senses further and furthest are the usual forms found: They #ent farther/further &ast until they reached the river. The s"eaker sto""ed talking for a fe# moments then he #ent further. ,ote': The most common use of further is as an adjective with the meaning of more! additional! later: Theres no further reason for us to listen to her. 're there any further (uestions) The #eather re"ort says that its going to rain for a further t#o #eeks.

Lecture no 4

,ote): The forms elder and eldest are only used attributively to e&press seniority among the members of a family especially in >r < , whilst in 0m < both elder/older and eldest/oldest are used alternatively for the same purpose: *y elder/older brother is three years older than me. ,ote+: The comparative form elder is also used as an adjective or noun to e&press old age, seniority, as well as sagacity in such combinations as: +illiam ,it the &lder; *ircea the &lder; an elder statesman (i e an influential, often retired high official whose advice is sought by government officials)? the elders of the to#n O$,"r E-pr"ssions of Comparison There are some Latin comparatives in <nglish such as senior (to)! -unior (to)! su"erior (to)! inferior (to)! ma-or! minor! anterior and "osterior which retain their comparative force, without being true comparatives, since they cannot be used in comparative constructions with than as e&plicit basis for comparison *nstead, @uir$ et al ('44), 411) propose the term im"licit or absolute com"aratives: .e fired /ane because he felt inferior to her. /ohn is senior/-unior to ,eter. a ma-or event; a minor mistake; the anterior/"osterior "art of the brain #ther such implicit or absolute comparatives are represented by the comparative degree of superiority forms of some adjectives used attributively, such as later (more recent), older (rather old), better (ratherAfairly good): later ne#s; an older gentleman; the better hotels/restaurants etc