Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Better
Worse
Farther
The best
The worst
The farthest (=distant)
Little
Much/many
Further
Less
More
e.g. at the further end of the street, a further discussion, until further notice, nothing further to say
Older/Elder: to refer to age is older (and used predicatively)- My brother is older than me. (but My
elder brother- implies seniority- my eldest son)
Latter/Latest/ Latter/ the Last: Later news says that(recent); His latest novel (the most recent)
Latter (as opposed to Former)- the second of the two
Foremost refers to rank, quality- One cant tell who is foremost in the list of great novelists (The first
shows sequence in a series: Yours was the first).
LESS (quantity)/LESSER (quality): choose the lesser evil. I have less time for trips this year.
I.1. Monosyllabic adjectives make the comparison in ER and EST
I.2. Polysyllabic adjectives make the comparison by adding MORE and THE MOST
I.3. THE + COMPARATIVE when 2 changes happen in the same time
e.g. The older I get the happier I am.
I am getting fatter and fatter.
I.4. The comparative is used for a comparison between 2 elements and the superlative for a
comparison between more than 2
e.g. I have two houses but I like the bigger. / Choose the lesser of two evils.
She is the most beautiful of all our colleagues.
I.5.The comparative expresses contrast: the upper/lower lip
is
most
unhappy/beautiful
(extremely-
absolute
superlative:
exceedingly,
as fat as a barrel
as heavy as lead
as hungry as a wolf
as regular as clockwork
as sour as vinegar
as strong as a bull
Seize
Shape
Age
Colour
Origin
Material
Purpose
Noun
Nice
Long
Tight
Antique
Pattern
Black
Chinese
Nylon
Tennis
Racket
Striped
II.2. Some adjectives are never used before the noun they describe: afraid, alike, alive, alone
asleep, ashamed, awake, aware, ill, upset
e.g. I have been ill for a long time. / I examined the sick person yesterday.
The animal was alive. / It was a living animal.
III.ADJECTIVE MODIFIERS
She is so nice a person. / She is such a nice person. / She is too special a girl.
III.1. Intensifying adjectives (Emphasizers) with a heightening effect: pure fabrication,
a clear failure, an outright lie, a definite loss, a total nonsense, a perfect idiot, the
absolute limit, the very end/person (amplifiers) as opposed to downtoners (a slight
effort, a feeble joke, kind of clever).
economical = thrifty
historic = famous
comical = funny
classic = standard
classical = related to language/
civilisation
V.2. Some nouns denoting materials have corresponding adjectives in EN (proper meaning) and
in Y (figurative meaning)
e.g. a stony heart / a stone chair
a golden watch / a gold rule
VI. ADJECTIVES/NOUNS + PREFIXES
UNUnavoidable
INInaccurate
DISDishonest
MISMistaken
Unborn
Inactive
Disloyal
Mistimed
Uncomfortable
Inadequate
Disobedient
Misunderstood
Unconscious
Inanimate
Uncountable
Inarticulate
Disorder
Misspelt
Uneconomic
Inattentive
Distasteful
Mislead
Unemployed
Incapable
Disapproval
Unfortunate
Inconvenient
Disagreement
Misbehaviour
Unhappy
Incorrect
Disappearance
Misjudgement
Unattractive
Incredible
Discomfort
Mischance
Ungrateful
Indecisive
Displeasure
Misfortune
Unhealthy
Indefinite
Disrespect
Misconduct
Unkind
Indirect
Disbelief
Unknown
Inexcusable
Disconnection
Unlucky
Insane
Disadvantage
Unpleasant
Insecure
Dislike
Misplaced
Unnecessary
Insensitive
Unofficial
Inseparable
Unreliable
Insignificant
Unprofessional
Intolerable
Unreasonable
Invisible
Untidy
Untruthful
Unwell
Unusual
Unsafe
Unpredictable
ILIllegal
IMImpossible
IRIrregular
UP- / DOWNUpsetting
Downhearted
-IBLE
Convertible
-PROOF
Waterproof
-ATE
Adequate
Avoidable
Divisible
Soundproof
Separate
Capable
Edible
Bulletproof
Affectionate
Desirable
Flexible
Memorable
Horrible
Probable
Intelligible
Respectable
Possible
Taxable
Responsible
Valuable
Terrible
Washable
- Derivation with suffixes (Also see Adjectives with almost similar forms)
ic/-ical with a difference in meaning: a classic performance (great, memorable)/ classical
languages/music; a comic masterpiece (comedy)/a comical behaviour (funny, less usual); an
economic miracle (economy)/an economical car (money-saving); a historic building (with a history)/
a historical research (pertaining to history); an electric light (by electricity)/ an electrical fault (of
electricity); a politic behaviour (tactic)/ political parties (concerned with politics)
VIII. OTHER ADJECTIVES
IX.10. Adverbs such as back/forward, up/down, in/out, round, over, placed in front take an
inverted form: Back came John (but with a pronoun: Back he came/In she came), Down fell
the apples (Down they fell).
X. OTHERS
X.1. Boosters denoting a high degree (a great deal) and downtoners
X.2. Approximators: almost, practically, nearly, all but, virtually
X.3. Compromisers: kind/sort of, enough, rather, sufficiently
X.4. Diminishers: partly, slightly, somewhat, to some extent, least of all, a bit, merely, simply
X.5. Minimizers: hardly, at all, in the least, in the slightest, a bit
X.6. The adverbs fairly/barely convey a favourable meaning, rather a negative one while
pretty is neutral: Its fairly warm in here (warm enough, approval)/ Its rather warm in here
(too warm, disapproval)/Its pretty hot in here (stating a fact, neutrality)
X.7. Intensity of feeling: I very much hope this to be true! (I firmly believe)/ Half as much
as
XI. OTHER ADJECTIVES AND ADVERBS:
SUCH is an adjective, SO is an adverb: It was such a hot day /The day was so hot.
Helter-shelter: in disordered haste
Hurly-burly: commotion
Pell-mell, razzle-dazzle: spree, joy
Hee-how: asss bray
Shelve, ed: put aside, save
All the latest gossip
Trustworthy
Blameworthy
boundless, rampant, effective, ghostly, inaudible, massy, obvious, quarrelsome, spacious, usual,
temperate, regretful, penniless, legal, heroic, negligible, fabulous, dogmatic, cumbersome,
affluent
Find an adjective from the list above to fit each of the following meanings:
1. having plenty of money to spend
2. without limits
3. difficult to carry
4. bold or disobedient; refusing to recognize authority
5. emphatic in expressing opinions; to do with dogmas
6. having an effect; to bring about the result intended
7. incredible or absurd; celebrated in fables
8. like a ghost; very bad causing fear
9. like or fit for a hero
10. that cannot be heard
11. authorized by law
12. solid, heavy
13. of little or no importance or size
14. easily seen or understood
15. without any money
16. quick tempered; fond of quarrels
17. sad, sorry
18. roomy, having plenty of space
19. showing temperance; behaving with temperance
20. such as commonly happens; customary
EXERCISE P.073-1 / THE ADJECTIVE
Complete the sentences with adjectives ending in -able, ible, -uble derived from the verbs given
in brackets:
1. His moods are ...... . (change).
2. He is in the ...... position of being completely independent. (envy)
3. Childrens minds are very ..... . (impress)
4. Britain has many miles of ...... waterways. (navigate)
5. They complained of the ...... smell from the factory. (object)
6. Many currencies are now freely ...... . (convert)
7. Airmen are supplied with ...... rubber dinghies to be used if they bail out over the sea. (inflate)
8. We spent a very ...... evening talking about old times. (enjoy)
9. In some countries many people live in a ...... state. (pity)
10. Only a limited number of types of fungi are ...... . (eat)
EXERCISE P.073-2 / THE ADJECTIVE
By adding -ful, -ous, -ed, -ent, or -ant derive adjectives from the nouns in brackets:
1. She waited without complaining; she was very...... . (patience)
2. That visit wasnt ...... . (pleasure)
3. Mary is always ...... that she is right. (confidence)
4. His behaviour was always...... . (courtesy)
5. Tommy was particularly ...... . (mischief)
6. I like the privacy of a ...... garden. (fence)
7. It was a ...... occasion. (moment)
8. The ...... glass windows were very attractive. (colour)
EXERCISE P.074-1 / THE ADJECTIVE
8. The mans fellow workers felt he had been taking an unwarranted liberty in putting himself
forward as their spokesman.
9. When questioned by the master, the boy, with an open and innocent expression on his face,
pretended to know nothing.
10. At certain ages, many children are very difficult to please or very particular about the food they eat
and clothes they wear.
EXERCISE P.075-2 / THE ADJECTIVE
Complete the following sentences with the appropriate adjective made by adding -ful to the noun
or verb, as shown in the example:
Thank you for your help / You are very helpful
1. I had little success when I started studying English. I was not ......
2. The child told the truth when he said that. He was...... .
3. I doubt if youll get your parents approval. I am very ...... .
4. I use my pen every day. It is a very ...... object.
5. Youre always forgetting your duties. You are a very ...... person.
6. I hope to get a raise this month. I am very ..... .
7. He always cheers me up. Hes such a ..... person.
8. You look as though you need a rest. I suggest a ...... vacation.
9. Did you have a lot of pain? Yes, it was a ...... injury.
EXERCISE P.075-2 / THE ADJECTIVE
Complete the following sentences with the appropriate adjective made by adding -ful to the noun
or verb, as shown in the example:
Thank you for your help / You are very helpful
1. I had little success when I started studying English. I was not ......
2. The child told the truth when he said that. He was...... .
3. I doubt if youll get your parents approval. I am very ...... .
4. I use my pen every day. It is a very ...... object.
5. Youre always forgetting your duties. You are a very ...... person.
6. I hope to get a raise this month. I am very ..... .
7. He always cheers me up. Hes such a ..... person.
8. You look as though you need a rest. I suggest a ...... vacation.
9. Did you have a lot of pain? Yes, it was a ...... injury.
EXERCISE P.076-1 / THE ADJECTIVE
Reshape the following sentences, using adjectives derived from nouns by adding the suffix -less,
according to the model:
Peter has no tact at all /
Peter is absolutely tactless
1. The soup has no taste.
2. My neighbours have no children.
3. The poor man has no home.
4. It has no odour.
5. Jack has no friends.
6. They have no father.
7. It has no limits.
8. He has no job.
9. The performance had no flaws.
10. His words had no meaning.
11. Marys new dress has no sleeves.
12. The operation was without pain.
unruly,
underdone,
1. The meat is ......; I cannot eat it as it is. You should cook it longer.
2. If you get the highest mark, youll have had an ...... success.
3. A crowd may be described as ...... when it pays no attention to law and order.
4. There are places in Matto grosso that are still ...... .
5. If something is too rude or indecent to be printed it is....
6. You shouldnt have taken it for granted, you have been ...... .
7. He is that ...... , he never takes anything for granted.
8. A person who cheats, lies or misleads is a ...... person.
EXERCISE P.078 / THE ADJECTIVE
Complete the sentences with negative adjectives derived from the verbs in brackets by using the
suffixes -able, -ible or -uble and the negative prefixes in- or un1. He will not change his mind. His decision is ...... (revoke)
2. I have never met such a man. His energy seems ...... . (exhaust)
3. Mozarts style has been found to be ...... . (imitate)
4. Many fabrics are specially treated so as to be ...... . (shrink)
5. Men die, but their words are ...... . (destroy)
6. The constructors had to blast away tons of ...... rocks. (penetrate)
7. Day changes to night by almost ..... stages. (perceive)
8. Most people would agree that the greatest poets are ...... . (translate)
9. He returned to his university after twenty years absence to find that ...... changes had taken place.
(number)
10. The English now regard free education as an ...... right. (alienate)
EXERCISE P.079-1 / THE ADJECTIVE
THE
ADJECTIVE
12. ...... acts were presented in a Romanian film. (Michael, courageous, brave, the, Braves, and)
13. Id like to have ...... teacher as you. ( good, so, intelligent, and, a)
14. ...... laugh was heard. (musical, a, malicious, but)
15. This museum has ...... paintings. (Spanish, old, very, valuable, many)
16. I bought a pair of ... shoes (leather expensive Italian handmade)
17. Im looking for...clock radio (white, a, Taiwanese, cheap, for my bedside table)
18.The car he drives is ...sports car (well-maintained, second-hand,a, with a low mileage)
19. I have in my dining room ... dining-table ( well polished, beautiful, the, antique, mahogany,
English) I bought from John.
20. I lost ...trainers ( canvas, American, a pair of, grey and red, which I used for jogging)
21. We live in a ... cottage (stone-built, small, old, country)
22. Im going to buy a ...dress (cotton, summer, pink and white, for my holiday)
7. Ive read the two poems and copied the ...... . (later, latter)
8. They needed no ...... advice on our part. (farther, further)
9. If you are late the ...... time, you shall have a whipping. (nearest, next)
10. At present my friend Bob has ...... money than I have. (less, fewer)
11. She offered me grapefruit and apples; I chose the ...... . (last, later, latter)
12. Which house is ...... of all? (further, farther, farthest)
13. ...... she admitted she must pay back the money. (farther, further)
14. This is an ...... copy of the book. (older, elder, oldest)
15. Who is the ...... author among those who have got the literary prizes this year. (farmost, first)
TRANSLATION P.122 / THE ADJECTIVE
Translate the following sentences into English using intensifiers:
1. Asteptnd att de mult, el deveni din ce n ce mai nerbdtor.
2. Studentii au ascultat cursul profesorului invitat cu un interes din ce n ce mai mare.
3. La auzul vestilor rele, deveni din ce n ce mai palid.
4. Acesta este cel mai bun mijloc posibil de a-l face s-si revizuiasc atitudinea.
5. E de prere c aceasta e absolut cea mai bun teorie care ilustreaz fenomenul studiat.
6. Noua ta plrie e cu mult mai frumoas dect cea veche.
7. Cu trecerea anilor James Smith deveni din ce n ce mai interesat n gramatica comparat.
8. ti aduc cele mai bune vesti pe care ti le poti imagina.
9. Cu ct copiii sunt mai asculttori, cu att printii sunt mai multumiti.
10. El este cu mult mai agreabil dect mi l-ai descris.
11. Cartea despre Triunghiul Bermudelor este cea mai interesant carte de acest fel pe care am citit-o
vreodat.
12. Cu ct este mai greu de rezolvat un exercitiu, cu att suntem mai satisfcuti cnd l rezolvm.
13. Cartea sa recent publicat se bucur de un succes din ce n ce mai mare.
14. Cu ct nvtm mai mult, cu att stim mai mult despre nestiinta noastr.
15. N-am stat pn cnd s-a terminat filmul pentru c a devenit din ce n ce mai putin interesant.
REVISION P.123 / THE ADJECTIVE
Choose the word or phrase which best completes each sentence:
Explain the meaning.
1. He was a natural singer with a voice as clear as ...(a waterfall, a mirror, a bell).
2. After a good nights sleep he woke up feeling as fresh as ...(fruit, a daisy, a maiden).
3. He might look kind and sympathetic, but deep down hes as hard as ...(nails, a mountain, an
iceberg, a gangster).
4. What on earth have you got in that suitcase? Its as heavy as ...(an elephant, lead, a corpse).
5. Pauline cant be out of town. I saw her last night at Simons party, as ...as life. (true, real, large,
good).
6. Im not drunk. Im as sober as ...(a priest, Sunday, a judge, a Muslim).
7. As students David and Kevin were as thick as ...(thieves, boy scouts, a team).
8. Buying shares in this company is as safe as ...(a bank, houses, gold bars, a vault). Theres no way
you can lose.
9. The dress fits like...since I lost weight.( a mould, a glove, glue, a pillowcase).
10. James never remembers anything. Hes got a memory like a ...(a mouse, a sieve, a bucket).
11. If your father finds out that youve been skipping school, hell be down on you like a ... of bricks.
(load, pile, ton).
12. From the moment they first met, they got on like...(two peas in a pod, fish and chips, a house on
fire, clockwork)
13. Ill never eat and drink as much. I was as sick as a ...(dog, horse, pig poodle).
14. Shout, please. He is as deaf as... (a leaf, a post, a politician)
15.I cant believe youre laughing. That joke is as old as ..(Solomon, the hills, a dinosaur, Jupiter).
16. The children have been as good as ..(religion, gold, God, brass) all afternoon.
17. Kathy was as pleased as ...(punch, a poppy, a sunflower, pound notes) when she heard she had
passed the exam.
18. I hope the computer course starts this semester. We are all as keen as ...(coffee, mustard, a gigolo,
cornflakes
REVISION P.124 / THE ADJECTIVE
Fill in the missing adjectives:
bated, broad, confirmed, dark, fair, flat, foregone, golden, hot, naked, pet, practical, rough,
sharp, sore, square, tall, unwritten, weak, wishful.
1. She had a very ...tongue and could be really sarcastic when she was angry.
2. The result of the vote was a/an...conclusion. Everyone knew who was going to win.
3. There is an ...law among thieves : You never should steal from a fellow-thief.
4. Although a very nice person she had problems in communicating. One can say that this was her
...point.
5. Do you have binoculars? I cant seem to see the writing on the top of that building with the...eye.
6. Watch out for him in that competition. You might not know it but hes a bit of...horse.
7. We decided to play a ...joke on our teacher. After all it was the 1st of April.
8. Dont ask Karen about her promotion. Its a ...point with her since her boss has been putting it off.
9. I though it had been more than a ...deal, but my husband insisted wed been cheated.
10. Hell never get married. Hes a ...bachelor.
11. Dont believe a word he says. Its another one of his...stories.
12. Does the company have a ...line?
13. I dont really want to go to the sea. I was just ...thinking.
14. The competitors waited with...breath for the results.
15. The murder was committed in ...daylight.
16. There were many people present; at a ...guess Id say about 300.
17. One of his...hates was people leaning against him in the bus.
18. We didnt get far on our trip because we got a ...tyre.
19. This scholarship was a ...opportunity for her. it pushed her forward in her career.
20. It was the first...meal the tramp had had in days.
REVISION P.125-1 / THE ADJECTIVE
Select the colour: yellow, pink, white, blue, green, grey,
1. You can argue with her until youre ...in the face, but you wont be able to change her mind.
2. After several days of discussion they finally were given the...light to go on with the project.
3. Although we got a lot of nice presents, we also got some ...elephants.
4. There is a common prejudice that girls who are very beautiful are lacking...matter.
5. He was really ...to leave her there without defending her.
6. I was ...with envy when I saw his new Jaguar.
7. Sometimes it is better to tell a ...lie than to hurt someones feelings.
8. She was tickled ...when he complemented her on her dress.
REVISION P.125-2 / THE ADJECTIVE
Confusing words:
1. His behaviour at the party was (contemptuous/contemptible)
2. This must be the (definite/definitive) reference work on Roman history.
3. We may have won all our matches this season, but we mustnt allow ourselves to become
(complaisant/complacent).
4. Ive always wanted to drive a big (luxurious/luxuriant) car.
5. The situation in China at the moment is tense and (volatile/voluble).
25. She gave a ...... description of the events than I expected. (lively)
REVISION P.127 / THE ADJECTIVE
Translate into English:
1. Sunt ngrijorat; nici dup injectii nu se simte mai bine.
2. La concert a vrut s stea n rndul cel mai din urm.
3. Camera era plcut si cald.
4. Ceea ce a spus el e nul si neavenit.
5. Acesta este cel mai ndeprtat colt din Alaska.
6. Este un om lipsit de prejudecti.
7. Cel mai ascuns gnd al su este s fac cercetri arheologice care s aduc noi mrturii despre
civilizatiile antice.
8. Era generozitatea ntruchipat.
9. Era o var cald si plcut; n parcul cel mare si verde biatul doctoritei si fetitele ei se jucau cu o
minge mare, rosie si alb.
10. Dup cearta penibil dintre ei, erau att de suprati nct n-au mai schimbat absolut nici un
cunvnt de atunci.
11. mi pare ru dar aceast lucrare nu e ctusi de putin mai bun ca precedenta.
12. Am luat ultimul dintre medicamentele prescrise si m ntreb ce efect vor avea asupra mea.
13.Primul poem nu este att de frumos ca al doilea si nici att de lung.
14. Din pcate sora ei nu este o persoan chiar att de plcut cum ar prea la prima vedere.
15. n camara plin de fum biatul cu fata alb mi-a explicat ce greseli am fcut la exercitiile de
traducere.
16. Richard era foarte multumit s-si fac dusmanul s se simt ct se poate de prost.
17. Ai gsit usor magazinul de pantofi de la colt.
18. Un mare comic trebuie s conduc usor spectatorii din imperiul mretiei si sublimului n cel al
hazliului si ridicolului.
19. Sunt convins c si un srac poate avea o viat bogat.
20. Situatia era mai ciudat dect mi-am putut nchipui vreodat.
21. n mprejurrile noi, mai amare dect cele precedente, el se simti mai nobil si mai fericit dect
pna atunci.
22. Att cei drepti ct si cei nedrepti au observat mai totdeauna diferentele mari ntre sraci si bogati.
23. Nu am ntlnit o autoare mai bine cunoscut ale crei opere s fie mai rspndite.
24. Cartea de chimie pe care am cumprat-o ieri e groas ca o enciclopedie.
25. Multi orbi sunt la fel de utili societtii ca cei care sunt complet sntosi.
26. Unii danezi consider c Danemarca ar trebui s fie provincie nemteasc.
27. El a stat doi ani ntr-o tar arab si acum vorbeste foarte bine araba.
28. Spaniola pe care o vorbesc las mult de dorit.
29. Poloneza este nrudit cu ceha, bulgara si rusa.
30. Irlandezii beau multa bere.
B. ON ADVERBS (Mihai Zdrenghea, Anca Greere, A Practical English Grammar (with exercises),
Cluj, Clusium, 1997)
TRANSLATION P.445 / THE ADVERB
1. Educatia lui a fost neglijat n mod trist.
2. Sugestia lui a fost primit cu cldur.
3. Munca lui este bine apreciat de colegi.
4. n timpul rzboiului orasul a fost sever bombardat.
5. Aceast regul trebuie nteleas bine dac vrem s folosim timpurile corect.
6. Mncarea a fost servit frumos.
7. Toate documentele au fost temeinic ntocmite.
8. ntreaga situatie a fost corect analizat.
9. Dup izbucnirea incendiului toate persoanele au fost evacuate rapid din cldire.
10. Dup ce s-a terminat lucrul toate obiectele au fost puse cu grij napoi la locul lor.
EXERCISE P.447 / THE ADVERB
Fill in the missing points of time
1. ........... today..............
2. ...................this morning.........................
3. ..................tonight...........................
4. ..................this January...................
5....................at noon......................
TRANSLATION P.447 / THE ADVERB
1. Sptmna viitoare d-l Smith se duce cu trenul la Londra.
2. Copiii s-au jucat toat dup amiaza fericiti n grdin.
3. S-au ntors la hotel cu prietenii lor la ora zece.
4. Le-am spus cu regret la revedere sptmna trecut la aeroport.
5. Acest scriitor trieste linistit la Londra din 1967.
6. Uit-te la Tommy! St de zece minute linistit pe scaun.
7. Toat ziua a muncit din greu prin cas.
8. Ieri s-au dus la o plimbare lung pe malul rului.
9. De cnd a devenit student studiaz mult la bibliotec.
10. Ieri dup amiaz, nepotii mei au nvlit glgiosi n cas.
TRANSLATION P.449 / THE ADVERB
1. Ei nc locuiesc la Paris.
2. Sunt toti studentii aici? Nu Thomas n-a venit nc.
3. Ai terminat de citit cartea pe care ti-am mprumutat-o? Nu, o mai citesc nc.
4. Ei nc tot nu nteleg de ce trebuie s fac asta.
5. Nu vine si Bob cu noi?. Nu, el nc mai lucreaz la proiect.
6. Cnd eu am plecat el nc discuta aprins cu prietenul lui.
7. Ai terminat lucrarea? Nu, nc n-am terminat-o si cred c mai trebuie s scriu cel putin dou-trei
ore.
8. Mary nc nu vorbeste englezeste asa bine ca Tom.
9. Unde e sotul tu? nc mai lucreaz n grdin desi i-am spus c ai venit.
10. Ei nc n-au terminat de reparat masina desi lucreaz de dimineat.
11. Mai plou?
12. Mai avem nc zece minute pna la plecarea trenului.
13. Si-au cumprat un nou apartament? Nu, nc locuiesc n ceva vechi.
14. nc tot nu stiu despre cine vorbeste.
15. Nu s-au ntors nc copiii din oras?
EXERCISE P.450 / THE ADVERB
Fit since, for and ago into the sentences:
1. When have you been interested in jazz?
2. I saw your mother a week.
3. I started work here seven months.