Page 185 - Advanced English Grammar in Use

C o m p a r i s o n w i t hwith a d j e c t i v e s ( l ) :(1): - e r / m o r e . . . ;-er/more...;
Comparison
adjectives
e n o u g h , s u f f i c i e n t l y , t o o ; e t c .
etc.
too;
sufficiently,
enough,
-er/more...;-est/most...
-er/more...;
-est/most...
We usually add the ending -er to one-syllable adjectives to make their comparative forms and
comparative
make
to
adjectives
-er
forms
one-syllable
ending
We
usually
to
the
add
their
and
-est to make theirtheir superlative forms. ForFor adjectives with three or more syllables we usually add
we
adjectives
three
-est
to
usually
superlative
syllables
forms.
add
make
or
with
more
most/least.
and
more/less and most/least.
more/less
are most commonly
only
adjectives with two
are
syllables
or
used with
more/less
and
used
Some
Some adjectives with two syllables are only used or are most commonly used with more/less and
most/least, particularly participle adjectives (e.g. pleased, worried, boring) (see 85);
adjectives
85);
boring)
worried,
(e.g.
(see UnitUnit
participle
pleased,
most/least,
particularly
adjectives ending in -ful and -less (e.g. careful, careless); afraid, alike, alert, ashamed, alone,
ashamed,
and
adjectives
careless);
-less
in
ending
alone,
alert,
afraid,
careful,
-f#/
(e.g.
alike,
confident,
formal,
eager, exact,
certain, complex,
frequent, modern,
aware; and also cautious, certain, complex, confident, eager, exact, formal, frequent, modern,
aware; and also cautious,
Most
adjectives
can
with two
syllables
form.
take
other
either
recent. Most other adjectives with two syllables can take either form.
recent.
9SomeQSome adjectives have a comparative or superlative meaning so they are rarely used withwith
they
superlative
are
have
used
so
meaning
adjectives
a
rarely
or
comparative
or
ideal,
favourite,
unique.
equal,
most/least.
complete,
-or/-est
more/less/
These
® -er/-est or more/less/ most/least. These include complete, equal, favourite, ideal, unique.
include
An exception: 'All animals are equal butbut some animals are more equal than others.'
animals
are
than
exception:
equal
are
An
others.'
more
animals
'All
some
equal
(George Orwell: Animal Farm)
Animal
Farm)
Orwell:
(George
D Enough, sufficiently, too
too
Enough,
sufficiently,
We use enough before nouns (e.g. 'Is there bread?') andand afterafter adjectives (and adverbs):
adjectives
adverbs):
(and
(e.g.
before
there enoughenough
enough
'Is
We
bread?')
nouns
use
The house was
(not ...enough comfortable...)
comfortable enough but not luxurious,
• * The house was comfortable enough but not luxurious. (not ...enough comfortable...)
• ¢ We are not inin a a strong enough financial position to cut taxes, (not ...an enough strong...)
position
enough
financial
We
strong
strong...)
enough
(not
not
to
taxes.
are
...an
cut
adjective
noun:
the
these
in
+
enough
Compare
of
Compare the positionposition of enough in these sentences adjective + noun:
sentences withwith
• ¢ I haven't got big enough nails for the job. (= the nails that I've got aren't big enough) andand
for
that
I've
big
enough)
the
[haven't
job.
(=
got
nails
nails
got
enough
big
the
aren't
• ¢ I haven't got enough big nails for the job. (= I've got some big nails, but not enough)
nails,
for
big
enough)
(=
big
some
job.
enough
haven't
I
got
the
but
nails
got
I've
not
We use sufficiently before adjectives with aa meaning similarsimilar to enough. Sufficiently is oftenoften
adjectives
to
Sufficiently
We
sufficiently
use
enough.
with
is
meaning
before
preferred in more formal contexts:
in
preferred
more
formal
contexts:
© • ° The policies of the parties were not sufficiently different,different. (or ...not different enough.)
the
The
parties
of
different
...not
(or
not
were
policies
®
enough.)
sufficiently
• ¢ • ¢ Things would be easier if we only had a sufficiently simple system, (or(or ...a...a simple enough
simple
enough
Things
simple
system.
we
if
only
sufficiently
a
had
would
be
easier
system.)
system.)
sentences with
adjective + enough and too +
adjective:
Study these
Study these sentences with adjective + enough and too + adjective:
be
support the roof.
The beams have to
strong enough to
• ¢ The beams have to be strong enough to support the roof.
She was too ashamed to admit her mistake.
• ¢ She was too ashamed to admit her mistake.
The garage was just about big enough for two cars to fit in.
• ¢ The garage was just about big enough for two cars to fit in.
• * The suitcase was too small (for him)him) to get all his clothes in.
suitcase
(for
was
too
small
all
in.
clothes
his
to
The
get
<j)We talk about an action in the to-infinitive clause. If we need to mention the things or people
things
an
about
or
@We
talk
the
need
people
we
in
action
mention
If
to
clause.
the
to-infinitive
'involved, we do this with for... . . say 'I hope your day hasn't been too tiring.')
for...
involved,
do
this
®
with
we
a/an + noun:
English we can use too +
adjective +
The sooner the better (2)= (is). shorter the marriage! like:
In rather formal
In rather formal English we can use too + adjective + a/an + noun:
(not ...a too tiring day.)
I hope you haven't had too tiring a day.
• ¢ T hope you haven't had too tiring a day. (not ...a too tiring day.)
a
formal
less
style we might
(In
(In a less formal style we might say 'I hope your day hasn't been too tiring.')
The sooner the better
one thing changes, another thing also changes, we can
say that as
sentences
use
To say that as one thing changes, another thing also changes, we can use sentences like:
To
The better the joke (is), the louder the laugh
• ¢ The better the joke (is), the louder the laugh (is).
Sue stays in Canada, the less likely she will ever go back to England.
The longer
• ¢ The longer Sue stays in Canada, the less likely she will ever go back to England.
It almost seems that the more expensive the wedding, the
• ¢ It almost seems that the more expensive the wedding, the shorter the marriage!
adecives
with
Comparison with adjectives (2) =Comparson [TIGER