Types of Comparison and Similarities

1. Study the rule

1. as … as – not as/so/such/ …as 5. the same … + as + (pro)noun +

clause
He's as stubborn as a horse. She has the same blouse as the one I
It's not such hard work as I thought. was wearing last night.

2. the + comparative … the + comparative 6. less + positive degree +

The older he gets, the more forgetful he becomes.
than
Pam is less helpful than John.

3. comparative + and + comparative 7.the least + positive degree + of/in

The lecture was becoming more and more boring. She was the least interested of all.

4. such + …as + noun/pronoun/clause 8. (very) much, far, a little, a bit, a

I've never seen such a nice baby as theirs.
lot/lots, any + comparative degree
+ (than) …
He's much/far older than her.
I feel a little/a bit better.
The train's no quicker than a bus.

1. Here are the beginnings and ends of some traditional expressions with as … as. See how
many you can put together correctly.
AS AS
Black cold flat good green hard old pretty quiet red thin A
warm white beetroot gold grass
the grave the
hills ice iron night

a pancake a
picture a rake a
sheet toast

2. Match the beginnings and ends of some more expressions. Make up your own
comparisons.
1. as slow a) as hen's teeth
2. as dirty b) as a broken down snail
3. as black c) as a brick wall
4. as happy d) as two skeletons dancing on a tin
5. as poor roof
6. as ugly e) as a wet shoe
7. as crooked f) as watching the paint dry
8. as nervous g) as a dog with two tails
9. as cold h) as two o'clock in the morning
10. as welcome i) as an ex-wife's heart
11. as noisy j) as the inside of a wolf
12. as dark k) as a church mouse
13. as scarce l) as a dog's hind leg
14. as exciting m) as a dustbin lid
n) as home-made soap

3. Complete the sentences using the expressions from the box. Make up your own
sentences.
older/
more more/more older/darker more/angrier warmer/more longer/more more/
less warmer/better more/more/less

1. __________ I live here, __________ I like it.

2. __________ I get, __________ my hair gets.
3. __________ money he lost, __________ it made him.
4. __________ I learn, __________ forget and __________ I know.
5. __________ I get to know you, __________ I understand you.
6. __________ clothes she buys, __________ clothes she wants to buy.
7. __________ it got, __________ time we spent on the beach.
8. __________ the weather, __________ I feel.

4. Make up sentences using the following words. Make up your own sentences.

1. He drives fast, he gets nervous.

2. He eats ice-cream, he gets fat.
3. He reads, he forgets.
4. She buys jewelry, she wants jewelry.
5. We spend money, we have friends.
6. I sleep, I'm tired.
7. He has money, he buys useless things.
8. It is dangerous, I like it.

5. Make sentences from those words.

1. My daughter's maths homework is getting/ difficult to understand.

2. I heard Jeremy practising the piano yesterday - /good.
3. It seems as if the police officers/ young.
4. My temper/ bad.
5. Hard/ to find time for everything you want to do.
6. Professional tennis/ boring.
7. Restaurants/expensive.
8. Her holidays/ long.

6. Compare some of the things in the box. Use much/very much/far/ a little/ a bit /a lot/ no/
any

The Taj Mahal the Great Pyramid the White House

A Ferrari a Ford a Volvo
The Amazon the Thames the Rhone
Living in the country living in the city living at the
seaside
A dog a cat a parrot

1. This is a nice cat. It's much ................... than my friend's cat.

2. Here is Emily. She's six years old. Her brother is nine, so he is .........................
3. This is a difficult exercise. But the exercise with an asterisk (*) is the .................exercise
on the worksheet.
4. He has an interesting hobby, but my sister has the ...................one in the world.
5. In the last holidays I read a good book, but father gave me an even .......................one last
weekend.
6. School is boring, but homework is ...................than school.
7. Skateboarding is a dangerous hobby. Bungee jumping is .....................than skateboarding.
8. This magazine is cheap, but that one is .............................
9. We live in a small house, but my grandparents' house is even .......................than ours.
10. Yesterday John told me a funny joke. This joke was the .........................joke I've ever
heard.

3. Complete the conversation using a word ending in –ing or –ed.

1. I'm (surprise) how warm it is for March. – Yes, all this sunshine is quite (surprise).
2. I'm not fit. I was pretty (tire) after climbing the mountains. – Yes. I think everyone felt (tire).
3. I think I need to relax. – Well, lying by the pool can be (relax).
4. It was (annoy) to lose the ticket. – You looked (annoy) when you had to buy another one.
5. The cabaret was (amuse). – Claire was certainly (amuse). She couldn't stop laughing.
6. The museum was quite (interest), wasn't it? – It was OK. I was quite (interest) in those old
maps.
7. I'm (fascinate) by these old photos. – I always find it (fascinate) to see what people looked
like as children.
8. Was it a big thrill meeting Tom Hanks? – You bet. It was just about the most (thrill) moment
of my life.
9. You look (exhaust) you should go to bed. - Driving down from Scotland was pretty (exhaust).
 4. Complete the following sentences with the correct –ed or –ing adjectives, using the
verbs from the list: interest, relax, surprise, confuse, bore, amuse, embarrass, frighten,
depress, irritate.

1. The instructions in the exam paper were very complicated and left the students feeling totally
__________.
2. I don't find horror films at all __________ - in fact, I find them quite funny.
3. Would you be __________ in coming to the theatre this evening? I have a spare ticket.
4. Can't you fix that dripping tap? It's getting on my nerves – it's really __________.
5. I didn't expect to see Peter at the party. I was really __________ to see him there.
6. He's had a lot of bad news recently and is feeling a bit _________. Let's go and cheer him up.
7. I find it __________ to lie on the sofa and listen to music after a hard day's work.
8. I was told the film was really good but I felt utterly __________ by it.
9. I get really __________ when people throw rubbish down in the streets. It makes me furious.
10. If I said anything as stupid as he did in front of a thousand people, I'd really __________.

Word –formation of Adjectives

There are certain common endings for adjectives which are

formed from nouns and verbs
-able fashionable -ical mechanical
-al magical -ious rebelious
-ant hesitant -ish stylish
-ar spectacular -ist racist
-ary disciplinary -ive selective
-ate considerate -less fautless
-ial artificial -like woman-like
-ent persistent -ly deathly
-esque picturesque -ory sensory
-ful successful -ous humorous
-ian Iranian -some bothersome
-ible terrible -y sandy
-ic melodic

The most common prefixes used with adjectives are:

im- immoral pre- prearranged

pro- pro-war
in- inactive
sub- sub-zero
ir- irregular super- superhuman
mal- malajusted un- unavailable
non- non-existed under- understaffed
over- overweight dis- disinterested
a- asexual hyper- hyperactive
ab- abnormal il- illegal
anti- antisocial
 1. Use the words in the brackets to forma word that fits in the sentence.

1. The water is not good here. It is __________ (drink)

2. The guide to the city was __________, as it was out of date. (use)
3. The trip has been an ___________ experience for both of us. (forget)
4. Jealousy can be a powerful but __________ feeling. (destroy)
5. Carry can't stand waiting in queues, because she is very __________ (patience)
6. You can rely on him. He has never done a __________ thing in his life. (honour)
7. We are still waiting for Jim to make up his mind. I wish he would be more __________
(decide).
8. Ralph got lost because the map he had with him was __________ (accurate).
9. The outcome of this experiment is __________ (predict).
10. Her excuse for being late was totally __________ (believe).
11. They had a __________ comfortably furnished living-room. (space)
12. All the characters in this book are __________ (imagine).
13. Chemical leaks have had a __________ effect on wildlife. (disaster)
14. It was an __________ letter, full of mistakes. (literate)
15. Petrol is highly __________ (flame).
16. Every was very __________ about their earnings. (secret)
17. She'll cope with changes very well – she's very __________ (adapt).
18. It was very __________ not to write and thank them. (polite)
19. It was a __________ thing to do. (coward)
20. These berries are __________, but those ones are poisonous. (eat)
21. The bathroom was __________, with gold taps and a thick carpet. (luxury)
22. It's totally __________ leaving the children all alone at night. (responsible)
23. She took a few __________ steps towards the window. (caution)

2. Use the words in the brackets to forma word that fits in the sentence.

A) Working full-time can be a very (stress) experience for most people; long hours and the
pressure to be (success) in a (compete) society both contribute to the build-up of anxiety. If
you're feeling (nerve), there is no better way to relax than to exercise. However, many people
return from work too (exhaust) to move. People are criticized for being lazy and (act), and for
watching too much television which is not (benefit) to our health. Taking regular exercise can
be both (relax) and (pleasure) and people who feel (health) often also feel more (confidence).
You don't need to be especially (energy) to take up a sport; simply choose one that is (suit) to
your character.
B) For an (excite) holiday destination, few cities can compare to New York. From (fashion)
Fifth Avenue to the run-down and (fright) ghettos of the Bronx, New York is a city of
(spectacle) contrasts. However (alarm) it may seem, it is worthwhile wandering the streets on
your own to get a feeling for the (character) areas of the city. of course it is (advise) to use
your common sense. You should be (caution) when approached by strangers, and always keep
in mind that violence is (prevail) and that acting (afraid) is the best protection against attack.
Keeping this in mind, you can be assures of having a (marvel) time.

Adjectives and Prepositions

1. Insert the proper prepositions.

1. They were very aware __________ the tense atmosphere in the room.
2. Granddad gets a bit annoyed __________ us if we don't put things back in the places.
3. I knew he behaved badly, but I can't help feeling sorry __________ him.
4. Helen is anxious __________ travelling by herself.
5. Most travellers were dissatisfied __________ the sort of service they were getting.
6. I'm sorry I don't believe you. I see you were right __________ her.
7. Even though he has no experience, he seems suitable __________ the job.
8. I'm sure he is perfectly capable __________ it himself.
9. They should be sorry __________ the mess they made in the house.
10. Joe is still upset __________ the accident, even though it wasn't his fault.
11. I can't take any photos today. There's something wrong __________ my camera.
12. I'm bored __________ pasta and tomatoes. I want something different.
13. The disease had left her weak and prone __________ all kinds of infections.
14. The most common illnesses among VDU operators are connected __________ eyes and
vision.
15. My superiors were displeased __________ recent development in this section.
16. She became obsessed __________ what to do with her immense wealth.
17. Persistent abdominal pain may be indicative __________ appendicitis.
18. He was annoyed __________ finding me asleep instead of working.
19. Low educational achievement is associated __________ poverty and disadvantage.
20. The children of mothers who use cocaine are often born addicted __________ the drug.

2. Insert the proper prepositions.

1. The job is on offer to anyone with the right qualifications irrespective __________ their age.
2. There's nothing to be sorry __________.You haven't done anything wrong.
3. The men stood in a small group, indifferent __________ the argument that was going on
around them.
4. Oliver said he was sorry __________ causing everyone so much trouble.
5. He did not say much but I was conscious __________ his sympathy.
6. The charity is certain __________ raising enough money to build a new children's hospital
next year.
7. As a baby she had always been prone __________ allergies.
8. Your diet is deficient __________ vitamins.
9. John was feeling pretty pleased __________ the progress he had made in his studies.
10. Some children are allergic __________ milk and __________ products derived __________
milk.
11. Liz went missing __________ school so her teacher called her parents.
12. The absence of any famous female composers is more indicative __________ male
dominance that male genius.
13. Cases of an elder child getting jealous __________ a new baby are very common.
14. We were too excited __________ the prospect of Friday's party to think much about our
schoolwork.
15. It's typical __________ Mary to be late.
16. Everyone pays the same rate of tax irrespective __________ whether you are married or
single.
17. He got annoyed __________ me __________ my carelessness.
18. I can't put up with his behaviour that is totally incompatible __________ the aims of the
society.
19. Offenders are liable __________ fines of up to $500.
20. I've been too preoccupied __________ my work to even think about taking a holiday.
21. Jackie is furious __________ Gary __________ being late again.
22. Don't ask me to play – I'm useless __________ computer games.

3. Fill in each space in the following sentences with an appropriate adjective, add a
preposition to each adjective - guilty, involved, disappointed, engaged, typical, interested,
amused, good, right, shocked, absent, proud, ashamed, different, famous, crowded.

1. Stop hitting that little boy – you should be __________ yourself.

2. I used to love watching football but I'm just not __________ it anymore.
3. You've been __________ so many classes that you'll have to repeat the year.
4. It's __________ him to arrive late – he's always doing it.
5. I'm afraid I'm not __________ his jokes – I find them in bad taste.
6. We were __________ this restaurant – the service was so slow.
7. He got __________ many clubs and societies and had no time to study.
8. He used such bad language I was really __________ what I heard.
9. Life in the south countries is very __________ life in the north countries. I prefer it.
10. He's very ___________ maths and physics but hopeless at languages.
11. Greece is __________ the Pantheon and its beautiful islands.
12. The streets were crowded __________ shoppers and we could hardly move.
13. You were __________ the party – you said it would be great fun.
14. She was __________ John for a long time but then she married someone else!
15. Well done for passing the exam! We're so __________ you.