Unit 11. Degrees of Comparison.

Exercise 1. Complete the sentences using the comparative form of the following adjective or adverbs.

Long	strong	late	limited	high	unpopular	early
stable	cheap	low	recent	few	successful

Example: Let’s go to the Houses of Parliament by car. It’s …. – Let’s go to the Houses of Parliament by car. It’s cheaper.

1. As devolution is … in Wales, in Welsh matters the Sovereign acts on the advice of the Prime Minister. 2. When India became a republic in 1950, it would no … share in a common monarchy. 3. The 11^th century saw England become …. 4. Wales had been conquered centuries … but had remained a separate dominion. 5. The next monarch, Edward I, was far … in maintaining royal power. 6. … in Henry’s reign, Simon de Montfort led the barons in another rebellion. 7. Nevertheless, … polls show that a large majority of the British public support the continuation of the monarchy. 8. The Home Secretary told that monarchs had consistently used the … of the English and Scottish ordinals. 9. After Lord Darnley’s assassination in 1567, Mary contracted an even … marriage with the Earl of Bothwell. 10. Alterations were made to St. Stephens Chapel over the following three centuries for the convenience of the … House. 11. The Commons gradually became the … House of Parliament. 12. If … than three or 30 members are present, the division is invalid.

Exercise 2. Complete the sentences using the words: better/worse/further/ older/elder. You have to use some of these words more than once. Use than where necessary.

Example: Let me ask him. I know him … you do. – Let me ask him. I know him better than you do.

1. We complained about the food in our hotel. But instead of improving, it got …. 2. The secretary’s work isn’t very good. I’m sure she can do …. 3. Ann’s younger sister is still at school. Her … sister is a chief administrative officer. 4. Irregular migrants work really badly this month. They worked … they have ever worked before. 5. You’re standing too near the camera. Can you move a bit … away? 6. “Is Prince of Wales younger than the Princess?” “No, he’s ….” 7. The damage to our car wasn’t so bad. It could have been much …. 8. If you need any … information, please contact our head office. 9. “Is your headache better?” “No, after the trial it’s even …”. 10. The prisoners were very tired. They couldn’t walk much …. 11. In the pictures the Queen of England looks … she really is. 12. Let me know immediately if you hear any … news about the homicide.

Exercise 3. Complete the sentences with a superlative and a preposition.

Example: It is a very long speech. It’s the … the history of Parliament. – It is a very long speech. It’s the longest in the history of Parliament.

1. It’s a very nice room. It’s … Westminster Abbey. 2. It’s a very cheap restaurant. It’s … the town. 3. It’s a very happy day. It’s … my life because we have won the trial. 4. She’s a very intelligent person. She’s … the court. 5. He’s a very rich man. He’s … the world. 6. It’s a very old castle. It’s … Britain. 7. He’s a very good procurator. He’s … the Procurator’s office. 8. It’s a very valuable painting. It’s … the gallery, that’s why it was stolen yesterday. 9. To work as a juror was a very bad experience. It was … my life. 10. He’s a very dangerous criminal. He’s … the country. 11. The day before yesterday was very hot. It was … the year. 12. That blockbuster was very boring. It was … I’ve ever seen.

Exercise 4. Choose the most suitable word in each sentence.

Example: Today Mary is the happier/happiest person – she has just got married. – Today Mary is the happiest person – she has just got married.

1. Of the four amendments, I like the first one better/best. 2. Pat’s car is faster/fastest than Dan’s, so Dan cannot be blamed for the road accident. 3. This is the creamier/creamiest advocate’s speech I have ever heard in my life. 4. This photo of locus delicti is colorfuler/more colorful than the previous one. 5. Does the witness feel weller/better today than he did yesterday? 6. While trying to win the elections, the Democrat’s candidate looked awkwarder/more awkwardly than his rivals. 7. Jane is the less/least athletic of all the women, but she works as an investigator. 8. This secretary is the prettier/prettiest of the two. 9. This summary on Roman law is the better/the best of the pair. 10. Your heritage is different from/than mine. 11. Your speech is less impressive/least impressive than the speech of the other deputy. 12. The prison is the farther/farthest away of the three buildings.

Exercise 5. Correct the mistakes. Pay attention to the use of the comparatives.

Example: The more early case created the precedent. -The earlier case created the precedent.

1. The bailiff is experiencer than the sheriff, you can trust him. 2. This is the badest Act of Parliament I have ever heard of. 3. The conservative MPs abstain in the vote oftener that the Liberals. 4. The Representatives considered the last amendment to be the goodest. 5. That’s our “hidden” agenda, plainest and simplest. 6. This was the dangerousest armed robbery the police have ever imagined. 7. The United Nations is one of the eldest organizations fighting for peace. 8. After the judge read the verdict he became more easy. 9. He is the clever student in our group, I’m sure he’ll become a famous lawyer in future. 10. There are bigger and bigger young offenders nowadays. 11. Crime families are wider-spread in Italy than in other countries. 12. The police came last than it was necessary.

Exercise 6. Translate the sentences from Russian into English.

1. Мистер Смит был самым старшим и самым опытным членом парламента. 2. Я думаю, что твой план, как убежать из тюрьмы, лучше. 3. Ближайший полицейский участок расположен в пяти милях отсюда. 4. Какая следующая остановка? Мне хочется увидеть Королевский дворец как можно скорее! 5. В 16 веке Испания была самой сильной страной в мире. 6. Северн длиннее Темзы, это самая длинная река в Англии. 7. Кто самый лучший студент в вашей группе? Неужели он знает гражданское право лучше тебя? 8. Больше всего я хочу стать судьей. Их зарплаты выше, чем у других юристов. 9. С каждым годом все меньше и меньше людей участвуют в выборах. 10. Это самый опасный преступник, он убил 20 человек. 11. Ватикан – самое маленькое государство в мире. 12. Полиция должна работать усерднее, чтобы бороться с преступностью более эффективно.

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