Complete the sentences using the correct forms of the words in brackets. 10. Who is the … (old) person you know? 11. Which is … (quick) – the bus or the train? 12. The … (much) time I have, the … (little) it takes me to do things. 13. I can remember when I was three years old. It’s … (early) memory. 14. Everest is … (high) mountain in the world. 15. My toothache is getting more and … (painful). 16. This knife isn’t very sharp. Do you have a … (sharp) one? 17. ‘How long can I stay with you?’ ‘You can stay as … (long) as you like.’ 18. He's a far ….. (intelligent) person than my brother. 19. He felt ….. (bad) yesterday than the day before. 20. Andy is getting ….. and ….. (good) at playing chess. 21. Today I'm no ….. (wise) than yesterday. 22. Jack is the ….. (clever) of three brothers.
Explanation: The word "old" should be in the superlative form, which is "oldest." We use the superlative form when we want to compare three or more things or people and state that one of them has the highest degree of a certain quality.
11. Which is quicker – the bus or the train?
Explanation: The word "quick" should be in the comparative form, which is "quicker." We use the comparative form when we want to compare two things or people and state that one of them has a higher degree of a certain quality.
12. The more time I have, the less it takes me to do things.
Explanation: This is an example of a comparative structure expressing a cause and effect relationship. The word "much" should be changed to "more" to match the comparative structure. The phrase "the little it takes me" indicates that the less time you have, the more time it takes to do things.
13. I can remember when I was three years old. It’s my earliest memory.
Explanation: The word "early" should be changed to "earliest" to indicate the superlative form of the word. We use the superlative form when we want to compare three or more things or people and state that one of them has the highest degree of a certain quality.
14. Everest is the highest mountain in the world.
Explanation: The word "high" is already in the superlative form, indicating that Everest is the mountain with the highest peak in the world.
15. My toothache is getting more and more painful.
Explanation: The word "painful" should be repeated twice to indicate an increasing degree of pain. This is expressed by using the structure "more and more + adjective."
16. This knife isn’t very sharp. Do you have a sharper one?
Explanation: The word "sharp" should be changed to "sharper" to indicate the comparative form of the word. We use the comparative form when we want to compare two things or people and state that one of them has a higher degree of a certain quality.
17. ‘How long can I stay with you?’ ‘You can stay as long as you like.’
Explanation: The word "long" should be changed to "longest" to indicate the superlative form of the word. We use the superlative form when we want to compare three or more things or people and state that one of them has the highest degree of a certain quality.
18. He's a far more intelligent person than my brother.
Explanation: The word "intelligent" should be changed to "more intelligent" to indicate the comparative form of the word. We use the comparative form when we want to compare two things or people and state that one of them has a higher degree of a certain quality. The word "far" is added to emphasize the difference.
19. He felt worse yesterday than the day before.
Explanation: The word "bad" should be changed to "worse" to indicate the comparative form of the word. We use the comparative form when we want to compare two things or people and state that one of them has a higher degree of a certain quality.
20. Andy is getting better and better at playing chess.
Explanation: The word "good" should be repeated twice to indicate an increasing degree of skill. This is expressed by using the structure "more and more + adjective."
21. Today I'm no wiser than yesterday.
Explanation: The word "wise" should be changed to "wiser" to indicate the comparative form of the word. We use the comparative form when we want to compare two things or people and state that one of them has a higher degree of a certain quality.
22. Jack is the cleverest of three brothers.
Explanation: The word "clever" should be changed to "cleverest" to indicate the superlative form of the word. We use the superlative form when we want to compare three or more things or people and state that one of them has the highest degree of a certain quality. In this case, Jack is the most intelligent out of the three brothers.