Comma before when. Comma in English. A comma after the introductory elements of an English sentence. Using Absolute Turnover

IN English language, as in Russian, adjectives form two degrees of comparison: comparative (the Comparative Degree) and excellent (the Superlative Degree). adjectives in positive degree(the Positive Degree) denote the quality of an item without comparison with that quality in other items:
The Dnieper is a long river (long - positive degree).
Dnipro - long river.
The Volga is longer than the Dnieper (longer - comparative degree).
Volga longer Dnieper.
The Volga is the longest river in Europe (longest - superlative).
Volga - the longest river in Europe.

comparative monosyllabic adjectives are formed by adding the suffix - eg, and superlative - by adding the suffix - est(simple forms of degrees of comparison):

In the same way, degrees of comparison are formed disyllabic adjectives ending in - at, as well as some other two-syllable adjectives:

§ 5. When forming degrees of comparison by means of suffixes - er And - est The following spelling rules apply:
1. If the adjective ends in mute - e, then adding - er And - est not mine - e omitted:
large - large larger
brave - brave braver bravest
mature - ripe riper ripest

2. If an adjective ends in a consonant preceded by one vowel, then in the comparative and superlative degree, the final consonant is doubled:
big - big bigger big
hot - hot hotter hottest
thin - thin thinner thinnest
wet - wet wettest

3. If the adjective ends in -y with a preceding consonant, then in a comparative and superlative degree - at goes into - i:
busy - busy busier busiest
easy - easy easier easiest
dirty - dirty dirtier dirtiest
dry - dry drier driest
If before - at there is a vowel, then y remains unchanged:
gay gayer gayest

Comparative degree of majority disyllabic adjectives, as well as adjectives consisting of three or more syllables, formed with the help of the word more, and excellent - with the help of the word most. These words are placed before the adjective in the form of a positive degree (complex forms of degrees of comparison):

Noun defined by an adjective in superlatives, is used with the definite article. The article is preserved before the superlative degree even when the noun is not mentioned:
This is the shortest way to the station.
This is the shortest way to the station.
This is the most interesting story in this book.
This is the most interesting story in this book.
The Moscow underground is the best in the world.
Moscow Metro the best in the world.

Notes:
1. Most used before an adjective not only to form a superlative degree, but also with a meaning extremely, very. In this case, the noun singular used with an indefinite article, and in the plural - without an article:
This is most interesting book. This extremely interesting book.
Compare:
This is the most interesting book. This the most interesting book.

These are most interesting books. This very interesting books.
Compare:
These are the most interesting books. This the most interesting books.

2. Most also used before a noun majority, most:
Most young people are fond of sports.
Majority young people love sports.
After most with this meaning the preposition is used of when the noun to which it refers has a definite article, demonstrative or possessive pronoun, i.e. when it denotes a certain group of objects or a certain amount of something:
Most of my friends live in Moscow.
Most of my friends live in Moscow.
Most of these books have been published in Moscow.
Most of these books were published in Moscow.
- Where did you spend your summer holidays?
- I spent most of the time in the Crimea.
- Where did you spend your summer vacation?
- I spent most of the time in the Crimea.

Some two-syllable adjectives have both simple and compound forms of degrees of comparison, such as:
clever smart - cleverer or more clever smarter, cleverest or most clever the smartest;
lucky lucky - luckier or more lucky is happier, luckiest or most lucky is the happiest.

Notes:
1. Please note that Russian adjectives, like English ones, have simple and complex forms of degrees of comparison, and in Russian most adjectives have parallel simple and complex forms:
longer - longer, longest - the longest;
deeper - deeper, deepest - the deepest.

2. It should be borne in mind that adjectives in a comparative degree are always translated into Russian by adjectives in a complex form of a comparative degree when they are placed before a noun:
a higher price - a higher price, a lower quality - lower quality, a cheaper dress - a cheaper dress.

If the corresponding Russian adjective does not have a complex form of a comparative degree, such adjectives are translated in a simple form: a larger box - a larger box, a smaller trunk - a smaller suitcase, a better machine - the best car, a worse example - the worst example.

The degrees of comparison of some adjectives in English, as well as the corresponding adjectives in Russian, are formed from a different root:

Notes:
1. Word less corresponds in English:
a) less - in the case when less is a comparative degree of few And
b) smaller - in the case when less is a comparative degree of small:
I have less time than his. I have less time than he.
My room less yours. My room is smaller than yours.

2. word more corresponds in English:
a) more - in the case when more is a comparative degree from a lot of And
b) bigger or larger - in the case when more is a comparative degree from big:
I have more time than his. I have more time than he.
My room more yours. My room is larger than yours.

Adjective far It has two forms of comparative and superlative degree:

When designating a distance, farther, farthest and further, furthest are used in parallel:
I found him in the farthest (furthest) corner of the park.
I found it in distant corner of the park.
As indicated in the table, further also matters further, additional:
I have obtained further information on this matter.
I got further(additional) information on this case.
Please send the books back without further delay.
Please send books without further delays.

The conjunction is used after adjectives in the comparative degree. than, corresponding to the Russian union how:
Moscow is larger than Leningrad.
Moscow more than Leningrad (Moscow is larger than Leningrad).
This book is more interesting than that one.
This book more interesting than ta (This book is more interesting than that one).

In Russian, after adjectives in a comparative degree instead of a union how with the following noun (or pronoun) in the nominative case, there can be a noun (or pronoun) in the genitive case:
Volga longer than Dnieper. = Volga longer Dnieper.
When translating such sentences from Russian into English, the union is always used than:
The Volga is longer than the Dniper.

The adjectives in the comparative degree superior - higher, higher, best, better (in quality) and interior - worse, worse (in quality) are borrowed from Latin. They end in - or, not on - er, and after them instead of than used to. They have neither a positive nor a superlative degree:
These samples are superior (interior) to those.
These samples better (worse) in quality those samples.

To enhance the comparative degree, the words much, far, a great deal are used with the meaning much, much, significantly:
The Dnieper is much longer than the Thames.
Dnieper much (much) longer Thames.
This book is far more interesting than that one.
This book much (much) more interesting toy.
Your room is a great deal better than mine.
your room much better mine.

Note. Russian combination much more in meaning much large quantity corresponds in English much more before uncountable nouns and many more before countable nouns:
Him much more free time than me.
Has not much more free time than I.
I have much more books than his.
I have many more books than he.

To strengthen the comparative degree, the words are also used still or (less commonly) yet with meaning more:
Not is still(yet) taller than his brother.
He more above his brother.
This story is still(yet) more interesting.
This story more more interesting.

Superlative adjectives are often followed by a noun with a preposition, most often with a preposition of(with meaning from):
Mayakovsky is the most talented of the Soviet poets.
Mayakovsky - the most talented of Soviet poets.
He is the youngest of my friends.
He the youngest of my friends.

Note. In Russian, superlative adjectives are often followed by a genitive noun without a preposition. However, in this case, instead of such a noun, one can meaningfully use a noun with the preposition V or on:
He best student our institute (or: in our institute).
Kyiv is one of the most beautiful cities our countries (or: in our country).
Batumi is one of the largest ports Black seas (or: on Black sea).
In the corresponding English sentence, only the second option is possible, i.e. it is possible to use a noun with one of the prepositions at, in, on(but not with the preposition of expressing the meaning of Russian genitive no suggestion:
Not is the best student at our Institute (and not: of our. Institute).
Kiev is one of the most beautiful cities in our country (and not: of our country).
Batumi is one of the biggest ports on the Black Sea (not: of the Black Sea).

After adjectives in the superlative degree, the attributive clause is also often used, which is introduced by the relative pronoun that - which. Pronoun that, however, is often omitted:
This is the most interesting book that) I have ever read.
This is the most interesting book. , which I have ever read.

To enhance the superlative degree, we use by far, (less common) far or much:
The deposits of oil in the Soviet Union are by far (far) the richest in the world.
Oil deposits in the Soviet Union much richer all others in the world.
This sample is much the best.
This sample much (much) better.

To express a lesser or smallest degree of quality in an object compared to other objects, the words less - less and least - the least are used, respectively, which are placed before the adjective in the form of a positive degree: pleasant - pleasant, less pleasant - less pleasant, least pleasant - least pleasant ;
comfortable - comfortable, less comfortable - less comfortable, least comfortable - least comfortable.

When comparing two objects of the same quality, the adjective in a positive degree is placed between as ... as with the meaning of the same ... as, the same ... as:
Not is as young as my brother.
He just as young(also young) How my brother.
My dictionary is as good as yours.
My dictionary as good as your.
In negative sentences, the first as often replaced so:
Not is not so (as) young as my brother.
He not as young as my brother.
My dictionary is not so (as) good as yours.
My dictionary not as good as your.

Notes:
1. Combinations like as short (simple, interesting, etc.) as possible correspond in Russian to combinations as short as possible (simpler, more interesting, etc.);
The letter must be as short as possible.
The letter must be as short as possible.

2. Russian comparative degree after combinations two times, three times, etc. is conveyed in English by adjectives in the positive degree, standing between as... as;
your room twice as much mine.
Your room is twice as large as mine.
This box three times as hard Togo.
This box is three times as heavy as that.
Him twice as much books, how I have.
Has not twice as many books as I.
Today we loaded three times more wheat, how yesterday.
Today we have loaded three times as much wheat as yesterday.

When the second object of comparison is not mentioned, then as not used after an adjective:
This variety twice expensive.
This grade is twice as expensive.
He twice older.
Not is twice as old.

Pay attention to the translation of the following combinations:
I paid for the book twice smaller than for a dictionary.
I paid half as much for the book as for the dictionary.
I have twice smaller English books than yours.
I have half as many English books as you have.
He twice younger than me.
Not is half my age.
My room twice smaller yours.
My room is half the size of yours.
My suitcase twice easier your his.
My trunk is half the weight of yours.

Why did we choose this particular phrase? Firstly, you can often hear it from people when learning English :), and secondly, it is directly related to our topic - degrees of comparison of adjectives in English.

The more you learn, the less you understand...
(The more you learn, the less you understand...)

Adjectives in English have two degrees of comparison - comparative (Comparative) and excellent (Superlative)(similar forms exist in the Russian and Ukrainian languages), while the rules for their formation are quite simple:

The degrees of comparison in English do not exist without exceptions:

As practice shows, knowledge of the rules of education degrees of comparison in English does not at all guarantee their competent use in speech, therefore we offer you a selection of the most popular - the most popular :) - cases of using adjectives for comparison in context.

Strengthening of adjectives in comparative and superlative degrees

Let's go by train. It's much cheaper. - Let's go by train. This much cheaper.

"How do you feel?" " Much better, thanks!" - How do you feel? Thank you, much better.

Don "t go by plane. It" s a lot more expensive. - Don't fly. This much expensive.

Could you speak a bit more slowly? - Could you speak A little slower?

Her illness is far more serious than we thought at first. - her illness much more serious than we thought.

This task is by far the most difficult. - This task undoubtedly the most difficult.

Comparative designs with than (than)

I know him better than anyone else. “I know him better than anyone.

The screen version is more interesting than the book itself. The adaptation of this book is more interesting than the book itself.

Compare: You are taller than I am. - You are taller than me.
They have more money than we have. - They have more money than us.

* After than use pronouns me, him, her, them, us, if they are not followed by a verb in a comparative construction.

Comparative construction as ... as

* Used in affirmative and interrogative sentences, and the adjective in this case acts in a positive degree:

I'm sorry I'm late. I got here as fast as I could. - Sorry for being late. I arrived as quickly as I could.

Let's walk. It's just as quick as taking the bus. - Let's go. It will take the same amount of time as a bus ride.

In negative sentences, when comparing, you can use turns not so ... as, not as ... as .

Jack isn't as old as he looks. Jack is younger than he looks.

The weather is not so cold as it was yesterday. - Not as cold as yesterday.

When comparing objects and their qualities, they also use the structure the same as (but not the same like):

She gets the same salary as me. She earns the same as me.

Her brother is the same age as mine. Her brother is the same age as mine.

To show that one of the compared items is several times superior to the second, we use the following structure:

Petrol is twice as expensive as it was a few years ago. Gasoline is now twice as expensive as it was a few years ago.

Their house is about three times as big as ours. Their house is about three times the size of ours.

The superlative of adjectives often precedes tense Present Perfect in a sentence:

What's the most important decision you've ever had to make? What was the most important decision you have ever made?

He's the most selfish person I've ever met. “He is the most selfish person I have ever known.

Now let's go back to our phrase "The more you learn, the less you understand" and analyze it in terms of grammar. This sentence uses a comparative structure the + comparative degree... the + comparative degree..., which expresses the parallel growth of some quality, for example:

The sooner we leave, the earlier we will arrive. “The sooner we hit the road, the sooner we get there.”

The more I thought about the plan the less I liked it. “The more I thought about the plan, the less I liked it.

I need a big suitcase. The bigger the better. - I need a big suitcase. The bigger, the better.

We hope that comparison of adjectives in English Now it won't cause you much trouble. Stay with us, friends, and carefully read our articles, because we adhere to the principle.

The degrees of comparison of adjectives in English is one of the easiest grammatical topics. The reason is that existing degrees comparisons and methods of their formation largely coincide with those in the Russian language. As in Russian, in English there are two degrees of comparison: comparative And excellent. According to another classification, there is also a positive one - this is the usual form of adjectives. Comparative forms in English

There are two ways to form degrees of comparison: analytical(add words) and synthetic(adding suffixes). The choice of the desired method of formation depends on the adjectives themselves:

• for monosyllabic (simple) - we use the synthetic method of formation
• for polysyllabic - the analytical method.

Let's consider all this in detail, giving examples.

Monosyllabic adjectives and a synthetic method for comparing them

Almost all simple adjectives in English form comparative degrees with the help of suffixes:

adjective degree table There are several cases where adding suffixes requires minor changes to the word itself:

1. If in a one-syllable adjective there is a short vowel before the final consonant, then we double it:
   • Big - bigger - the biggest
     
2. Silent trailing -e goes before -er, -est:
   • nice-nicer-the nicest
3. The final letter -y is replaced by -i, provided that the -y is preceded by a consonant:
   • Dry-drier-the dries

If there is a vowel before -y in a word, there will be no substitutions:

• Grey-greyer-the greyest

Let's summarize.
In the next figure you will see the ultimate a simple circuit formation of degrees of comparison of simple adjectives in English. degrees of comparison of simple adjectives in English

There are no rules that do not have exceptions.

There is a small list of exceptions to general rule: these words completely change their roots:

list of exceptions There is another type of exceptions, which is a small list of words that have two possible options for the formation of degrees, each of which has its own semantic characteristics. They need to be known for their correct use in the context:

Adjectives with two possible options Formation of degrees As for two-syllable adjectives, some of them form their comparative forms as monosyllabic ones - by adding - er And - est. These include those who

1. Ends in:
   • -ow:

   narrow - narrower - the narrowest

   • -le:

   simple - simpler - the simplest

   • -er:

   tender - tenderer - the tenderest

   happy - happier - the happiest

2. They have two syllables, and the stress falls on the second:
   severe - severer - the severest
3. Trisyllabic adjectives with a prefix -un
   untidy - untidier - the untidiest

Polysyllabic adjectives and the analytical method of their comparison

So the time has come to deal with the analytical method of forming comparative degrees in English. This method involves changing the meaning of a word without any changes in itself, but by adding another word to it, which will change its semantic and grammatical characteristics.

1. Added adverb more(more) if we compare the qualities of two objects, one of which is superior to the other:
   Anya is more obedient than Katya
2. Adverb most(most) used when referring to the top level quality characteristics of the subject:
   Anya is the most obedient

Maybe you are wondering why not all adjectives in English follow the same way of forming degrees. The fact is that adding suffixes to already long words is quite inconvenient, as they will lengthen them even more.

Polysyllabic adjectives To consolidate the material, watch the following videos:

Monosyllabic adjectives and adverbs form comparative and superlative degrees of comparison by adding suffixes - er And - est.

If monosyllabic adjectives and adverbs end in one consonant letter preceded by one vowel, then before suffixes - er And - est the final consonant is doubled. However, the final letter w' is not doubled.

If monosyllabic adjectives and adverbs end in the silent letter " e", this vowel drops out before the suffixes - er And - est.

• cut e → cute r → the cute st
• pal e → pale r → the pale st
• lat e → late r → the late st

If monosyllabic adjectives and adverbs end in a vowel - y preceded by a consonant, y changes to - i before suffixes - er And - est. But the final vowel y does not change if it is preceded by another vowel.

Two-syllable adjectives with -ow, -le, -er, -y

Two-syllable adjectives that end in suffixes - ow, -le, -er, -y, can form comparative and superlative degrees both with the help of suffixes - er And - est, and with the help of words more(more) and the most(most). The choice depends on the preference of the speaker, however, the form with the suffix - er And - est occurs more often with short words.

• crazy → crazy er → the craziest
• crazy → more crazy →the most crazy

• pretty → pretty er → the prettiest
• pretty → more pretty →the most pretty

adjectives quiet(quiet) and simple(simple) can form comparative and superlative degrees both with the help of suffixes - er And - est, and with the help of words more(more) and the most(most).

• quiet-quiet er → the quietest
• quiet → more quiet → the most quiet

• simple → simple er → the simplest
• simple → more simple → the most simple

• narrow → narrow er → the narrowest
• narrow → more narrow →the most narrow

More and most

Disyllabic And trisyllabic adjectives and adverbs (mostly with the -ly suffix) form degrees of comparison using words more(more) and the most(most).

• useful → more useful → the most useful
• stupid → more stupid → the most stupid
• curious → more curious → the most curious
• impressive → more impressive → the most impressive

• often → more often → the most often
• wisely → more wisely → the most wisely
• comfortable → more comfortable → the most comfortable
• independently → more independently → the most independently

More And most also used to form degrees of comparison for adjectives that are formed from participles, regardless of the number of syllables that make up the adjective.

• tired → more tired → the most tired
• hurt → more hurt → the most hurt
• caring → more caring → the most caring
• worrying → more worrying → the most worrying
• annoyed → more annoyed → the most annoyed

Exceptions

Adverbs early(early) and loudly(loudly) form degrees of comparison only with the help of suffixes - er And - est.

• early → early ier → early
• loudly → loudly ier → the loudest

Adverbs quickly(fast) and slowly(slow) can have two different forms of degrees of comparison.

• quickly → quickly er → the quickest
• quickly → more quickly → the most quickly

• slowly → slowly er → the slowest
• slowly → more slowly → the most slowly

Diminutives

Articles in degrees of comparison

• You should drive the fastest you can because we are already late. You should drive as fast as you can because we're already late.
• Use this information most wisely.“Use this information in the wisest way possible.

Definite article the can also be omitted before adjectives if they come after the verb to be or other linking verbs and is not followed by a noun or phrase that defines this adjective.

• This man is (the) most powerful as he controls all banks in our country.- This person is the most influential, since he controls all the banks in our country.
• Kate is (the) cut est when she wears this dress. Kate is the cutest when she wears this dress.

Word most is not always an indicator of the superlative degree of adjectives and may be synonymous with the word very in meaning " extremely», « Very», « extremely". In this case before most can stand and certain the, and the indefinite article a / an, or they may be omitted before nouns plural. In this meaning most can be used with all adjectives including monosyllabic ones.

• I am most happy to see you again.“I am extremely glad to see you again.
• These kids are most clever children. These guys are really smart kids.
• You are right, Marry is the most beautiful woman.– You are right: Mary is a very, very beautiful woman.

Here you can find degrees of comparison of adjectives in English. Degrees of Comparison.

DEGREES OF COMPARISON

1. Quality adjectives There are three degrees of comparison in English: positive, comparative and superlative.

a. The Positive Degree denotes the quality of an item beyond comparison with any other item that has the same quality.

b. The Comparative Degree indicates the presence of a greater degree of quality in one item compared to another item with the same quality. When comparing, the conjunction than is often used - than.

c. The Superlative Degree indicates the highest degree of quality in a particular item among all other homogeneous items with the same quality.

FORMATION OF DEGREES OF COMPARISON

2. One-syllable adjectives and two-syllable adjectives ending in -y, -er, -ow form a comparative degree with the suffix -er, and a superlative degree with the suffix -est, which are added to the adjective in a positive degree:

dark - darker - (the) darkest
simple simple - simpler - (the) simplest
clever - cleverer - (the) cleverest
yellow - yellower - (the) yellowest

This highway is wider than that highway.
This highway is wider than that highway.

That is the highest building in the city.
This is the tallest building in the city.

In monosyllabic adjectives ending in one consonant after a short vowel, to preserve the brevity of reading this vowel, the consonant before the suffixes -er, -est is doubled:

big big - bigger - (the) biggest
hot hot - hotter - (the) hottest

In adjectives ending in -y after a consonant before suffixes -er, -est -y changes to i:
busy - busier - (the) busiest
happy happy -happier - (the) happiest

Before the suffixes -eg, -est, the letter combination ng is read as ;

strong strong - stronger ["stronge]
(the) strongest ["strongist]

Letter combinations -er, -re before suffixes -er, -est are read as:

clever ["kleve] - cleverer ["klevere] - cleverest ["kleverist]

3. All polysyllabic adjectives, as well as disyllabic adjectives that do not end in -y, -er, -ow, form degrees of comparison using the auxiliary words more more - for the comparative degree and (the) most most, most - for the superlative degree:

useful -more useful - (the) most useful
difficult difficult - more difficult - (the) most difficult

This subject is more important for you now.
This item is more important to you now (more important).

It is the most interesting book I have ever read.
This is the most interesting book I have ever read.

To express a lower degree of quality, the auxiliary words are used less less - in a comparative degree and (the) least least, least - in an excellent:

This text is less difficult than that one.
This text is less difficult than that one.

This text is the least difficult of all.
This text is the least difficult of all.

4. Several adjectives form degrees of comparison from different bases. It is recommended to remember them:

good - better - (the) best
good best the best the best

bad - worse - (the) worst
bad - worse - the worst, worst of all

little - less - (the) least
small - smaller - smallest, smallest

5. The following adjectives have two different comparative and superlative forms:

She is older than my sister.
She is older than my sister.

My elder brother graduated from Moscow University.
My older brother graduated from Moscow University.

The nearest house is the library.
The nearest building is the library building.

The next lesson is English.
The next lesson is an English lesson.

Note: The union than is never used with the adjective elder.

Not is the elder of the two brothers.
He is the eldest of two brothers.

But:
She looked older than her friend.
She looked older than her friend.

6. To strengthen the comparison, before adjectives in a comparative degree, adverbs far, still, much are used. Such adverbs are translated into Russian by the words much, much, significantly:

much better - much (significantly) better
much more - much (significantly) more
much worse - much (significantly) worse

The weather is much better today.
The weather is much better today.

7. The combination the... the with adjectives in a comparative degree is translated into Russian by the union than ... so in combination with adjectives in a comparative degree:

The sooner the better.
The sooner, the better.