tailieunhanh - Oxford guide to english grammar part 42

Verbs take a few endings such as ed for the past (started), but they do not take endings for person, except in the third person singular of the present tense (it starts). | PAGE 281 218 Comparative and superlative of adjectives Two-syllable adjectives ending in y usually take er est happier happiest although more mostis possible. Some examples dirty easy empty funny happy heavy hungry lovely lucky pretty silly thirsty tidy. NOTE Happy etc can still take er est even with a negative prefix unhappier untidiest. Also unpleasantest most unpleasant. c Adjectives of three or more syllables . difficult magnificent These always take more most more difficult most difficult . d Overview Always er est Most of one-syllable . small Usually er est Two syllables ending iny . lucky Either er est Some of one syllable . clear true or more most Some of two syllables . narrow common Always more most One syllable ending in ed . pleased Most of two syllables . careful boring Three or more syllables . expensive magnificent 5 Some special forms a Farther further and farthest furthest These words express distance. We use them as adjectives and adverbs. Thefarthest furthest moon is 13 million kilometres from Saturn. I can t walk any farther further. Further but notfarther can express quantity. Let s hope there are nofurther problems. no more problems b Older elder and oldest eldest We use elder and eldest mainly to talk about ages in a family. They go before the noun. Have you got an older elder brother The oldest eldest daughter married a pop singer. c Latest and last Latest means furthest ahead in time or newest . What s the latest time we can leave and still catch the train Thisjacket is the latestfashion. Last means before or final . I had my hair cut last week. This is the last time I lend anyone my car. d Nearest and next Nearest means the shortest distance away. Next refers to one of a sequence of things coming one after the other. Where is the nearestphone box closest least far We have to get out at the next stop. the stop after this 26 COMPARISON PAGE 282 219 The comparative and superlative of adverbs 1 Some adverbs have the .