COMPARISON OF ADJECTIVES.

Exercise 1.

1. There was nothing in these woods bigger than a weasel.
   Sample Answer / Đáp án gợi ý

   bigger — descriptive adjective, comparative degree. Compare: big, bigger, biggest.
   Giải thích: "bigger" là tính từ miêu tả ở cấp độ so sánh hơn.

2. The way led through the deepest and most perilous part of the swamp.
   Sample Answer / Đáp án gợi ý

   deepest — descriptive adjective, superlative degree. Compare: deep, deeper, deepest.
   most perilous — descriptive adjective, superlative degree. Compare: perilous, more perilous, most perilous.
   Giải thích: "deepest" và "most perilous" đều là tính từ miêu tả ở cấp độ so sánh nhất.

3. This brother was younger and handsomer, and much more amiable than William.
   Sample Answer / Đáp án gợi ý

   younger — descriptive adjective, comparative degree. Compare: young, younger, youngest.
   handsomer — descriptive adjective, comparative degree. Compare: handsome, handsomer, handsomest.
   more amiable — descriptive adjective, comparative degree. Compare: amiable, more amiable, most amiable.
   Giải thích: Cả ba tính từ đều ở cấp độ so sánh hơn.

4. As she grew older, she became less exacting and more tolerant, less certain and more hopeful, less vigorous in body, but gentler in manner and sweeter in spirit.
   Sample Answer / Đáp án gợi ý

   older — descriptive adjective, comparative degree. Compare: old, older, oldest.
   less exacting — descriptive adjective, comparative degree (descending). Compare: exacting, less exacting, least exacting.
   more tolerant — descriptive adjective, comparative degree. Compare: tolerant, more tolerant, most tolerant.
   less certain — descriptive adjective, comparative degree (descending). Compare: certain, less certain, least certain.
   more hopeful — descriptive adjective, comparative degree. Compare: hopeful, more hopeful, most hopeful.
   less vigorous — descriptive adjective, comparative degree (descending). Compare: vigorous, less vigorous, least vigorous.
   gentler — descriptive adjective, comparative degree. Compare: gentle, gentler, gentlest.
   sweeter — descriptive adjective, comparative degree. Compare: sweet, sweeter, sweetest.
   Giải thích: Tất cả các tính từ đều ở cấp độ so sánh hơn (một số theo thang giảm dần với "less").

5. The Hotel de Cluny is one of the quaintest, queerest, pleasantest, and most homelike places we are likely to meet with.
   Sample Answer / Đáp án gợi ý

   quaintest — descriptive adjective, superlative degree. Compare: quaint, quainter, quaintest.
   queerest — descriptive adjective, superlative degree. Compare: queer, queerer, queerest.
   pleasantest — descriptive adjective, superlative degree. Compare: pleasant, pleasanter, pleasantest.
   most homelike — descriptive adjective, superlative degree. Compare: homelike, more homelike, most homelike.
   Giải thích: Tất cả các tính từ đều ở cấp độ so sánh nhất.

6. The other captive was of a more restless temperament, slenderer in build, more eager and alert of eye, less companionable of mood.
   Sample Answer / Đáp án gợi ý

   more restless — descriptive adjective, comparative degree. Compare: restless, more restless, most restless.
   slenderer — descriptive adjective, comparative degree. Compare: slender, slenderer, slenderest.
   more eager — descriptive adjective, comparative degree. Compare: eager, more eager, most eager.
   alert — descriptive adjective, positive degree (but used in comparative sense with "more"). Compare: alert, more alert, most alert.
   less companionable — descriptive adjective, comparative degree (descending). Compare: companionable, less companionable, least companionable.
   Giải thích: Hầu hết các tính từ ở cấp độ so sánh hơn; "alert" đứng ở cấp độ nguyên nhưng mang nghĩa so sánh.

7. Least vague of all was the terror of the usually unterrified weasel.
   Sample Answer / Đáp án gợi ý

   Least vague — descriptive adjective, superlative degree (descending). Compare: vague, less vague, least vague.
   unterrified — descriptive adjective (cannot be compared). Compare: cannot be compared.
   Giải thích: "Least vague" là so sánh nhất theo thang giảm dần; "unterrified" là tính từ không thể so sánh.

8. Those men are most apt to be obsequious and conciliating abroad, who are under the discipline of shrews at home.
   Sample Answer / Đáp án gợi ý

   most apt — descriptive adjective, superlative degree. Compare: apt, more apt, most apt.
   obsequious — descriptive adjective, positive degree. Compare: obsequious, more obsequious, most obsequious.
   conciliating — descriptive adjective (participle), positive degree. Compare: conciliating, more conciliating, most conciliating.
   Giải thích: "most apt" ở so sánh nhất; các tính từ khác ở cấp độ nguyên.

9. At the least flourish of a broomstick or a ladle, Wolf would fly to the door with yelping precipitation.
   Sample Answer / Đáp án gợi ý

   least — limiting adjective, superlative degree modifying flourish (cannot be compared as an adjective itself).
   yelping — descriptive adjective (participle), positive degree. Compare: cannot be compared.
   Giải thích: "least" là tính từ hạn định ở cấp độ so sánh nhất; "yelping" là phân từ dùng như tính từ không thể so sánh.

10. The lynx was smaller than her mate, somewhat browner in hue, leaner, and of a peculiarly malignant expression.
    Sample Answer / Đáp án gợi ý

    smaller — descriptive adjective, comparative degree. Compare: small, smaller, smallest.
    browner — descriptive adjective, comparative degree. Compare: brown, browner, brownest.
    leaner — descriptive adjective, comparative degree. Compare: lean, leaner, leanest.
    malignant — descriptive adjective, positive degree (modified by "peculiarly"). Compare: malignant, more malignant, most malignant.
    Giải thích: "smaller", "browner", "leaner" ở so sánh hơn; "malignant" ở cấp độ nguyên.

11. The women of the village used to employ Rip to do such little odd jobs as their less obliging husbands would not do for them.
    Sample Answer / Đáp án gợi ý

    little — limiting adjective, positive degree modifying jobs. Compare: little, less, least.
    odd — descriptive adjective, positive degree. Compare: odd, odder, oddest.
    less obliging — descriptive adjective, comparative degree (descending). Compare: obliging, less obliging, least obliging.
    Giải thích: "little" ở cấp độ nguyên; "less obliging" ở so sánh hơn theo thang giảm dần.

12. The singing master's hair was a little longer, his hands were a little whiter, his shoes a little thinner, his manner a trifle more polished than that of his soberer mates.
    Sample Answer / Đáp án gợi ý

    longer — descriptive adjective, comparative degree. Compare: long, longer, longest.
    whiter — descriptive adjective, comparative degree. Compare: white, whiter, whitest.
    thinner — descriptive adjective, comparative degree. Compare: thin, thinner, thinnest.
    more polished — descriptive adjective, comparative degree. Compare: polished, more polished, most polished.
    soberer — descriptive adjective, comparative degree. Compare: sober, soberer, soberest.
    Giải thích: Tất cả các tính từ đều ở cấp độ so sánh hơn.