ADJECTIVES

Text:
Samantha: Let’s go to one of the Greek islands for our holidays
this year. Mykonos is the nicest place with many foreign
tourists.
Don: I prefer the mountains. They are cooler and quieter than
the islands. There are more beautiful places to see. Also, a
house in the mountains is less expensive than a hotel room in
Mykonos.
Tim: OK, let’s do that. There are more interesting things to do
in the mountains – activities in nature are better and more
adventurous.
Samantha: Please, not the mountains! Last year’s holiday was
the most boring one we have ever had. And houses, cottages,
huts, or cabins are not as comfortable as a hotel.
Nick: Well, I’ve got the best idea! We’ll stay at home! That’s
the cheapest and nicest holiday!

1. Adjectives
Adjectives are determiners that can be placed in two different
positions within a sentence [before a noun (attributive adjectives
– προσδιοριστικα επιθετα) or after (linking) verbs (predicative
adjectives – κατηγορηματικα επιθετα)] to modify or describe a
person or a thing.
Adjectives describe / modify nouns and pronouns. They precede
the noun and pronoun they modify, and do not have a different
form in the plural.
Copper coin (the adjective ‘copper’ modifies the noun ‘coin’
The only one I saw was Jim (the adjective ‘only’ modifies the
pronoun ‘one’)
Adjectives are also the same for all genders.
He is a good doctor
She is a good architect
Opinion adjectives precede fact adjectives (see section on the
order of adjectives).
A soft, white pillow
Nice, soft, white pillows
A nice, long vacation
Predicative [adjectives that follow a linking verb and modify /
describe the subject of the linking verb] and attributive
adjectives [typically immediately before the noun they modify;
an attributive adjective ascribes a certain characteristic of the
person, place or object represented by the noun that it is placed
before in a statement. Consider the example sentence: I admired
the pretty sky. In this example, pretty is an adjective; it is
describing the appearance of the sky.] come after such verbs as:
be, seem, appear, become, act, prove, feel, consider, believe,
look, find, sound, smell, taste, etc.
She looks beautiful (predicative)
Apples taste sweet and delicious.
After my workout, I feel powerful and energized.
The speaker is convincing and intelligent.
The flag is red, white, and blue.
Thank goodness you are alive and well.
Your team was muddy, victorious, and jubilant.
She is a happy girl (attributive)
Adjectives ending in -ed (past participles) show how people feel
about something. Adjectives ending in -ing (present participles)
describe the cause of a feeling.
They were excited about the new project.
The new project was exciting

Comparisons
Comparative degree (adjective + er / more +
adjective)
Formation:
- with one-syllable adjectives, we add –(e)r to form the
comparative
Old – older (than)
Cheap – cheaper (than)
- For one-syllable adjectives ending a vowel + consonant,
we double the consonant before adding the suffix -er
Sad – sadder (than)
- With two-syllable adjectives, we form the comparative
with more + adjective
Famous – more famous (than)
- For two-syllable adjectives ending in consonant + y, we
replace y with i, and then add -er
Happy – happier (than)
- With adjectives having more than two syllables,
comparatives are formed with more + adjective
Interesting – more interesting (than)
Expensive – more expensive (than)
- With adjectives ending in -e, we simply add -r to form the
comparative degree
Nice – nicer (than)
The comparative degree is used when two people or things are
compared (i.e., to compare one person or thing with another).
My grandmother walks slower (more slowly) than I do.
This couch is more comfortable than mine.
This box is heavier than that one.
[‘than’ precedes the second term of comparison]
Bill is younger than Jimmy

Ο συγκριτικος βαθμος του επιθετου χρησιμοποιειται για την

συγκριση δυο προσωπων η πραγματων (οι λεγομενοι δυο οροι
της συγκρισης, ο α’ ορος της συγκρισης και ο β’ ορος της
συγκρισης.). Στις περιπτωσεις αυτές o συγκριτικος βαθμος του
επιθετου ακολουθειται από το than.
Μερικα επιθετα που προερχονται από τα Λατινικα παιρνουν την
προθεση to και αιτιατικη αντι than και ονομαστικη
She is superior to them
They are inferior to us

Superlative degree (adjective + est / most + adjective)

Formation:
- with one-syllable adjectives, we add –(e)st to form the
superlative
Old – the oldest (of / in)
The cheapest (of / in)
- For one-syllable adjectives ending a vowel + consonant,
we double the consonant before adding the suffix -est
Sad – the saddest (of / in)
- With two-syllable adjectives, we form the superlative with
most + adjective
Famous – the most famous (of / in)
- For two-syllable adjectives ending in consonant + y, we
replace y with i, and then add -est
Happy – the happiest (of / in)
- With adjectives having more than two syllables,
superlatives are formed with most + adjective
Interesting – the most interesting (of / in)
Expensive – the most expensive (of / in)
- With adjectives ending in -e, we simply add -st to form the
superlative degree
Nice – the nicest (of / in)
The superlative degree is used when more than two people or
things are compared (i.e., to compare one person or thing with
others of the same group).
Suzan is the prettiest girl in the class.
Nancy is the most intelligent woman in the company.
This is the heaviest box of all in the warehouse.
[‘the’ precedes the superlative degree of an adjective, while ‘in’
or ‘of’ follows – ‘in’ is used with locations]
He is the funniest of all actors.
This is the biggest park in our city.
Note:
clever, common, cruel, friendly, gentle, narrow, pleasant, polite,
quiet, shallow, simple, stupid
form their comparatives and superlatives either with -er / -est or
with more / the most
Simple – simpler / more simple than – the simplest / the most
simple
Quiet – quieter / more quiet than – the quietest / most quiet
O υπερθετικος βαθμος χρησιμοποιειται όταν συγκρινουμε τρια
η περισσοτερα προσωπα η πραγματα. Στις περιπτωσεις αυτές,
χρησιμοποιειται το οριστικο αρθρο ‘the’ μπροστα από το
υπερθετικο επιθετο, ακολουθουμενο από την προθεση ‘of’. Εάν
η συγκριση αφορα τοπο / χωρο η περιληπτικο ουσιαστικο, μετα
το υπερθετικο επιθετο χρησιμοποιειται η προθεση ‘in’.
James is the best player in the team
Mary is the tallest girl in the class
That was the most interesting part of the story
Συχνα οι προθεσεις in / of και τα υπολοιπα συγκρινομενα
παραλειπονται εάν εννοουνται ευκολα από τα συμφραζομενα
This book is the best (of all)
Their daughter Marie is the youngest
Εάν τα συγκρινομενα ουσιαστικα είναι δυο χρησιμοποιειται
στην περιπτωση αυτή η φραση ‘of the two’ και συγκριτικος
βαθμος
Julia is the more beautiful of the two girls
Tell me the more adventurous of the two stories
Συγκριση κατωτεροτητας:
Εκφραζεται με τα less, least (παραθετικα του little)
These mathematical problems are less difficult than the other
ones
They are the least difficult of all
The peaches are less cheap than the apples
The airport is less near than I thought
He is less diligent than his sister
James is the least ambitious student of all

Special constructions
- [not] as + positive degree of an adjective / adverb + as
This construction shows that two people / things / activities are
or are not the same
My job is not as tiring as yours
This dog is not as friendly as mine
Tom is exactly as tall as Don
Their swimming pool is as big as ours
Lions aren’t as fast as cheetahs
Χρησιμοποιειται για τα επιθετα και τα επιρρηματα και
σχηματιζεται με το as…as (τοσο…οσο) για την καταφαση
[Συγκριση ισοτητας (comparison of equality)]
He is as clever as his brother
There were as many people as the other day

και not as / not so…as (όχι τοσο…οσο) για την αρνηση

[Συγκριση ανισοτητας (comparison of inequality)]
Their garden is not as wide as ours
Εάν αντι του επιθετου χρησιμοποιειται παθητικη μετοχη,
χρησιμοποιειται το as much…as
He was as much admired as his father
She is not as much educated as her sister

- The + comparative degree the + comparative degree

(οσο πιο…….τοσο πιο….)
This construction shows two changes which are correlated
The more you practice, the better you will become
The less you speak, the faster we will leave
[Συγκριση αναλογιας (οσο…τοσο)]
Στις συγκρισεις χρησιμοποιουνται επισης οι εκφρασεις
The same as (= ο ιδιος με)
Different from (= διαφορετικος από)
Similar to (= ομοιος / παρομοιος με)
Like (= σαν)
His car is the same make as ours
Her job is different from ours
Her house is similar to theirs
She swims like a fish
- Much, a bit, a lot , far, slightly, even, a little
These can also precede comparative adjectives / adverbs
The away match was much more difficult than the home one
He came slightly earlier than all the others
I feel a bit better now that I have had a good night’s sleep

- Irregular forms of the comparative and superlative

degrees of some adjectives and adverbs
Good – better than – the best (of / in)
Bad – worse than - the worst (of / in)
Little – less than – the least (of / in)
Much – more than – the most (of / in)
Many – more than – the most (of / in)
Far – farther / further than – the farthest / furthest (of / in)

Well - better – best

Badly – worse – worst
Note: we can use elder / eldest for persons in the same family
Her elder / eldest sister is a doctor

Summary of types of comparison

As…(positive degree)…as For hair as soft as silk, try this
new shampoo
Not so / as….(positive degree) The service isn’t as good as it
… used to be
Such a(n) / so…as It’s not such a long way as
we thought
Twice / three times etc. as… She earns twice as much as
(positive degree)… me
She’s only half as well-
qualified as her sister
The same as The Orion costs the same as
the Golf
Look, sound, smell, taste +
like
Less…(positive degree)…
than
The least..(positive degree)..of
/ in
The + comparative…the +
comparative
Comparative + and + Jobs are getting harder and
comparative
Prefer + -ing form or noun +
to + -ing form or noun
(general preference)
Would prefer + to-infinitive +
rather than + bare infinitive
(specific preference)
Would rather / sooner + bare
infinitive + than + bare
infinitive
Clause + whereas / while +
clause
(comparison by contrast)
Possessive Adjectives
Κτητικα επιθετα
My – μου
Your – σου
That sounds like a good idea
I have less free time than
Cathy, but Laura has the least
free time of all
The busier the roads are, the
longer it will take to get there
The less you sleep, the more
tired you are
harder to find
She prefers living for the
moment to thinking about the
future.
Most people prefer summer
to winter
I would prefer to book our
tickets now rather than wait
until the last minute
He’d sooner go alone than
go with a friend
Wouldn’t you sooner get a
takeaway than have to cook
tonight?
Carole enjoys adventure while
/ whereas her sister prefers
peace and quiet
His – του
Her – της
Its – του (για ζωα, πραγματα)
Our – μας
Your – σας
Their – τους
Φανερωνουν ποιος είναι ο ιδιοκτητης / κτητορας και
προηγουνται παντοτε του ουσιαστικου, δηλαδη του κτηματος /
της ιδιοκτησιας
Where are your books? (που είναι τα βιβλια σου?)
Δεν χρησιμοποιειται οριστικο η αοριστο αρθρο αρθρο μπροστα
από τα κτητικα επιθετα.
My pencilcase – η κασετινα μου
Όταν θελουμε να δωσουμε εμφαση στο κτημα / στην
ιδιοκτησια, χρησιμοποιουμε την λεξη ‘own’ μετα το κτητικο
επιθετο
We have our own (personal) swimming pool on the roof of our
apartment building.
Absolute / Non-gradable adjectives
Some adjectives express ideas that cannot be graded. For
example, a person cannot be ‘more’ or ‘less’ dead. In the same
way, a sphere cannot be ‘more’ or ‘less’ round. These adjectives
are called non-gradable or absolute adjectives.
Non-gradable adjectives do not have comparative or superlative
forms. There are very few such adjectives, the most common of
which are:
Absolute, impossible, principal, adequate, inevitable, sufficient,
complete, main, unanimous, unavoidable, entire, minor, fatal,
unique, final, universal, ideal, whole, preferable, dead.
Exceptions
Although the adjectives given above are not normally used
in comparative and superlative forms, you might still hear
expressions such as ‘more complete’ or ‘most perfect’. Though
incorrect, these expressions are quite common in speech and
have become somewhat acceptable, too. However, careful users
of the language should avoid them, especially in writing.
Users should also be careful not to use more along with a
comparative adjective ending in -er, and most with a superlative
adjective ending in -est. Thus, do not write more taller or most
smartest. These are examples of double comparatives and
superlatives. They are always wrong and must be avoided.

She is prettier than her sister – NOT: She is more prettier than
her sister

Some compound adjectives have two possible comparatives

and superlatives:
- Good-looking – better-looking or more good-looking –
best-looking or most good-looking
- Well-known – better-known or more well-known – best-
known or most well-known
In this case, the user can decide which form to use, but don’t
write ‘most best-known’ or ‘more better-looking’.

Different types of adjectives

When [you are] looking at words and how they are used in
sentences, sometimes the same word can be used as different
parts of speech in different sentences. Words that are usually
nouns or pronouns sometimes act as adjectives.

- Nouns: Sometimes nouns are used as adjectives.

Rachel prefers chocolate cookies.
Chocolate is usually a noun, but here it tells what kind of
cookies Rachel likes
That tree branch fell through my kitchen window.
Tree and kitchen are usually nouns, but here they tell what kind
of branch and window.

- Possessive Nouns: Possessive nouns always act as

adjectives.
The teacher's desk is in front of the class.
Teacher is a noun, but the possessive form is telling us whose
desk is in front of the class.

- Proper Nouns: Sometimes proper nouns are used as

adjectives.
Her dress was covered in Brussels lace.
Brussels is a city, but here it is telling what kind of lace.

- Some adjectives are both possessive and proper nouns

That is Melanie’s new laptop.

Melanie is a proper noun, but the possessive form is telling
whose laptop.

- Proper Adjectives: Sometimes new adjectives are formed

from proper nouns. Just like proper nouns, proper
adjectives need to be capitalized.
Strangely, the Chinese restaurant also served spaghetti, which is
an Italian dish.
China and Italy are places / countries (these two words are
nouns). They become Chinese and Italian when they are used
as adjectives.

- Pronouns: Some pronouns can be used as adjectives.

If a pronoun is used by itself, it is a pronoun.
If it modifies a noun, it is being used as an adjective.

Demonstrative adjectives
Demonstrative adjectives are used together with the noun and
qualify the noun

This [αυτος-η-ο], That [εκεινος-η-ο], These [αυτοι-ες- α], Those

[εκεινοι-ες-α]

These toys are for the children's shelter [καταφυγιο / ξενωνας

αστεγων].

This / these are used

For people or things near us This box is yours [= your

For present / future situations
When the speaker is in or near
the place he / she is referring
to
To introduce people or to
identify ourselves on the
phone
box]
I’m working the night shift
this week
This house was built in 1856
(the speaker is near or in the
house)
Ann, this is Jane. How are
you?

That / Those are used

For people or things not near That boy over there is my son
us
For past situations That day was the worst of his
life
To refer back to something - We are moving back to
mentioned before New York.
- That’s fantastic!
When speaking on the phone Hello? This is John Brown.
to ask who the other person is Who’s that, please?

demonstrative adjective + noun

This soup is good.
That car is old.
These chairs are antique.
Those children are clever.
This is a beautiful house.
That is Amy’s car.
These are his shoes.
Those are great books.

Note: This / That / These / Those are not always followed by

nouns
This is all I can do to help

- Demonstrative pronouns are not used with

the noun but stand in place of the noun.

demonstrative adjective + noun → demonstrative pronoun

(This soup is good →) This is good.
(That car is old. →) That is old.
(These chairs are antiques. →) These are antiques.
(Those children are clever. →) Those are clever.

Demonstrative Pronouns

This is beautiful.
That is Amy’s.
These are his.
Those are great.

Notice there are no nouns used with the demonstrative

pronouns.
There are not many demonstrative pronouns in the English
language, but their usage is common in spoken communication
and writing:
This, that, these, those, such, none, neither

Reviewing a few more examples can help clarify what

demonstrative pronouns are and how they function in the
English language. In the example below, the demonstrative
pronoun appears in bold. The noun(s) that the pronoun replaces
is underlined.

Bob was late again. That boy is stressing me out [στρεσαρω,

αγχωνω].
I love apple pie and cherry pie. These are my favorite pies.
How did you know I wanted some candy? This really surprised
me.
I loved growing potatoes and tomatoes. Those were my
gardening favorites.
I really love heavy metal music, but my dad does not. He will
allow none to be played in the car.
I don’t like eggs or spinach. Neither appeals [ελκυω] to me.
Everything seems vague [ασαφης, αοριστος]. Such is the reality
of relationships [αυτή / τετοια είναι η πραγματικοτητα των
σχεσεων].

Using a Demonstrative Pronoun

When talking to someone, you can easily clarify the meaning of
a demonstrative pronoun by pointing or otherwise gesturing
toward it, or your listener(s) will need to be looking at it as well.
However, demonstrative pronouns aren’t only used in spoken
communication. Context is important when using a
demonstrative pronoun in writing.

Using a list in close proximity to (either before or after) "these"

or "those" would be clear enough.
Example: "Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens, bright
copper kettles [βραστηρες / κατσαρολες] and warm woolen
mittens [γαντια χωρις δακτυλα] , brown paper packages tied up
with strings - these are a few of my favorite things."

You could refer to a description of an object, activity, or

situation as "this" or "that" if you do so immediately following
the description.
Example: They make you wear rented shoes, you always smell
bad when you leave, my thumb nail always breaks off, and I'm
not good at it. That is why I hate bowling.
Nominal adjectives: (‘in with the news’)
Interrogative adjectives: (‘which book do you prefer?’)
Indefinite adjectives: (‘is there any discount?’)
Eponymous adjectives: (‘a Christian man’)

PRACTICE EXERCISES

1. Find the demonstrative adjective in these sentences.

I want this hat and no other will do.
That joke made me laugh out loud.
She had never seen those people before.
Those rooms need re-painting.
My favourite of all the food are these muffins [κεκακια].

2. Replace the noun or noun phrase that is underlined with a

demonstrative pronoun
The pen doesn’t work.
The chairs over there are very comfortable.
The house across the street is Peter’s house.
My soup is disgusting [αηδιαστικη, σιχαμενη].
I just fell over the toys here.

Answers
1. this hat, that joke, those people, those rooms, these muffins
2. this, those, that, this, these

Demonstrative Pronoun vs. Demonstrative Adjective

Are you wondering about the difference between demonstrative
pronouns and demonstrative adjectives? Since some of the same
demonstrative pronouns (this, that, these, those) can also be used
as demonstrative adjectives, it can be challenging to tell the
difference. The key lies with (εγκειται, βρισκεται, εντοπιζεται)
the sentence structure.

A demonstrative pronoun takes the place of a noun phrase that

has already been mentioned. (It always comes after the noun.)
A demonstrative adjective modifies the noun and is always
followed by the noun. (It always comes before the noun.)

There follow some demonstrative adjectives that modify

underlined nouns:

That food you’re cooking smells delicious.

Did you finally throw away that old T-shirt?
This bendy (ευλυγιστη) yoga pose really hurts.
Is this book yours or mine?
What is that frightening creature?
These pink cupcakes are my favorites.
I told you those old magazines were a fire hazard [κινδυνος
πυρκαγιας].

Which to Use: This, That, These, or Those?

Whether being used [ειτε χρησιμοποιουνται] as a demonstrative
pronoun or a demonstrative adjective, the words this, that, these,
and those can be a bit confusing for speakers and writers. This
and that are singular, while these and those are plural. That’s not
the part that people usually find confusing. The difficult part lies
with selecting which singular or plural pronoun is the right one.
The answer lies with distance.
This (singular) and these (plural) should be used to replace or
modify a noun that is in close proximity to [σε κοντινη / πολύ
μικρη αποσταση από] the speaker
That (singular) and those (plural) should be used to replace or
modify a noun that is far away, in terms of distance or time.

Demonstrative Pronoun Exercise

Test your expertise by completing the following activity.
Answer the questions without peeking [ριχνω μια κλεφτη ματια]
ahead to see the answers. Once you have finished, check your
work to see how you did!

Demonstrative Pronoun Activity Questions

Choose the correct answer for each item. Select (a) if the
underlined word is a demonstrative pronoun. Select (b) if the
underlined word is a demonstrative adjective

1. Those roaches under our sink are totally gross.

α. demonstrative pronoun β. demonstrative adjective
2. I don’t think my vote really counts. Such is the way of the
world.
α. demonstrative pronoun β. demonstrative adjective
3. These shoes smell disgusting; they’re just gross.
α. demonstrative pronoun β. demonstrative adjective
4. That is my gym bag. I thought I lost it.
α. demonstrative pronoun β. demonstrative adjective
5. I watched several old movies. Those old films are just
incredible.
α. demonstrative pronoun β. demonstrative adjective
Demonstrative Pronoun Activity Answers
Did you properly identify all the demonstrative pronouns?

1. b
2. a
3. b
4. b
5. a

- Possessive adjectives (+ noun): my [μου], your [σου], his

[του], her [της], its [του], [our [μας], your [σας] their
[τους].

My brother has lost his skateboard.

- Interrogative pronouns can be used as adjectives (+ noun):

which?, whose?, what?

Which car belongs to your sister?

Whose book are you looking for?

- Indefinite pronouns can also be used as adjectives

Some – any – no, both, any, both, all, neither, either, each,
few, many, one, several

Some people like warm weather.

To determine if a pronoun is being used as a pronoun or as an

adjective, ask ‘what?’ after the pronoun.

If you get a logical answer, it is acting as an adjective.

This is yours. (This what? nothing - it is a pronoun.)

This parcel / sundae is yours. (This what? This parcel / sundae -
it is an adjective)

[sundae - a dish of ice cream with added ingredients such as

fruit, nuts, and syrup].

Compound Adjectives

A compound adjective is a single adjective made up of more

than one word. The words in a compound adjective are usually
grouped together using hyphens to show it is a single adjective.
A three-turret castle [καστρο με τρεις πυργισκους]
A 400-page novel
A white-sided dolphin
A high-risk strategy
A once-in-a-lifetime opportunity [μοναδικη ευκαιρια]
A fourteen-year-old (boy / girl),
Over the counter (medicine)

Tumbledown [ετοιμορροπο, ερειπιο, σαραβαλο – a tumbledown

house]
Α foolproof plan [σιγουρος, ασφαλης, εγγυημενος, αλαθητος]
Aboveboard [νομιμος, τιμιος]
A downstairs room
Alongside [διπλα]
Overwhelming [whelm – πλημμυριζω, πνιγω, κυμα] –
συντριπτικος, σαρωτικος, ακατανικητη
An overwhelming challenge (δυσκολια)
Worldwide [παγκοσμιος]
Tenfold [δεκαμελης, δεκαπλασιος]
Outdoor [εξωτερικος, στο εξωτερικο, σε εξωτερικο χωρο]
Goodnight
Homemade [σπιτικος, χειροποιητος, αυτοσχεδιος, προχειρος]
Overdue [καθυστερημενος, αργοπορημενος]
South-east [νοτιοανατολικος]
South-west [νοτιοδυτικος]

More Examples of Compound Adjectives

Here are some examples of compound adjectives:

 A four-foot table
 A 12-page magazine
 free-range eggs (αβγα ελευθερας βοσκης)
 never-to-be-forgotten experience
 well-deserved award

Real-Life Examples of Compound Adjectives

 I'm the underdog (το αουτσαιντερ / ο αθενεστερος / ο
αδικημενος), the 5-foot-6-inch wrestler. The kids don't
say, "I can beat Rey." They say "I can be like Rey."
(Professional wrestler Óscar Gutiérrez, aka (also known
as) Rey Mysterio)
 Cross-country competition (διαγωνισμος / αγωνας
ανωμαλου δρομου) taught me valuable lessons. Training
counted more than ability as I could compensate with
 diligence (επιμελεια, συνεπεια) and discipline. I applied
this in everything I did. (President of South Africa Nelson
Mandela)
 Why do we have front-page news [πρωτοσελιδες ειδησεις]
about celebrity divorces instead of front-page news about
global warming? (Model Heather Mills)
 Privileged girls armed with nothing more than guinea-pig-
rearing certificates (πιστοποιητικα εκτροφης
πειραματοζωων) have started to move into law,
consultancy, media, and the arts. (Paraphrased from a
quotation by author Peter York)
 It's a well-known fact that tall people are evil. (Comedian
Kevin Hart (5'4")

More about Compound Adjectives

Compound adjectives can also be grouped using italics,
quotation marks, and title case (χρησιμοποιωντας κεφαλαια
γραμματα για τις κυριες λεξεις).

 It's a bona fide purchaser (φερεγγυος αγοραστης).

(It is common convention (αποτελει κοινη παραδοση) to

write foreign words in italics. When those words are a
compound adjective, the italics group them, eliminating
the need for hyphens.)

 Is that your "go away" look?

(If there's a reason to put your compound adjective in

quotation marks (e.g., it's a genuine quotation or a ship's
name), then the quotation marks group the adjective,
eliminating the need for hyphens.)

 Did you watch the Harry Potter documentary?

(If your compound adjective is a title written in title case

(i.e., using capital letters for the principal words), then the
 title case groups your adjective, eliminating the need for
hyphens.)

Why Should I Care about Compound Adjectives?

Punctuating compound adjectives correctly will not only
showcase your writing skills but also help your readers to absorb
your words more easily. When a compound adjective is not
grouped to show it's one grammatical unit, it can cause your
readers' scan (ελεγχος, εξεταση) to stutter (κομπιαζω)
momentarily (στιγμιαια) as they group (ομαδοποιω) the words
into a single (μοναδικη, ενιαια) entity (οντοτητα) themselves.

Also, if you're following British writing conventions (κανονες,

συμβασεις), you don't have a choice. In the UK, readers expect
hyphens in their compound adjectives. In the US, readers are
more lenient (επιεικης).

 Women in mystery fiction were largely confined to little

old lady snoops (ερευνες, σκαλισμα υποθεσεων). (US
author Marcia Muller) ( for Americans) ( untidy
[ακαταστατο, τσαπατσουλικο] for Brits)
 Women in mystery fiction [μυθοπλασια] were largely
confined to little-old-lady snoops. (acceptable for all)

Here are five more good reasons to care about compound

adjectives.

- The hyphen might be essential to eliminate

ambiguity.
Sometimes, a hyphen is essential to avoid ambiguity. Look at
the two examples below.

 a heavy-metal detector [ανιχνευτης βαρεων μεταλλων]

 a heavy metal detector [βαρυς ανιχνευτης μεταλλων]

Both versions [εκδοχες] above are correct, but they mean

different things. The first device [συσκευη, μηχανημα]detects
heavy metals. The second device is heavy and detects metal. If
we're talking about a device that detects heavy metals (e.g.,
mercury [υδραργυρος] , cadmium [καδμιο[, thallium [θαλλιο]),
then writing "heavy metal detector" would be wrong in the UK
(United Kingdom) and the US (United States of America).

The following three examples highlight why hyphens might be

essential. If you wrote "twenty four hour shifts" (i.e., without
hyphens), you'd be relying on your readers knowing the context
to guess the right version, and you'd have done little to showcase
(αναδεικνυω, προβαλλω, παρουσιαζω) your writing skills or to
portray yourself as a clear thinker (σαφης διανοητης).

 Twenty-four hour shifts. [24 ωριαιες βαρδιες]

(These shifts last an hour. There are 24 of them.)

 Twenty four-hour shifts. [20 4ωρες βαρδιες]

(These shifts last four hours. There are 20 of them.)

 Twenty-four-hour shifts. [24ωρες βαρδιες]

(These shifts last 24 hours. The number is unspecified.

[ακαθοριστη, απροσδιοριστη])
Here's an often cited, but probably apocryphal [ψευτικο,
πλασματικο, πλαστο[, headline in a local newspaper:

 Doctor helps dog bite child.

(Clearly, "dog-bite child" would have been clearer.)

The next one is not apocryphal, however. In August 2018, the
grammar world was set alight [βαζω φωτια] by this headline
[τιτλος, πρωτοσελιδο] in the "The Pratt Tribune [βημα]" (from
Pratt, Kansas):

 Students get firsthand job experience. [προσωικη

εργασιακη εμπειρια[

("Students get first-hand job experience" would have

avoided the Twitter spike of the hashtag #hyphensmatter.
 NB: Firsthand (από πρωτο χερι, πρωσωπικη] as one word
would also have been acceptable.)

- Sometimes there's a hyphen. Sometimes there

isn't.
Writers often ask questions like "Is there a hyphen in tax
avoidance [φοροαποφυγη]?" or "Is airport parking [χωρος
σταθμευσης αεροδρομιου] hyphenated?". Well, the answer to
those questions is sometimes yes and sometimes no. If those
terms are being used as adjectives, then yes. If they're not,
then no.

 He is a specialist in tax avoidance.

 He is a tax-avoidance specialist.

(Both are correct. In the second version, "tax-avoidance" is

a compound adjective modifying "specialist.")

 How much is airport parking?

 What are the airport-parking fees?

(Both are correct. In the second version, "airport-parking"

is a compound adjective modifying "fees.")
There's a trap though. It's not uncommon for your adjective to
be a compound noun, which gets hyphens in its own right
[δικαιωματικα / από μονο του].

 He attended a course on self-awareness.

 He attended a self-awareness course.

(Both are correct. "Self-awareness" [αυτεπιγνωση,

αυτοσυναισθηση] is a hyphenated compound noun.)

- Sometimes it's one word not two, so you don't

need any hyphens.

Before you ask yourself a question like "Is counterintelligence

hyphenated?" No. (NB [Nota Bene (Σημειωση):
"Counterintelligence" [αντικατασκοπεια] is acceptable
[αποδεκτη] as one word.[ως μια λεξη])

The quickest way is to test whether your spellchecker likes the

one-word version. If it does, use it. If it doesn't, it's worth
checking in a dictionary (online or otherwise) because
spellcheckers take time to catch up with the latest trends.

- Students get firsthand job experience.

(Writing "firsthand" as one word would have saved "The

Pratt Tribune" its embarrassment [ντροπη, αμηχανια]. Of
note [αξιοσημειωτο, αξιομνημονευτο] though, most
spellcheckers [ορθογραφικοι ελεγχοι] show firsthand as an
error, but all the big dictionaries allow it.)

Here is an example with first-hand experience and firsthand

experience.

- Only the words in the same adjective are joined

by hyphens.
Don't be tempted [μην μπειτε στον πειρασμο] to string [να
ενωσετε / συνδυασετε] all adjectives together with hyphens. It is
common to use more than one adjective to describe something.
(called "enumeration [απαριθμηση] of adjectives").

- She's an intelligent articulate [ευφραδης, ευγλωττη] lady.

(Here, "intelligent" and "articulate" are standalone

[αυτονομα, αυτοδυναμα] adjectives. This is an example of
enumeration of adjectives. There's no compound
adjective.)

If you're unsure whether you're dealing with a compound

adjective or two separate adjectives, put the word "and"
between the two words. If there's no loss of meaning, then
you're almost certainly dealing with two adjectives, and you
don't need a hyphen.

- large proud rooster > large and proud rooster

(This still makes sense. It's two adjectives. No hyphen is

required.)

- first aid post > first and aid post

(This is nonsense. It's clearly not two adjectives. It's a

compound adjective. It should be "first-aid" post. [σταθμος
πρωτων βοηθειων])

- An adverb is not linked to an adjective with a

hyphen...unless it helps.
Adjectives are often preceded by adverbs (e.g., very, well,
beautifully, extremely). Usually, there's no need to link an
adverb to an adjective using a hyphen.

- Programming is an extremely creative profession. It's

logic-based creativity. (Video-game developer John
Romero)

("Extremely" is an adverb. There's no need to link it to the

adjective "creative" with a hyphen. As they are compound
adjectives, "logic-based" and "video-game" are correctly
hyphenated.)
Using a hyphen with an adverb like very, most, or least is an
uncommon error. However, when an adverb ends in "-ly" (and
lots do), many writers feel the urge to use a hyphen. It's a waste
of ink.

- Strengths: Professionally-trained editor.

(This is an extract from a CV. Oops.)

However, with words like well, fast, and best (which are both
adjectives and adverbs [e.g., ‘well’ is an adjective in ‘I am
well’), a hyphen can be used to avoid ambiguity.
 - We're looking at a well-developed [ανεπτυγμενο,
ολοκληρωμενο] fetus.

(This means the fetus [εμβρυο] is significantly past the

embryonic state.)

- We're looking at a well developed fetus. (ambiguous)

(This could mean the same as above, but it could also

mean a well (i.e., healthy) developed fetus.)
This situation occurs most commonly with well (e.g., well-fatted
calf [ο μοσχος ο σιτευτος]), but it can occur with fast and best
too (e.g., fast-changing wind [ταχεως / ραγδαια μεταβαλλομενος
ανεμος], best-known actor [ξακουστος, πασιγνωστος
ηθοποιος]).

Key Points
- Use hyphens in your compound adjectives to showcase
your writing skills, to protect your readers from reading-
scan stutter, and to eliminate ambiguity with the meaning.
- Check your two-word compound adjective (e.g., "back-
breaking" [πολύ κουραστικος, κοπιαστικος, εξοντωτικος)
isn't acceptable as one word (e.g., "backbreaking").
- If you're dealing with two single-word adjectives (as
opposed to a two-word compound adjective), you'll be able
to put "and" between them. Don't link two independent
adjectives with a hyphen.
- Don't use a hyphen with an adverb like "very,"
"extremely," or "professionally."
- Link the adverb "well" to the adjective it's modifying
with a hyphen.

- Επιθετα που χρησιμοποιουνται ως

ουσιαστικα
Μερικα επιθετα χρησιμοποιουνται ως ουσιαστικα στον
πληθυντικο αριθμο, φανερωνοντας μια ολοκληρη ταξη /
κατηγορια ανθρωπων. Μπροστα από τα επιθετα αυτά
συντασσεται το αοριστο αρθρο (the), ενώ ακολουθει ρημα
πληθυντικου αριθμου εφοσον εκφραζουν πληθος.

Examples:

The rich – οι πλουσιοι

The young – οι νεοι

The blind – οι τυφλοι

The brave – οι γενναιοι

The sick – οι ασθενουντες

The ignorant – οι αδαεις

The poor – οι φτωχοι

The old / elderly – οι ηλικιωμενοι

The wounded – οι τραυματιες

The dead – οι νεκροι

The proud – οι περηφανοι

The selfish – οι εγωιστες

The mighty – οι ισχυροι

The destitute – οι αποροι, οι ενδεεις

The wealthy – οι ευποροι

Note:

The haves – οι εχοντες, οι κατεχοντες, οι ευποροι

The have-nots – οι μη ευποροι, οι μη κατεχοντες, οι αποροι

Αdjectives – Adverbs -examples / exercise

(identification)

This is an airmail letter [αεροπορικη επιστολη[ from my pen

pal in Timbuctoo. (Adjective)
She sent it airmail [αεροπορικως] and I’m still waiting for it.
(Adverb)

She alone [μονη αυτή] knew what happened that night.

(Adjective)
She raised nine children alone [χωρις καμια βοηθεια /
ολομοναχη]. (Adverb)

He lost his wallet to a pickpocket when he kept it in his back

pocket [πισω τσεπη]. (Adjective)
We have not seen him since he borrowed a big sum of money
from us several years back [πριν]. (Adverb)

He seemed to think there’s no better way of getting money

than stealing it. (Adjective)
You cannot possibly speak better with your mouth full of
crisps. (Adverb)

I had a cheap fruit juice that tasted like tap water. (Adjective)
These imported lollipops don’t come cheap. (Adverb)

Your grandmother and my grandfather are close in age.

(Adjective)
Someone parked his truck so close [παρα πολύ κοντα] in front
of my car. (Adverb)

The drunken driver drove his car into a deep ravine [ρεματια,
φαραγγι]. (Adjective)
They walked deep into the cave in search of treasure. (Adverb)

There was no direct route to the cove [ορμος, κολπισκος,

λιμανακι], so we went around the hill. (Adjective)
She went direct to the manager with the complaint. (Adverb)

We booked a room with a double bed to share among the three

of us. (Adjective)
He was so drunk that he saw double and counted more people
than there were. (Adverb)

Poor diet can lead to early death [προωρος θανατος].

(Adjective).
We arrived early but the queue had already stretched
[απλωνομαι, εκτεινομαι] for more than a mile. (Adverb)

The losing team complained the field was not even [επιπεδο].
(Adjective)
Her pet cat is fat, but her pet dog is even [ακομη] fatter.
(Adverb)

It's not fair that I should get a slice of the pizza while he got two
slices. (Adjective)
He believed if he played fair, he would lose so he cheated.
(Adverb)

A flock of pigeons is cooing [γουργουριζει] at the far end

[μακρυνο ακρο] of the field. (Adjective)
They found their missing great grandfather wandering far
[μακρυα] from home. (Adverb)

My big aunt is a fast eater, a lot faster than me. (Adjective)

I acted fast in shouting "fire" and everyone dashed for
[κινηθηκαν βιαστικα / εσπευσαν προς] the exit. (Adverb)

Last night, she saw a ghost for the first time in her life.
(Adjective)
It seemed you had to talk to the father first before you could
talk to the daughter. (Adverb)

I didn't perform [αποδιδω] well as the test was hard [δυσκολο].

(Adjective)
Everyone was trying hard [παρα πολύ] not to laugh at his new
haircut. (Adverb)
 On the high ground [από το υψωμα / από το ψηλο σημειο], we
could see the moon rising over the horizon. (Adjective)
What were those lights circling high in the sky? (Adverb)

He kept repeating day and night that he was not mentally ill.
(Adjective)
He often spoke ill [ασχημα] of his mother-in-law. (Adverb)

The victim’s family thought he had not got his just punishment
[δικαιη τιμωρια] for the crime. (Adjective)
He just [απλως] kept scratching the back of the head. (Adverb)

A kindly [ευγενικη] old lady shared her umbrella with me when

it wasn't raining. (Adjective)
He kindly [ευγενικα] explained to us how the dinosaurs became
extinct. (Adverb)

The last time we met, she wasn’t as fat as she is now.

(Adjective)
She fell and finished last in the race. (Adverb)

His son scored a late [αργοπορημενο] goal to win the game for
his team. (Adjective)
He’s thinking hard [σκεφτεται πολύ / σπαει το κεφαλι του]for an
excuse for arriving at work a half hour late [αργα] . (Adverb)
Bob's left ear is much bigger than his right [δεξι] ear.
(Adjective)
The driver turned left when he should have turned right [δεξια].
(Adverb)

He refuses to go along as he thinks the car is likely [πιθανο] to

break down on the way. (Adjective)
He will likely [πιθανοτατα] be a drug addict like all his friends.
(Adverb)

There were little [μικρα] fragments (θραυσματα) of broken

glass in the pond. (Adjective)
After her dream that she met her Mr. Right, she slept very little
[λιγο]. (Adverb)

This species of spider has long [μακρυα], hairy legs. (Adjective)

Getting chased by a bull is an experience she will long [για πολύ
καιρο] remember. (Adverb)

She was born with an unnaturally loud voice. (Adjective)

A voice in the crowd cried out loud that her little daughter was
missing. (Adverb)

Last night, he thought he heard low [χαμηλοφωνες] voices from

the roof calling him. (Adjective)
We cut an opening in the fence and bent low [χαμηλα] to get
through it. (Adverb)
The near [κοντινοι] relatives of the deceased [του αποθανοντος]
will inherit her five dogs. (Adjective)
I went too near [παρα πολύ κοντα] to her last week, and now
I'm having her cold. (Adverb)
You're not the only one [ο μοναδικος] who is worried about
global warming. (Adjective)
This double-decker bus is for female passengers only [μονο].
(Adverb)
He made frequent overseas [υπερποντια] trips to visit the
world's great museums. (Adjective)
He lived overseas [εξω / στο εξωτερικο] for five years as an
illegal immigrant [λαθρομεταναστης / παρανομος μεταναστης].
(Adverb)

His book is based on his past experiences [παρελθουσες

εμπειριες] in the various prisons. (Adjective)
Several months went past [περασαν], and he still owed me the
money. (Adverb)

You are quite a pretty sight [ομορφο θεαμα] when you get out
of bed in the morning. (adjective)
Life was pretty [αρκετα] tough at first when her husband went
off [φευγω] like that. (adverb)

Must you always be quick to grab the biggest piece? (Adjective)

He often gets drunk pretty quick [γρηγορα] (Adverb)
You didn’t get a right answer [σωστη απαντηση] to the fifty
questions - why? (Adjective)
We walked right past a crowd [ ακριβως διπλα / από μπροστα
απο ένα πληθος] watching a man doing magic. (Adverb)

The dog caused scratching marks on the door with its sharp
claws [νυχια]. (Adjective)
I set the alarm clock to go off [εβαλα / ρυθμισα το ξυπνητηρι να
χτυπησει] at six o'clock sharp [ακριβως], but it went off at
seven. (Adverb)

In a few short [λιγα / ελαχιστα / λιγα μολις] years, his skinny

and undersized [μικροκαμωμενη] sister has grown into [ειχε
γινει] a big [μεγαλοσωμη] fat woman. (Adjective)
He had to cut his speech short [αποτομα] when great drops of
rain started to fall. (Adverb)

For God's sake, sit still [ακινητος] f you want your photo taken.
(Adjective)
Abu still [ακομη[ rides the same old camel after all these years.
(Adverb)

They gave Neil a straight [καθαρη / ξεκαθαρη] choice – to

resign or get the sack. (adjective)
His bad habit is to beat about the bush [γυροφερνω το θεμα /
υπεκφευγω / το παω γυρω-γυρω] instead of going straight to
the point [ μπαινω κατευθειαν στο θεμα]. (adverb)

Her jeans have got too tight [στενο] and she can't wear them
anymore. (Adjective)
The commuters are used to being packed tight [στριμωγμενοι
κοντα-κοντα] like sardines in the train in rush hour. (Adverb)
Her friends described her as a very together [συγκροτημενο]
sort of person. (Adjective)
They have been playing together as a double pair in tennis for
some years. (Adverb)
The doctor said it would be some time before she could be
completely well. (Adjective)
The villagers said it was a big lie when they were told that work
on the project was progressing well. (Adverb)

Escaping from prison would only get him into worse trouble θα
τον εβαζε σε χειροτερους μπελαδες]. (Adjective)
The team was booed [αποδοκιμαστηκε / γιουχαιστηκε] by its
fans as it did worse [τα πηγε χειροτερα] than expected in the
match. (Adverb)
You must be using a wrong [λανθασμενο] form; it should be
yellow, not pink. (Adjective)
You again dialed the numbers wrong [λανθασμενα]. (Adverb)

Numerical adjectives (ordinal and cardinal)

One, two, three, first, second, third, etc.
One day you will regret this

EXERCISE
TWO-WORD ADJECTIVES
1. The children behaved well
………………………………….children
2. Money earned the hard way
……………………………………money
3. Poems made up of two stanzas
…………………………………poem
4. A report given in forty minutes
…………………………………….report
5. A cake made up of four layers
………………………………….cake
6. A fish that is one foot long
……………………………………fish
7. A street used for traffic moving in two ways
…………………………………street
8. A story which is ten pages long
………………………………….story
9. A house made up of two storeys
………………………………….house
10. A monument which is twenty feet high / tall
……………………………………monument

Answers
1. Well-behaved children
2. Hard-earned money
3. Two-stanza poems
4. A forty-minute report
5. A four-layered cake
6. A one-foot long fish
7. A two-way street
8. A ten-page long story
 9. A two-storey house
10. A twenty-foot tall / high monument

EXERCISES
1. FILL IN THE GAPS WITH THE COMPARATIVE
OR THE SUPERLATIVE FORM OF THE
ADJECTIVES GIVEN
a) This armchair is ………………………(comfortable) than
our old one.
b) Trains are ………………………(slow) than airplanes.
c) I bought the ……………………(expensive) souvenir
(that) I could afford.
d) In our classroom there are ……………….(many) girls
than boys.
e) Ann is the ………………….(young) child in the family.
f) That TV set is the …………………(cheap) of all.
g) You are ………………….(safe) here than in the woods.
h) Joanna is ……………………...(pretty) than Kate.
i) This is the …………………(exciting) film (that) I have
ever seen.
j) Robert is ……………………(talented) than Paul.

2. Fill in the gaps with the comparative form of the

adjectives given
a) A rock is ………………(heavy) than a leaf.
b) Our house is ………………(big) than yours.
c) The princess is ……………….(beautiful) than the witch.
d) Tim is a ………………(good) student than Mary.
e) Bicycles are much ………………(safe) than motorbikes.
f) July is a ………………….(hot) month than January.
g) A lion is ………………….(dangerous) than a cat.
h) Helen is a much ………………(pleasant) girl than Mary.
i) Computers are …………………(expensive) than
telephones.
j) I think golf is ………………….(boring) than football.

3. Comparative – Superlative degree

a) Joe is ……………….(short) than Ed.
b) Al is the ………………(short) student in the class.
c) Mark is the …………….(thin) boy in the neighbourhood.
d) Alice is …………………(fat) than her sister.
e) She wears the ……………………(colourful) clothes I
have ever seen
f) A cow is ………………(heavy) than a horse.
g) A feather is ……….(light) than a pencil.
h) Young children are generally …………….(happy) than
grown-ups.
i) Jill is a ………………….(mysterious) woman than Sylvia.
j) Joe is the ……………………(energetic) player in the
team.

4. Comparative – Superlative
a) This garden is …………………(beautiful) than the one
next to it.
b) Argentina is ………………(large) than Colombia, but
Brazil is …………….(large) country in South America.
c) Today is the ……………….(good) day of the year.
d) Mercury is the……………(hot) planet in the solar system.
e) I am ……………(tall) than my sister, but dad is the
………….(tall) in the family.
f) Lizards are …………………(slow) than foxes.
 g) His English is getting ……………(good), but his Spanish
is getting ……………(bad).
h) My mum’s car is old. She needs a …………(new) one.
i) Madrid is the ………………(large) city in Spain.

5. Complete the sentences with the correct form of the

verb given
a) If science fiction makes you feel ……………, you will
find this film very …………………. [bore]
b) What an ……………………experience! I felt so
………………… that I turned bright red. [embarrass]
c) Ann was …………………to meet the pop star. In fact, it
was one of the most ………………….moments in her life.
[thrill]
d) Clara has so many ……………….habits! I try very hard
not to get …………………….with her, but sometimes it
so difficult! [annoy]
e) Doing math problems is …………….for Peter. Sometimes
he gets so …………………that he gives up. [frustrate]
f) I’m …………………by the way this room looks! Let’s
clean up this …………………mess right now. [disgust]

Adjectives and Adverbs

6. Write what the word in bold is: an adjective or adverb?
1. Fast runners win races. …… adjective …….
2. Mathematics is difficult. …………………….
3. She’s a good typist. …………………….
4. She behaved rudely to her boss. …………………….
5. You’ve done well in your test. …………………….
6. The clowns are very funny. …………………….
7. She’s a pretty girl. …………………….
8. He runs fast. …………………….
9. Ann is very sad. …………………….
10. She plays the piano beautifully. …………………….
11. Father is very busy in his office. .……………………
12. The doctor arrived immediately. …………………….

7. Underline the correct item:

1. He left the room quiet / quietly.
2. Jane works hard / hardly.
3. He’s a very nice / nicely man.
4. The sun is shining bright / brightly.
5. Smoking is bad / badly for your health.
6. She behaves very good / well.
7. He always dresses smart / smartly.
8. He shouted angry / angrily at me.
9. This chair is comfortable / comfortably.
10. He smiled sad / sadly.
11. You drive very slow / slowly.

8. Complete these sentences:

1. There was some heavy rain last night.
Yes, it rained very ….. heavily. …………………
2. Aren’t the children quiet!
Yes, they’re working very ……………………….
3. James has a loud voice.
Yes, he always talks very ……………………….
4. Isn’t the teacher angry!
Yes, he’s shouting very ………………………….
5. Angela’s very happy today!
Yes, she’s laughing very …………………………
6. The telephone rang in the middle of the night. Nick was very
sleepy.
He answered it very …………………………….
7. Kate likes playing slow music.
Yes, she’s playing this piece very ……………….

9. Complete the sentence with the correct word from the

brackets:
Example: Mice move …… .quietly …… (quiet / quietly)
1. This exercise is ……………………… (easy / easily)
2. These people are speaking …………………………… (quiet /
quietly)
3. Mr. Brown can speak English ………………………. (good /
well)
4. Tigers are ………………………… animals. (brave / bravely)
5. The footballer is ………………………. (tired / tiredly)
6. Cheetahs run …………………………. (quick / quickly)
7. She is lifting the weight …………………………… (easy /
easily)
8. The children are playing …………………………… (happy /
happily)
9. Tony is a …………………………… skier. (good / well)

10. Supply the proper form, ADJECTIVE or ADVERB:

1. He always does his homework
……………………………………… .(careful).
2. He is a very ……………………………… (careful) student.
3. Come …………………………… (quick). We need your
help.
4. You should drive more …………………………… (slow)
along this road.
5. The old man walks very …………………………… .(slow).
6. Helen is a very ……………………………. (slow) student.
7. Her brother, on the other hand, learns
…………………………… (rapid).
8. Mr. Gonzales has a ……………………………….
(permanent) visa.
9. He hopes to remain in this country
……………………………. (permanent).
10. This is an …………………………… (easy) exercise.
11. I can do all of these exercises ……………………… (easy).
12. Helen works very ………………………… (hard) in her
new job.
13. You walk very ………………………… (fast).
14. They are both ………………………. (serious) students.
15. They both study English very ………………………………
(serious).
16. I agree with you ……………………………. (complete) on
that matter.
17. This apple is very ………………………. (soft).
18. She always speaks ………………………. (soft) to the child.
19. Helen is a ……………………………… .(beautiful) girl.
20. Her sister plays the violin ……………………………
(beautiful).

11. Comparatives and Superlatives

Fill in the blanks with the adjectives in brackets:
1. Tom is …………………………………………………… his
brother. (old)
2. This problem is …………………………………………….
that problem. (easy)
3. John is …………………………………………………. boy
in our class. (tall)
4. My friend is …………………………………………. my
sister. (fat)
5. My room is ……………………………………… room in our
house. (small)
6. Sydney is ………………………………………… city in
Australia. (large)
7. The Amazon is ………………………………… river in
Brasil. (long)
8. Madonna is …………………………………………. Sandra.
(popular)
9. My English is ………………………………………. your
English. (good)
10. The weather today is ……………………………………….
the weather yesterday. (bad)
11. This garden is …………………………………………….
that garden. (large)
12. Elizabeth is ……………………………………………. girl
in our group. (beautiful)
13. I am ……………………………………………… girl in the
class. (short)
14. What is ………………………………………. film on TV
today? (funny)
15. Who is ………………………………………… girl in your
class? (pretty)

12. Fill in the blanks as in the example:

I went on holiday last year, but it was a disaster! My hotel room
was … smaller than … (small) the one in the photograph in the
brochure. I think it was ……………………………… (small)
room in the hotel. The weather was terrible too. It was
………………………………… (cold) in England. The beach
near the hotel was very dirty – it was
………………………………… (dirty) all the beaches on the
island. The food was ………………………………………….
(expensive) I expected, and I didn’t have enough money. One
day I went shopping in a big department store and I broke a
vase. It was ……………………………………………………
( expensive) vase in the whole shop. But
………………………………………. (bad) thing of all was that
I had lost my passport and I couldn’t go back home. It was
………………………………………….(horrible) holiday all
my life.

13. Fill in the blanks with the adjective in brackets. Use the
comparative, superlative or ‘as…..as’ forms.
a) My bike is …………(fast) my sister’s.
b) Poor Tom! He got ……………….(bad) mark in the whole
class in Geography.
c) The Alps in Switzerland are ……………………(high) the
Greek mountains
d) December is usually ……………………(cold) month of the
year.
e) Tigers are……………………….(dangerous) as lions.
f) It’s much ……………….(sunny) in Spain …………………in
England.
g) I think math is not ………………(difficult) as chemistry.
h) Who is ……………….(pupil) in the class?

14. Use the proper form - adjective or adverb in the

following sentences
a) He can do this exercise……………..(easy)
b) Tim plays the piano ………………….(beautiful)
c) Is he a …………………. student? (clever)
d) They behaved to us …………………(friendly).
e) She is a…………………girl (pretty)
f) And they lived …………………..ever after (happy)
g) We listened to the story very ………………..(serious)
h) Tom always does his work …………………..(careful)
i) The dog ran …………………across the field (quick)
j) This armchair is very …………………..(comfortable)

15. Complete the following sentences with the correct form

of the verb in brackets
a) She …………………had an accident at that corner (near /
nearly)
b) He is studying very …………………..(hard / hardly)
c) This cheese doesn’t smell too …………….I think it’s all right
(bad / worse)
d) He seems ……………………but he isn’t really (stupid /
stupidly)
e) I don’t think she is as………………..as her sister (pretty /
prettily)
f) He could…………………..understand what I was trying to
say (hard / hardly)
g) Who is that man who is smiling………………(friendly / in a
friendly way)
h) I don’t think I’ve met such a ……………..person in all my
life (rude / rudely)
i) is your aunt………………………………again after her
operation ? (good / well)
j) if he didn’t drive so ………………….he wouldn’t have so
many accidents (careless / carelessly)
Underline the correct item (adjective or adverb) in the
brackets.
When I finished University, I found it very (hard / hardly) to get
a job soon, but after three months I tried to get a (good / well)
job in a multinational manufacturing company in Liverpool.
On my (first / firstly) day at work I didn't feel very
(well / good) because I was (completely / complete)
inexperienced. I wanted to be (real / really) good and
work (careful / carefully) and (efficient / efficiently). I knew it
was not so (easily / easy) because I had to check production
charts every day and prepare (good / well) and (meaningfully /
meaningful) reports.

Choose the correct answer.

1. That building is …………….. than the other next to it.
a) tallest b) tall c) taller d) the tallest
2. The factory he works has……………. mployees than
mine.
a) much b) more c) many d) the most
3. Your job is …………….paid of all.
a) the worse b) the worst c) worst d) the better
4. Plastics are …………….recycled than metals.
a) easily b) easier c) easiest d) more easily
5. He designs ………………….than his friend.
a) well b) best c) the best d) better
6. Larger vehicles consume ……………….gasoline than
smaller ones.
a) more b) the more c) most d) the most
7. Is this test…………………… than the other one?
a) most difficult b) much difficult c) very difficult d)
more difficult
8. Iron is ……………………. used metal.
a) most widely b) more widely c) widely d) the most
widely
9. January was……………………. month of the year.
a) the busiest b) busiest c) more busy d) busier
10. Many synthetic fabrics are ………………….than cotton.
a) durable b) most durable c) more durable d) durabler
11. Atoms are ……………………… than molecules.
a) small b) the smallest c) smaller d) the smaller
12. Our company is ……………………in the area.
a) large b) largest c) larger d) the largest

Fill in the Comparative and Superlative form of the

adjectives below
 POSITIVE COMPARATIVE SUPERLATIVE
short
high
flexible
large
thin
many
low
little
conventional
big
early
good
efficient
bad
suitable
easy
important
Vocabulary
Cabin – ξυλινη καλυβα
Precede – προηγουμαι
Correlated – συσχετισμενος, συνδεδεμενος
Away match – εκτος εδρας παιχνιδι
Home match – εντος εδρας παιχνιδι
Farther – μακρυτερα, πιο μακρυα, κατά πολύ, παραπερα,
περαιτερω
Further – κατά πολύ, παραπερα, περαιτερω
By far – μακραν, κατά πολυ
Thrill – συγκινω, συναρπαζω
thrilling – συναρπαστικος
Frustrate – ματαιωνω, εκνευριζω, ενοχλω, απογοητευω
Disgust – αηδιαζω, προκαλω αποστροφη