Unit 4

cheap

adj (cheaper / cheapest)

op. expensive

low in price

Eggs are cheap just now.

quiet

adj ( quiter / quitest)

op. noisy

not making very much, or any, noise; without very much, or any, noise

Tell the children to be quiet

It’s very quiet out in the country

a quiet person.

shallow

adj (shallower / shallowest)

op. deep

not deep

shallow water

a shallow pit.

near

adj (nearer / nearest)

op. far

not far away in place or time

The station is quite near

Christmas is getting near.

flat

adj (flatter / flattest)

op. hilly

level; without rise or fall

a flat surface.

• Big (good, happy,surprised, etc) are gradable adj. We can say someone or something is quiet, very or really big (good, happy,surprised, etc) to talk about how big (good, happy,surprised, etc) they are. We can also say something is extremely big which means it's much bigger than usual.
• Enormous (fantastic, delighted, astonished, etc) are non-gradable adjectives, meaning very big (good, happy,surprised, etc). We can say really or absolutly enormous but not normally quite*, very or extremely enormous.

* quiet here means a little

fantastic

adj (more / most)

op. normal / regular

wonderful; very good

You look fantastic!

delighted

adj (more / most)

op. disappointed

very pleased

They are delighted with their new car.

disappointed

adj (more / most)

op. delighted

I was disappointed to hear that the party had been cancelled

astonished

adj (more / most)

op. bored / expected

to surprise greatly

I was astonished by his ignorance.

enormous

adj (more / most) non gradable

op. tiny

very large

The new building is enormous

We had an enormous lunch.

tiny

adj (tinier / tiniest)

op. enormous

very small

a tiny insect

terrible

adj (more / most)

op. pleasing

very bad

a terrible singer

That music is terrible!

filthy

adj (filthier / filthiest)

op. clean

very dirty

The whole house is absolutely filthy.

hot

adj (hotter / hottest)

op. cold

having or causing a great dealof heat

a hot oven

That water is hot.

absolutely

adverb

completely

It is absolutely impossible for me to go.

wet

adj (wetter / wettest)

op. dry

containing, soaked in, or covered with, water or anotherliquid

We got soaking wet when it began to rain

His shirt was wet through with sweat

wet hair

dry

adj (drier / driest or dryest)

op. wet

having little, or no, moisture,sap, rain etc

The ground is very dry

The leaves are dry and withered

I need to find dry socks for the children.

wonderful

adj (more / most)

op. terrible

arousing wonder;extraordinary, especially inexcellence

a wonderful opportunity

a wonderful present

She’s a wonderful person.

nice

adj (nicer / nicest)

op. nasty

pleasant; agreeable

nice weather

a nice person.

We can't use very with comparatives but we can use much, far or a lot: Cheetahs are much / far / a lot faster than elephantes. 

Not: Cheetahs are very faster than elephantes.

We can use a bit or a little to describe a small difference: Canada is a bit / a little bigger than USA.

We use as + adj. + as to say two things are the same in some way: Tara is as tall as Hannah.

We use not as + adj. as to say that one thing is less than another: Hannah is not as tall as her brother. (= Hanah is shorter than her brother)

We can use so in negative sentences to replace the first as: Hannah is not so tall as her brother.

Remember: the form of the adj. does not change: Not: (not) as taller as; correct (not) as tall as

deep

adj (deeper / deepest)

op. shallow

going or being far down or far into

a deep lake

a deep wound.

safe

adj (safer / safest)

op. dangerous

(negative unsafe) protected, orfree (from danger etc)

The children are safe from danger in the garden.

noisy

adj (noisier / noisiest)

op. quiet

making a loud noise

noisy children

a noisy engine.

big

adj (bigger / biggest)

op. small

large in size

a big car.

large

adj (larger / largest)

great in size, amount etc; not small

a large number of people

a large house

a large family

This house is too large for two people.

beautiful

adj (more / most)

op. ugly

a beautiful woman

Those roses are beautiful.

important

adj (more / most)

op. unimportant / trivial

(negative unimportant) havinggreat value, influence or effect

an important book/person/occasion

It is important that you arrive here on time.

good

adj (better / best)

op. bad

bad

adj (worse / worst)

op. good

far

adj (farther; further / farthest; furthest)

op. near

intelligent

adj (more / most)

op. stupid

clever and quick atunderstanding

an intelligent child

That dog is so intelligent.

dangerous

adj (more / most)

op. safe

very unsafe and likely to be thecause of danger

a dangerous road

a dangerous enemy

Crocodiles are dangerous animals.

stupid

adj (more / most)

op. inteligent

foolish; slow at understanding

a stupid mistake

He isn’t as stupid as he looks.

heavy

adj (havier / haviest)

op. light

having great weight; difficult tolift or carry

schwer

a heavy parcel.

slow

adj (slower / slowest)

op. fast

not fast; not moving quickly; taking a long time

a slow train

The service at that restaurant is very slow

He was very slow to offer help.

tall

adj (taller / tallest)

op. low / short

(of people and thin or narrowobjects such as buildings or trees) higher than normal

a tall man/tree.

cold

adj (colder / coldest)

op. warm

low in temperature

cold water

cold meat and salad