EXERCISE

Write the correct form of the word(s) in brackets. Verbs may be affirmative,
negative or interrogative.

Sue:

Hi, Dan. (1)

Dan:

Ves, 1 did.

(you / enjoy) your trip to London?

(2)

(enjoy) every minute of it.

I

Sue:

(3)

(you / able to stay) with your lawyer friends?

Dan:

Ves, 1(4)
(5)

(stay) with them for a week, but they

(cannot / spend) much time with me.

Sue:

Why was that?

Dan:

They were very busy.

Sue:

What (6)

Dan:

They (7)
(8)
1(9)
(10)

(they / do) while you were enjoying yourself?

(prepare) an important court case. But 1
(not mind) wandering around London on my own
(see) everything 1wanted to see, and
(meet) lots of interesting people.

ADJECTIVES:

COMPARISON

EXERCISE
~

USE-

LOS ADJETIVOS:

USOS

OF ADJECTIVES-

LA COMPARACiN

DE LOS ADJETIVOS

ADJECTIVES

PREPOSITIONS-

Choose the correct answer.

Years ago, when we were children, our family (1 were going, went) camping

WITH

LOS ADJETIVOS

CON PREPOSICIONES

regularly. We (2 would, used to) have a huge family tent with al/ the equipment for
cooking. It was cheaper than a holiday in a hotel and we (3 had, were having) a lot
ADJECTIVES:

of fun. Last week, my brother Bil/ and 1decided we (4 would, wil/) go camping

SUFFIXES,

ED AND ING; PREFIXES-

LOS ADJETIVOS: LOS SUFIJOS ED E ING; LOS

again. When Dad (5 c1eaned out, was c1eaning out) the garage, we asked him to

PREFIJOS

help us find our old tent. We (6 were taking, took) the big tent out into the garden
to practise putting it up. Putting up a tent isn't easy. You (7 have, are able) to do

ADJECTlVES AND INFINITIVES-

things in the right order. An hour after we started, we (8 were stil/ struggling,

LOS ADJETIVOS SEGUIDOS DE INFINITIVO

stil/ struggled) to get the tent to stay up. At that point, Bil/ turned to me and said,
"(9 Should, Would) you mind very much if we gave up this whole camping idea?"
1(10 ought not to, couldn't) stop laughing. "Not at al/," 1replied. "1 think that's a
very good idea."

~--_8:&l

[he + una nacionalidad indica la gente de dicho pa-s.ADJECTIVES:

USE -

LOS ADJETIVOS:

The English arevery polite people.

USOS

Recuerda que en ingls los adjetivos de nacionalidad siempre se escriben con

mayscula.
O Para saber el grado de la cualidad descrita por el adjetivo, lo utilizamos en

ClI.

preguntas con How.

llow big is your house?
now deep is the water?
llow busy are you right now?

Slo tienen una forma que vale tanto para el singular como para el plural y
para describir nombres masculinos, femeninos o neutros.
A continuacin te damos una lista de linking verbs con ejemplos de adjetivos
entre parntesis:
appear (upset)
look (young)
be (happy)
prove (difficult)

11

A veces sustantivamos el adjetivo y lo usamos como un nombre en plural.

the Italian...
the Russians
the Germans

Los adjetivos describen al nombre y suelen ir colocados delante de l o detrs

de los verbos de unin o copulativos, que en ingls se llaman linking verbs.
Iohn has got an old
Iohn's car is old.

==----~=====--1~

become (suspicious)
come (true)
fall (ill)

rema in (silent)
seem (satisfied)
smell (sour)

feel (tired)
get (dark)

sound (nice)
stay (calm)

go (red)
grow (old)
keep (quiet)

taste (sweet)
tum (blue)

How far do we have to walk?

How hot does it get in summer?
How long is a football pitch?

EXERCISE

~ Underline the adjective/s in each sentence. There may be more than one
adjective in a sentence.

A veces las oraciones contienen ms de un adjetivo. En este caso, suelen

aparecer en este orden:
Primero los que describen opiniones subjetivas, tales como beautiful, ugly,
unkind, clever, etc.
A continuacin los que describen las caractersticas reales: tamao,
antigedad, color, procedencia y material, en este orden.

1. She was wearing a ~

black leather coat yesterday.

The old black Italian leather shoes are in the cupboard.

Ie

I
~he

2. The new paintings look beautiful.

Nota: Fjate en que todos estos adjetivos no van separados por ninguna
coma.

3. 1 met some charming little children in the park. They were very friendly.

The + adjetivo se refiere a todo un grupo de gente que tiene una caracterstica
en comn. Tiene sentido plural.
~e sold candles to collect money for the blindo
rich and famous often go to the French Riviera in the summer.

4. We were horrified when we saw the big truck go through a red light.
S. Juliet bought an old wooden dock to put on the marble table.

Al

6. Which daily newspaper do you read?

7. Your gold ring looks unusual. Is it antique?
8. This llecipe sounds delicious.

91

EXERCISE

Choose the correct answer.

1.

The young woman turned

her was holding a gun.
a. deep

2.

@pale

How

The fish smells

_ Si es de una slaba y acaba en vocal

c. strange

b. silent
Have you been

a. round

b. hollow

In some countries, it is

a. quiet
12. Your idea sounds
a. pretty

You'll be safer here than in your house.

- Si acaba en 1, dobla esa letra.

His character in the play is crueller than hers.

c. upper

2 A algunos adjetivos de dos slabas y a todos los de tres, les anteponemos

to drive at 110 kph on some motorways.

b. legal

This book is more interesting than the others.

The house is more expensive than I expected.

c. noisy

1'11 think about it.

b. nice

more.
I am more hopeful today than 1was last week.

c. natural

! I need to concentrate.
b. calm

esa consonante.

_ Si acaba en e muda, slo aade r.

c. exhausted, asleep

:.. shelf.

+ consonante, dobla

I'U give you a bigger steak than that.

all night?

b. shocked, alive

Please put those shirts on the

Keep

_ Si acaba en y, esta cambia a i.

You look happier today than yesterday.

man spoke to me.

a. tired, awake

a. moral

ortogrficas:

c. d istressing

b. disgusting

8. You look

11.

Pero para hacerlo correctamente debes tener en cuenta las siguientes reglas
c. indirect

Perhaps it's bad.

a. leather

10.

1 El adjetivo de una o dos slabas suele aadir la terminacin er y luego

ponemos la partcula than.
This house is older than mine.
He is cleverer than his brother.

c. nervous

b. last

a. disturbing

9.

superioridad: se usa para comparar dos personas, animales o cosas.

is this exercise?

a. difficult

7. The

before exams.
b. furious

a. quiet

6.

My marks are not as high as yours.

c. brave

b. intelligent

Students often feel

How

c. big

jacket at the bazaar.

a. green

5.

c. light

b. high

3. We bought an old

4.

COMPARATIVO
.

+
adietivo
+
as se emplea para indicar que dos cosas son Iguales
Igual d a d . as
J
d'
I
A
t Si le anteponemos not lgicamente m emos que no o son.
en un aspec o.
,
The Grand Hotel is as good as the Plaza.

is Mount Everest?

a. tall

=---====

when she realised the stranger beside

3 A algunos adjetivos monoslabos no se les aade er.

just
right
wrong
real

c. true

Inferioridad: se forma anteponiendo

less a un adjetivo.

He is less efficient than Olivia.

You are less tall than 1 thought.

- -

EXERCISE

Existen algunas construcciones con el comparativo que debes conocer.

1

Comparativo + and + comparativo.

bigger and bigger (cada vez ms grande)
younger and younger (cada vez ms joven)
more and more interesting (cada vez ms interesante)

2 The + comparativo, the + comparativo.

The younger, the better. (cuanto ms joven, mejor)
The more handsome, the sillier. (cuanto ms guapo, ms tonto)
The more 1 study, the less 1 know. (cuanto ms estudio, menos s)
SUPERLATIVO
Debemos usar el superlativo cuando comparamos al menos tres cosas, no dos como
en el comparativo, y una destaca sobre las dems.
A

Usamos the + adjetivo + la terminacin est con adjetivos de una o dos slabas,
siguiendo las mismas reglas ortogrficas que para el comparativo.
This is the smallest town in the country.
This is the easiest test we've had so faro
Solemos usar the + most + adjetivo cuando este tiene dos o ms slabas.
He is the most expert doctor 1 know.
We went to the most expensive hotel in town.
Para indicar inferioridad pondremos the least delante del adjetivo.
Where is the least expensive hotel?

ith the correct form of the adjectives in brackets. There may be

. the blan ks WI
'l1
fill h ol1e correct answer.
ore t al1
rn

This perfume is not

1.

Dan

2.

. [ust
15

.<~I?.w9f.lgi'!L

['rn a lot

COMPARATIVO

SUPERLATIVO

good
bad
Iittle
much/ many
far
old
old

better
worse
less
more
farther / further
older
elder

the
the
the
the
the
the
the

best
worst
least
most
farthest / furthest
oldest (para personas y cosas)
eldest (slo para personas y en
relaciones familiares)

Nota: Hay una construccin que traduce nuestra terminacin "simo". Consiste en
anteponer most al adjetivo sin importar que sea corto o largo.
most handsome (guapsimo)
most kind (amabilsimo)

now than I used to be. (thin)

3. Dave has always been

than lan on the committee.
4.
(active)
North Korea is
than Britain. (democratic)
5.
. ,
her mother was at that age. (pretty)
6. She isn t .....
The rain this winter was

than last year. (heavy)

7.
8.
9.

The girllooked

than usual. (pale)

This book is

(interesting)
. I cty
..
10. The capita

than the one we studied last year.

15

no t

qUl

ite

you imagine. (big)

...........................

EXERCISE

FiIIin the blanks with the superlative form of the adjectives in brackets.
1. David is

t.~.~J'!.'!.r:J~?t

3. This is
ADJETIVO

that one. (strong)

Cail as a designer. (creative)

..........

2. That was

Los adjetivos con formas irregulares:

person I know. (funny)

meal I have ever eaten. (delicious)
route to the royal palace according to the map.

(direct)
4. That was
5. Einstein was on; of
6. Mount Everest is
7. In my opinion, York is

day of my life. (exhausting)

people who ever lived. (intelligent)
mountain in the world. (high)
city in the north of England.

(interesting)
8.

Glasgow is

9.

He 15

..............................

city in Scotland. (Iarge)

pe rson I've ever met. I hope I never see him

again. (unpleasant)
10. Which is

shirt to wear to the party? (suitable)

95

EXERCISE

Fill in the blanks with the correct form of the adjectives in brackets. There may be
more than one correct answer.

~~.t.t.~r

1. Today's soup tastes much

2.

The way to school seems

ride my bike. (far)

3.

England is not

4.

Trains are generally

5.

I'm sorry. I haven't got

(much)

6.

I have

than yesterday's. (good)

8.

10.

David is not

11.

Your bike is in

12.

That is probably

13.

There were

14.

Flights to England are

airport. (frequent)

15.

That was

16. The

PREPOSITIONS-

CON

PREPOSICIONES

comunes.

the USA. (big)

than buses. (fast)

afraid

kind

ashamed

nlce
(im)polite

aware
certain
conscious

time to help you now as I used to.

money this month than I had last month. (little)

days of my life. (happy)

elever
}

ol/to

good / bad
talented

}.,

rude
of

anxious about

jealous
proud
sure

This car is
in my part of town than in yours because people
here can't afford it. (common)

9. That's

WITH

LOS ADJETIVOS

Ciertos adjetivos van seguidos de preposicin. Aqu tienes una lista de los ms

when I take the bus than when I

7. My graduation day was one of

ADJECTIVES

different from
interested in

Nota: Estos adjetivos van despus del verbo to be.

1 am interested in selling my car.

car I've ever seen. (old)

Are you aware of the problem?

his sister. (tall)

He was very nice to me.

condition than mine. (good)

painting of a tiger I've ever seen. (fine)
people at the party than I expected. (few)

EXERCISE

than flights to America frorn this

Fill in the blanks in the following

1. larnes

meal I have ever eaten. (bad)

people that come (many), the

(rnerry)
This museum is not
(interesti ng)

the one we saw in Bilbao.

18.

The new student is

students in his class. (clever)

19.

It is

living in the city centre than it is in the suburbs. (noisy)

20.

The

(soon) we do it, the

at maths than many of the other

(good)

Qf.

4. Jeff

interested
afraid

6. Karen

[ealous

8. The children
9. His parents
Than.ks. It

the pollution in this city.

proud

5. Peggy

7. The salesman

his beautiful garden.

not aware

3. The scientist

17.

sentences. The verbs can be in the present or past.

~~l~?l:Lproud

2. People

the results of his tests.

becoming an actor.
dogs.
her friend's new shoes.

sure
ashamed
anxious
very nice

his promotion.
their school reports.
him till he wrote to them.
you to remember my birthday.

97

EXERCISE

Choose the corred answer.

ADJECTIVES:

SUFFIXES,

LOS ADJETIVOS:

LOS

ED AND

SUFIJOS

ING;

PREFIXES

ED E ING;

LOS

c:

PREFIJO~

LOS SumOS

excited
ifyi
rern
ng

1.

Your room looks (interested,

messy, dirtiest) because you're so (careful, caring,

2.

3.

4.

The film was so full of suspense

that everyone

in the audience

/ workable
(can / able) (que se puede)
dangerous

beautiful

was (impressive,

attractive).

probably because

childlike

(semejante a)
(digno de)

trustworthy

Los adjetivos que acaban en ed suelen i~dicar el efecto que produce el nombre
al que acompaan o lo que la persona siente.
1 was bored with the film. (padeca el aburrimiento, lo sufra)

Los que acaban en ing suelen indicar lo que el nombre est ha~iendo o hace.
The film is boring. (la pelcula aburre, me produce aburrimiento)
Nota: No siempre se pueden formar este tipo de adjetivos aadiendo ing al
verbo del que proceden.

largest, calmest, nearest) state in the USA, even bigger than

it is the (2 less, little, least, fewest) populated

of all the states,

delightful

attractive

impressive

of its (3 tiring, boring, frozen, freezing) climate. Alaska is

different,

separated,

lumber. In addition,
to see the wonderful

LOS PREFIJOS

apart) from the rest of America by Canada.

The (5 daily, cultural, major, urban) industries

in Alaska include oil, gas, seafood and

Alaska attracts (6 most, many, much, more) tourists, who come

scenery of the (7 industrial, tropical, national,

political) parks.

There has been a (8 great, better, best, high) deal of industrial development
Alaska, and as a result, people are very (9 concerned,
about the damage to the environment.

For example,

excited, ashamed,

in

interested)

when a big tanker spilled oil

into the sea off the coast of Alaska, the damage was far (10 worse, bad, worst, more
worse) than people imagined.

In fact, it was an (11 economist,

ecological) disaster. Around 435,000

more (12 interesting,
beauty of their state.

98

(que tiene la calidad de)

/ careful (con, lleno de)

careless (sm)
childish (al modo de)

Choose the corred answer.

Texas. However,

political

LOS ADJETIVOS QUE ACABAN EN ED / ING

EXERCISE

Alaska is the (1 warmest,

u
active

iiio nos dan la clave para entender el sentido de los adjetivos.

She said,

Even though 21st December is the (short, shorter, shortest) day of the year, it
was probably the (bad, worst, worse) day of my life.

(4 separate,

re evan
moral

comprehensible

She was (pleasant, pleasing, pleased) to get flowers on her birthday.

"Thank you for the (delighted, happy, lovely) gift."

attentive,

wooden
urban

Algunos su "

careless).

.,

ad'etivo se puede reconocer en muchas ocasiones por su te~mmaClon~ d~

Un 1
unque no conozcas su significado, puedes saber SI es un adJettvo
manera que a
lo que est describiendo.
Y
atomic
t
1 cky
1

ecologically,

ecology,

birds died. Today, the people of Alaska are

looking, interested,

worried) than ever before in preserving the

Algunos prefijos significan "no" y cuando se anteponen a un adjetivo le dan el

significado opuesto.
amoral

discontented

invisible

antisocial

illegal

irresponsible

counterproductive

imperfect

maladjusted

non-violent
unhappy

Muchos otros prefijos de origen latino o griego dan la clave de su significado:

auto (solo), bi (dos veces), extra (fuera de), hyper (grande), inter (entre),
mono (uno), mufti (muchos), pre (antes), super (super), ultra (muy).
biannual

multifocal

hypersensitive

prehistoric

intercontinental

ultra-modern

EXERCISE

I~

EXERCISE

9
fill in

Choose the correct answer.

[he blanks

with the most appropriate

terrifying ", childlike

1.

in selling his caro

His

behaviour often gets him into trouble.

ship when he set out in 1492.

5. This car was involved in a

6. He needs

1.

My uncle's
a. child

2.

..

b. children

accident. Two people were killed.

treatment for his broken armo

7. A tourist made a

behaviour embarrassed everyone at the wedding.

donation to the local community centre.

8. The Olympic Carnes are an

@hildish

sporting event.

9. More and more people are moving from the country to

training gives a soldier an introduction to army life.

b. Basis

c. Base
10. Stephen King wrote some

Diana felt quite

b. pleased

The lecture was very

c. please

a. interested
5.

a. educate

9.

Karen's mother is very

a. satisfied

10. It was very

a. thought

c. differently

bridge finally collapsed last month.

t h at we were

convinced

of t he

I'm sure many people are

(shock)

3. Seeing hot-air balloons floating over the desert is an

sight. You'd
be
at the number of people who participate in this sport. (amaze)

...................

that many of the students were

(tire)

5. The speech was long and

Many of us were very

by

it. (bore)

c. dependence

6. Man Y forei
.
.
orelgners fInd t he situation
the facts. (confuse)

c. satisfaction

c. thoughtless

8. Personally, I'm not

.................. hobby. (interest)

of you to write to me.

b. thoughtful

words in brackets (either ed or ing).

convincing

4. The c1imb up the mountain was so

with her school marks.

b. satisfy

...................

c. wooden

b. wood

b. dependable

the

2. The statistics on child abuse are quite

from those spoken

b. difference

a. depend

correct form of

11

man's innocence. (convince)

c. educational

in South Africa.

8. You can trust him completely. He is very

the

1 . Th e l'awyers argumen ts were so

toys for children.

6. The languages spoken in North Africa are very

a. woods

FiII in the blanks with

c. interesting

b. education

a. different

EXERCISE
~

b. interest

Building bricks are very

7. The old

horror stories.

when she won the prize.

a. pleasure
4.

areas

because they can get better jobs in the cities.

a. Basic
3.

", interested

", urban ", fatal ", wooden

4. Columbus sailed in a

)J

", medical

The .. ./?!!!~~?
....painting, the "Mona Lisa", is in the Louvre in Paris.

2. David is
3.

adjectives from the list below.

", generous

famous ", international

10

Iris doesn't think this comedy show is

other camedy shows. (amuse)

Th ey are

. horrt
"Ol'\'-&~4
Q:;v\
"

She's mor ~
~

ts-r-;
,<.. ~Y

/!lr

in stamp-collecting, although '", . sure l~t.9

1~1:

1t(/

:-z-

12

EXERCISE

I~

Match the adjectives in Ato their definitions

ADJECTIVES

ANO

L..OSADJETIVOS

in B.

irrelevant

a. greater than the speed of sound

2.

premature

b. dull, regular, unchanging

3.

extraordinary

c. weak, dubious, unable to persuade

4.

bilateral

d. not able to be foreseen, unreliable

5.

unpredictable

e. not connected to, having no useful purpose

6.

inaccurate

f.

7.

autobiographical

g. having faults or weaknesses

8.

disillusioned

h. un usual, exceptional, remarkable

9.

monotonous

1.

10.

supersonic

j. disappointed, disenchanted

11.

imperfect

k. not correct

3.

12.

unconvi nci ng

1. written by oneself about oneself

was sad
4. I

o ,ea

1 arn glad to see you.

She is afraid to dive into the swmming pool.
We were shocked to hear the news.

happening or being done too early

EXERCISE
Comp Iet e

13

the sentences with a suitable infinitive formo

. h te d
1. I was deg

to win

the prize .

2. We'll be pleased

to your party.

Mary is afraid

outside in the dark.

5. Are you glad

Now use some of the adjectives in A to complete the sentences below.

DE INFINITIVO

. .
seguidos de un infinitivo cuando hablamos de sentimientos
adletlvos van
.
L.d
h k d
Muc h os. } Al
de ellos son: glad sad pleased, deltghted, auClI I s oc e .
Clones. gunos
,
,
C

1.

between two groups

INFINITIVES-

SEGUIDOS

6. We were surprised

about your father's illness.

me?
that they won the competition.

1.

. Id'
H15 b00 kS are autobiogranhical
J::......... Th ey me
u e expenences f rom hiis own lif1 e.

7. I am ready

the exam. I've studied very hard.

2.

The baby was

8. It is difficult

[ake. He doesn't speak clearly.

and weighed only one kilo at birth.

3. We are talking about his job, so your comments about his dog are quite

4.

It's hard to tell what the weather will be like tomorrow. It's been
...........................

Iately.

5. The
6.

Concorde was a

7. That machine gives

tone of his voice during the lecture put us all to sleep.

aeroplane.
results. You should check them again.

103
102

TRANSLATION
~

Translate the sentences below into your native language.

1.

I saw two beautiful shirts in the shop and bought the blue one.

2.

Who's older? You or your sister?

3.

I'm ashamed of my rude behaviour.

4.

There are too many careless drivers on our busy streets.

5.

I find her actions irresponsible and antisocial.

6.

How expensive is a trip to the Middle East?

7.

We were shocked to hear the news.

8.

She is delighted to see everybody at the party.

ADVERBS:

USE, KINDS AND POSITION

LOS ADVERBIOS:

SPOT
~

THE

ERROR

Can you correct the mistakes?

FORMING

ADVERBS

LA FORMACiN

USOS, CLASES Y POSICiN

DE LOS ADVERBIOS

1. She has goods marks in all her exams.

COMPARISON

2.

Suzi was very exciting about the trip.

3.

The car was more cheaper than we thought.

4.

Dan is interested to sell his car.

OF ADVERBS-

LA COMPARACiN

SENTENCE

ADVERBS

LOS ADVERBIOS

5. Why do you late?

6.

Did you meet theirs news friends?

7. Sound travels through unvisible waves.

8.

It's very rude from you to answer like that.

LA ORACiN

CON ADVERBIOS

QUE SE REFIEREN

A TODA