Упр. 1. Вставьте артикль, где необходимо.

Until near ... end of ... 19th century it was the law in ... England that if... man was unable to pay ... debt, even ... small one, he could be imprisoned. This imprisonment might very well be for ... life, as it was impossible for ... people in ... prison to work at their ordinary occupations and so make ... money to repay ... sum they had borrowed. If they had ... friends who could bring them ... materials to work with, they might work with their hands sewing or making... boots, for instance.

... great English novelist Charles Dickens knew ... great deal about ... debtors' prisons from personal experience, for when he was about ten, his father was imprisoned for debt and ... whole family had to go and live with him in ... prison because they had nowhere else to live.... mother and ... children, however, could leave... place when they wished; but at ten o'clock every evening... great gates were shut for the night, and no one could leave or enter until... morning. Dickens described ... life in ... debtors' prisons in some of his novels. It was largely because of... Dickers' sharp criti­cism that ... English Government was finally forced to do away with ... debtors' prisons.

Упр. 2. Вставьте артикль, где необходимо.

William Shakespeare, … greatest English playwright, was born in 1564 at ... Stradford-on-Avon in ... England. ... Stratford is … small country town in … farming district near … centre of... England. ... Avon, which is … pretty river with…grass and ... trees all along its banks, runs through Stratford. Not much is known of ... Shakespeare's father. He was … farmer who, at …different times of his life, sold … meat and bought and sold … wool. He was poor and was often in ... money difficulties. Very little is known about... life of his only son William also. ... little house in which he was born still stands. It is now ... museum. He went to ... school in ... Stratford. Shakespeare arrived in ... London in 1586. Probably ... first work he did there was at

one of... two theatres that there were in ... London at that time. Then he became ... actor and soon began to write ... plays for ... company of ... actors to which he belonged. Shakespeare bought... largest house in his native town in 1597, but he did not spend much time there till 1610. He spent... last years of his life mostly at... Stratford, but he often visited ... London. He died in, 1616.

Упр. 3. Вставьте артикль, где необходимо.

During ... American war of ... independence, ... com­mander of... small unit of... soldiers was giving... orders to his men about... heavy cannon that they were trying to lift to its place at ... top of some fortifications. It was almost beyond their power to lift ... weight, and ... commander kept shouting ... encouraging words.... officer, not in uni­form, was passing and asked ... commander why he did not help... soldiers. Greatly surprised,... man turned round and said proudly: "Sir, I am ... corporal!" "You are, are you?" replied ... officer: "I did not know that. I beg your pardon, Mr. Corporal." Then he got off ... horse he was riding and, taking hold of... rope that... men were pulling at, he pulled with all his strength. And when ... cannon was in its place, he turned to ... little great man and said: "Mr Corporal, when you have ... other job like this and have not enough... men, send for your comrnaader-in-chief, and I shall gladly come and help you." ... corporal was struck with ... astonishment. It was ... George Washington.

ПРИЛАГАТЕЛЬНОЕ

(The Adjective)

ОБЩИЕ СВЕДЕНИЯ

Прилагательные обозначают признаки, качества или свойства предметов. По своему составу они делятся на простые (fine, sharp), производные (homeless, unhappy) и сложные (first-class, good-looking), по назначению – на качественные (big, heavy) и относительные (wooden, square).

В предложении прилагательные выполняют следующие функции:

1) определения к существительному.

This is a very difficult question. Это очень трудный вопрос.

2) предикатива, т.е. именной части составного сказуемого.

This question is very difficult. Этот вопрос очень трудный.

Как и в русском языке, некоторые английские прилагательные могут субстантивироваться, т.е. употребляться в значении существительных. В таких случаях они употребляются с определенным артиклем the и обозначают группу лиц, обладающих данным признаком:

the rich (богачи, богатые), the poor (бедняки, бедные), the sick (больные), the Russians (русские), the English (англичане).

Для обозначения определенных лиц употребляются сочетания прилагательных с существительными. Например:

a poor man – бедняк two poor men – два бедняка

a Russian - русский two Germans – два немца

Особенностью прилагательных английского языка является то, что они не изменяются по падежам, лицам и числам. Для качественных прилагательных характерна, однако, грамматическая категория степеней сравнения.

СТЕПЕНИ СРАВНЕНИЯ ПРИЛАГАТЕЛЬНЫХ

В английском языке различают три степени сравнения прилагательных: положительную (the positive degree), сравнительную(the comparative degree), и превосходную(the superlative degree).

Положительная степень – исходная, не имеющая никаких окончаний, например: cold, interesting.

Сравнительная и превосходная степени одно- и двусложных прилагательных образуются с помощью суффиксов –er, -est соответственно, а многосложных – прибавлением слов more и most(с артиклем the). Например:

cold – colder – the coldest

Interesting – more interesting – the most interesting

Ряд прилагательных образуют степени сравнения не по общему правилу:

good – better – the best

bad – worse – the worst

far – farther – the farthest (о расстоянии)

many (much) – more – the most

little – less – the least

Для выражения сравнения существует также целый ряд конструкций, таких как :

as ... as такой же … как …

not so ... as не такой … как …

more/less ... than больше/меньше … чем

the ... the ... чем … тем

the more ... the less чем больше … тем меньше

Например:

He is as tall as his father. Он такой же высокий, как и его отец.

This text is not so difficult as that one. Этот текст не такой трудный, как тот.

The sooner you come the better. Чем раньше ты придешь, тем лучше.

Упражнения

1. Прочитайте и запомните основные словообразовательные суффиксы и префиксы прилагательных.