Far meaning in English
Learn how to use Far correctly with Gymglish.
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Definition
(the car is) far (from here): (the car is) a great distance, a long way away (from here), not close (to here)
Far is an irregular adjective (comparative and superlative):
farther (in the sense of distance) or further (in a figurative sense)
The mountains were much farther away than we thought.
Do you need any further information?
The mountains were much farther away than we thought.
Do you need any further information?
farthest (in the sense of distance) or furthest (in a figurative sense)
The farthest I can run is 30 km.
Her birthday is the furthest thing from my mind. I'm really not thinking about her birthday at all.
The farthest I can run is 30 km.
Her birthday is the furthest thing from my mind. I'm really not thinking about her birthday at all.
far more much more
far too much money much too much money
(you are a) far better (driver than I am): (you are a) much better (driver than I am); (You are a) superior driver (to me)
(he comes from a) faraway or "far away" (country): (he comes from a country) a great distance from here, a long way away
Pronunciation examples
UK: This young man is far too interested in his own reflection.
US: How far away are we from the hotel?
Examples
- "Brian : Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today to mourn the passing of Bruno Delavigne, a man who left us far too soon."
- "Once upon a time, in a faraway land called Europe, there lived a man who loved the smells of life."
- "I've got something far crazier in mind!"
- "You're not too far away."
- "50,000 is a bit of a stretch: it's far beyond the standard practice for these sorts of things."
- "England is pretty far away from the rest of Europe."
- "Is that far?"
- "Once upon a time, in a faraway land, there lived a man who loved the smells of life."
- "You need to be thinking for the long term. These changes may be difficult to implement but the benefits far outweigh the initial effort."
- "Floor 6 isn't far away"
- "There's a poster on the wall of my office that says "A dwarf standing on the shoulders of a giant may see farther than the giant himself."
Exercise 1
Complete the table below with the correct comparative and superlative terms.
| adjective | comparative adjective | superlative adjective |
|---|---|---|
| cool | cooler | (the) coolest |
| good | (the) | |
| far | (or further) | (the) (or furthest) |
| inspiring | (the) |
Complete the table below with the correct comparative and superlative terms.
| adjective | comparative adjective | superlative adjective |
|---|---|---|
| cool | cooler | (the) coolest |
| good | better 1 | (the) best 2 |
| far | farther 3 (or further) | (the) farthest 4 (or furthest) |
| inspiring | more inspiring 5 | (the) most inspiring 6 |
1 better: This is the correct comparative form: good / better / (the) best. Example: I am a better football player than all of you.
2 best: "Best" is the correct superlative form of the adjective "good". Example: Horatio makes the best perfumes in the world.
3 farther: "Farther" is the correct irregular comparative form of the adjective "far". When we refer to literal distance we use "farther" or "further": I can see farther with these glasses. For figurative distances (or to mean "additional" or "extra") must we use the comparative adjective "further" only: Do you need any further information?
4 farthest: "Farthest" is the correct superlative form of the adjective "far". For superlative forms we end the adjective with "est" (comparative forms end with "er").
5 more inspiring: This is the correct comparative forms of the adjective "inspiring". This adjective has three syllables (in-spir-ing), therefore we put "more" before the adjective. Jean says that Philip is "very inspiring", meaning that he has an animating effect on people.
6 most inspiring: This is the correct superlative form of the adjective "inspiring". This adjective has three syllables (in-spir-ing), therefore we put "most" before the adjective.
Exercise 2
Edward Moon is talking to a man from .
The man says that his country is full of .
True or false? The man is used to seeing gay people -->
True or false? According to Edward, the man is close to his destination -->
The man says that his country is full of .
True or false? The man is used to seeing gay people -->
True or false? According to Edward, the man is close to his destination -->
Edward Moon is talking to a man from New Zealand 1.
The man says that his country is full of sheep 2.
True or false? The man is used to seeing gay people --> False 3
True or false? According to Edward, the man is close to his destination --> True 4
The man says that his country is full of sheep 2.
True or false? The man is used to seeing gay people --> False 3
True or false? According to Edward, the man is close to his destination --> True 4
1 New Zealand: This is the correct answer. The man tells Edward that he is "from New Zealand". People from New Zealand are called "New Zealanders", or occasionally "Kiwis". Their accent is similar to the Australian accent.
1 Australia: This is not the right answer. Edward thinks that the man is from Australia, but he is incorrect. Australians and New Zealanders have accents that are considered similar.
1 San Francisco: This is incorrect. The man is a tourist visiting San Francisco, he is not from the city itself.
2 sheep: This is correct. The New Zealander says that his country is "full of sheep". A stereotypical view of New Zealand (and Wales) is that it has a lot of sheep. "Sheep" are animals known for their wool and meat (called "lamb" or "mutton"). The plural of "sheep" is "sheep"!
2 gay people: This is incorrect. The man thinks that Australia is "full of gays".
2 hippies: This is incorrect. A "hippy" (or "hippie") is someone who rejects the established culture. "Hippies" were common in San Francisco in the 1960s.
3 False: This is a false statement. The man says to Edward: "We don't get many gays where I come from", meaning that he is not "used to" or "accustomed to" seeing gay people. The construction "to be used to (doing something)" expresses habit. Example: As an English teacher, I am used to seeing my students have difficulties understanding the audio lessons. "To come from (a place)" and "to be from (a place)" share the same meaning.
3 True: This statement is not true.
4 True: This is a true statement. Edward tells the man that he is "not too far away" from his destination (the Castro District). "(To be) far away (from a destination)" is to be a large distance from it. "Close to" has the opposite meaning: to be "near", "next", or "adjacent" to something.
4 False: This statement is not false.
Exercise 3
Philip: Hey Kevin, do you want to come to Argentina with me?
Kevin: Isn’t that really from here?
Philip: Well, it’s than Mexico. But it’s nearer than India.
Kevin: What is the best to get there?
Philip: Definitely by plane.
Kevin: Sounds expensive. I’m out.
Kevin: Isn’t that really from here?
Philip: Well, it’s than Mexico. But it’s nearer than India.
Kevin: What is the best to get there?
Philip: Definitely by plane.
Kevin: Sounds expensive. I’m out.
Philip: Hey Kevin, do you want to come to Argentina with me?
Kevin: Isn’t that really far 1 from here?
Philip: Well, it’s farther away 2 than Mexico. But it’s nearer than India.
Kevin: What is the best way 3 to get there?
Philip: Definitely by plane.
Kevin: Sounds expensive. I’m out.
Kevin: Isn’t that really far 1 from here?
Philip: Well, it’s farther away 2 than Mexico. But it’s nearer than India.
Kevin: What is the best way 3 to get there?
Philip: Definitely by plane.
Kevin: Sounds expensive. I’m out.
1 far: If something is 'far from here', then it is distant, or a long way from here. For example: '-Where is London, my lord? -Very far from here, Geoffrey. We live in Cornwall. Don't think about it again.'
1 away: A place cannot be situated 'really away from' somewhere. We mostly use the words 'away from' in the context of movement. For example: 'I offered my nephew a banana, but he ran away from me'.
1 way: 'Way' is a noun, so it cannot be preceded by the adverb 'really'. 'A way' is a route, a path, or a road; or a method, a means, or an approach. For example: 'What's the best way to get to the Lost City of Atlantis?'.
2 farther away: The comparative form of 'far away' (meaning 'distant') is 'farther away' (or 'further away'). For example: 'When choosing between holiday destinations, I like to choose the one which is farther away than the others'.
2 more far: 'Far' is a short adjective, so we do not use 'more' in its comparative form. Short adjectives generally have a comparative form ending in '-er'. For example: shorter, harder, smoother.
2 more away: As a general rule, we do not say 'more away' in English. If we want to express a greater or increasing distance, we tend to use the expression 'farther away' instead.
3 way: 'The best way' means 'the best method' or 'the best route'. For example: 'The best way to find a partner in life is to be happy' (the best method); 'The best way to the supermarket from here is through the park' (the best route).
3 ways: It is correct to use the noun 'way' here. However, we cannot use the plural form 'ways', because Kevin uses the singular form of the verb, 'is'. However, he could have said 'What are the best ways to get there?'.
3 away: Don't confuse the adverb 'away' with the noun 'way'! 'Away' describes movement which becomes increasingly distant. For example, 'go away' means 'leave' or 'move farther from here'.
Exercise 4
Bob: Japan is away than China, isn’t it?
Susie: Not if you travel west from San Francisco!
Bob: I don’t know which country to visit. I’ve only visited four countries in my life .
Susie: Wow! I’ve been to more than you!
Susie: Not if you travel west from San Francisco!
Bob: I don’t know which country to visit. I’ve only visited four countries in my life .
Susie: Wow! I’ve been to more than you!
Bob: Japan is farther 1 away than China, isn’t it?
Susie: Not if you travel west from San Francisco!
Bob: I don’t know which country to visit. I’ve only visited four countries in my life so far 2.
Susie: Wow! I’ve been to so many 3 more than you!
Susie: Not if you travel west from San Francisco!
Bob: I don’t know which country to visit. I’ve only visited four countries in my life so far 2.
Susie: Wow! I’ve been to so many 3 more than you!
1 farther: "Farther (away)" is the comparative form of "far (away)". Bob is saying that the distance from "here" (San Francisco) to Japan is bigger than the distance from here to China. Another example: "-Shall we visit Gina in Oman this year? -No. That's farther away than I am willing to travel".
1 so far: "So far" does not make grammatical sense here: it cannot be used with the word "than". If referring to distance, Bob could say "Japan is so far away from here (or from China)", or simply "Japan is so far away!". "So far" can also mean "until now", for example: "I've had seven husbands so far" (until this point in my life).
1 so many: We cannot say "so many" immediately before "away". "So many" must be followed by (or refer to) a plural, countable noun. For example: "That's so many miles away!" or "Why have you been married so many times?".
1 so much: We cannot say "so much" immediately before "away". "So much" is generally followed by (or refers to) an uncountable noun. For example: "Travelling by plane creates so much pollution!" or "How have you earned so much money in just two years?".
2 so far: "So far" refers to a situation that has continued "until now" or "up until this moment". Bob is saying that at this point in his life, he has visited four countries (although he may visit more in the future). Another example: "I have moved house twice this year so far" (between the start of this year and now).
2 farther: "Farther" doesn't make grammatical sense in this sentence. "Farther" is the comparative form of "far", and refers to a bigger or longer distance. For example: "The library is farther away from our house than the bookstore, but I don't want to spend money on books".
2 so much: "So much" doesn't make grammatical sense in this sentence. "So much" is generally followed by (or refers to) an uncountable noun. For example: "-Wow, I can feel so much love in this room. -Maybe it's the scented candles?".
2 so many: "So many" doesn't make grammatical sense in this sentence. If we wanted to express surprise about Bob's statement, we could reply like this: "-I've visited four countries in my life so far. -Wow, that's so many!". Here, "so many" would refer back to the plural, countable noun "countries".
3 so many: "So many" refers to plural, countable nouns. In this context, Susie can omit the noun "countries" because Bob already said it in the previous sentence. Using "so many" adds emphasis and here expresses surprise. A similar example: "You have so many pets! Isn't it expensive to feed them all?".
3 so much: "So much" is used before uncountable nouns. We can't use it here because Susie is referring back to the countable noun "countries". Bob might say, in response to Susie, "Wow, you have so much experience of travelling!".
3 so far: We cannot say "so far more": this is grammatically incorrect. However, to emphasize the comparison, Susie could say "I've been to far more than you" (without "so"). "So far" means either "until now" (I've had 17 jobs in my life so far) or "very distant" (I don't want to walk to the post office: it's so far!).
3 farther: We cannot say "farther more": this is grammatically incorrect. However, to emphasize the comparison, Susie could say "I've been to far more than you". "Farther" is the comparative form of the adjective "far", and refers to a greater distance. For example: "6 miles is farther than 8 kilometers".
Exercise 5
Which of the following is the best definition for the phrase, "as yet unspecified"?
Which of the following is the best definition for the phrase, "as yet unspecified"?
Although the phrase "as yet unspecified" implies that the meeting will be held in the future, the phrase itself doesn't express this idea of the future. The phrase expresses that the new date of the meeting isn't known yet.
Although the phrase "as yet unspecified" implies that the meeting will be held in the future, the phrase itself doesn't express when the meeting will be held, just that the date hasn't been fixed yet. The phrase expresses that the new date of the meeting isn't known yet.
"As yet unspecified" means "still unknown" or "not yet specified" or "not yet fixed or determined". When Polly writes that the meeting has been moved to a date "as yet unspecified", she means that the new date of the meeting hasn't been determined yet.
Although the phrase "as yet unspecified" implies that the meeting will be held in the future, the phrase itself doesn't express when the meeting will be held, just that the date hasn't been fixed yet. The phrase expresses that the new date of the meeting isn't known yet.
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