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Far and a long way

Far is used to indicate distance in space or time. It is most common in questions and negative clauses.

• Did you walk far?
• The railway station is not far from here.

In affirmative clauses we usually prefer a long way.

• We walked a long way. (NOT … walked far.)
• The station is a long way from here. (More natural than The station is far from here.)

Far in affirmative clauses

Far is normal in affirmative clauses with too, enough, as and so.

• ‘Have I gone far enough?’ ‘A bit too far.’
• ‘Any problems?’ ‘OK so far.’

Far is also used in all kinds of clauses to modify comparatives, superlatives and too.

• She is far older than her husband.
• This is by far the best book I have read.
• You are far too young to get married.