COMPARATIVES AND SUPERLATIVES- ADJECTIVES OF SUPERIORITY Grammar Review: Unit 5 Duration: 1 Hour Noticing Task 1 Jane went to a safari trip in South Africa. Read herto her sister Yara, then answer the questions which follow. What does Jane notice about the zebras? What does Jane think of her trip to South Africa? Dear Yara, How have you been ? How are your swimming lessons going? How are our brothers? I hope they are not bothering you so much. You should see South Africa! It is absolutely gorgeous here. Yesterday we went on a safari trip, and I cant begin to tell you how much I enjoyed the experience. All the animals are so well fed and taken care of in the reservation camps. I saw one fat zebra drinking by the river, and I could barely hold my breath in fear of startling it, only to find out a whole herd of zebra with one fatter than the next! I definitely find this trip more enjoyable than the time we visited New York city, as I feel closer to nature here. The only thing I wish for is that you would be here to enjoy the sights with me. Usage 1 Comparatives What are adjectives? Adjectives are simply words that describe. Ex. The book is interesting. Ex. I have a tall sister. Comparative adjectives are a type of adjective used for highlighting the difference between two objects, or two nouns. Use comparative adjectives to compare two objects or two nouns. Ex. My sister is taller than me. Ex. That book is more expensive than the one I saw at Jarir Bookstore. Rules 1 1.Rule 1. Add er to the end of one-syllable adjectives. (superiority) ! Do not forget to add than before the name of the person being compared to. Structure : Subject + verb + comparative adjective + (noun) +than + object Ex. David is a stronger speller than Navid. 2.Rule 2. For adjectives that end with a consonant preceded by a vowel, double the final consonant and then add er. Ex. Big Bigger Ex. Thin Thinner Ex. FatFatter 3.Rule 3. For adjectives that end in y, change y to i and add er. Ex. Silly Sillier Ex. Pretty Prettier Rules 2 4.Rule 4. Add er to two-syllable adjectives ending in er, -le, -ow, -y. Ex. Simple Simpler Ex. Narrow Narrower Ex. Clever Cleverer 5.Rule 5. For adjectives with le ending add only the r. Ex. Gentle Gentler Ex. Supple Suppler 6. Rule 6. Use more for comparative adjectives that have more than one syllable. Ex. Beautiful More Beautiful Ex. Famous More Famous 7. Rule 7. Equally, use less for comparative adjectives that have more than one syllable when making negative comparisons. (inferiority) Ex. Beautiful Less Beautiful Ex. Famous Less Famous Quick Practice 1 Complete the sentences with adjectives from the box. Turn the adjectives into comparatives. The first one is done for you. Silver is ___________________________________________ gold.. Noticing Task 2 Read the conversation between two sisters then answer the questions which follow. 1YaraJane, would you mind if I borrow your blue dress to wear to the party tonight? 2Jane No problem, but you are taller than I and the dress might look too short on you. 3Yara I am definitely not taller. We are close in height. Haya I think is the tallest. She is known as giraffe in her class. 4JaneYou are hilarious Yara. Why dont you borrow one of Hayas dresses then? 5Yara Not if I dont want to look like a sack! 6YaraI will look in my closet again. I think tonights party is exciting. 7Jane Are you kidding? Its the most exciting barbecue we will have ever! In line 5, what information are you given about Haya? In line 7, what does Jane think of tonights party? Usage 2 Superlatives ! Remember Adjectives are words that describe. Ex. The book is very interesting. Ex. I have a pretty sister. The superlative of superiority compares more than two objects or nouns and establishes that one of them is superior to all others in a particular aspect, expressed by the positive adjective. Ex. My sister is the tallest in her class. Ex. My neighbourhood is the safest in the city. Ex. Jamal is the slowest runner in our team. Rules 3 1.Rule - Add est to the end of one-syllable adjectives. ! Do not forget to add the before the superlative adjective of superiority. Structure : Subject + verb be+ the + adjective + -est + inferior group (noun) Ex. Fatima is the tallest of the three sisters. 2.Rule- For adjectives that end with a consonant preceded by a vowel, double the final consonant and then add est. Ex. Big Bigger Biggest Ex. Thin Thinner Thinnest Ex. FatFatter Fattest 3.Rule- For adjectives that end in y, change y to i and add est. Ex. Silly Sillier Silliest Ex. Pretty Prettier Prettier Rules 4 4.Rule - Add est to two-syllable adjectives ending in er, -le, -ow, -y. Ex. Simple Simpler Simplest Ex. Narrow Narrower Narrowest 5.Rule- For adjectives with le or e ending add only the st. Ex. Gentle Gentler Gentlest Ex. Supple Suppler Supplest Ex. Safe Safer Safest 6. Rule- Use most for comparative adjectives that have more than one syllable. Ex. Beautiful More Beautiful Most Beautiful Ex. Famous More Famous Most Famous 7. Rule - Equally, use least for comparative adjectives that have more than one syllable when making negative comparisons. Ex. Beautiful Less Beautiful Least Beautiful Ex. Famous Less Famous Least Famous Quick Practice 2 Complete the newspaper article with the correct comparative or superlative form of adjectives. Noticing Task 3 Read the statements below, then answer the questions which follow. To which score is the boy comparing his latest results? To which menu is the man comparing todays menu? Yesterday's menu was good but today's is better. This is the best score I've ever had in an exam. Usage 3 Irregular Comparatives & Superlatives ! Remember Some adjectives have irregular comparatives and superlatives. Use good to describe superior quality. GoodBetter Best Use well when referring to health. Well BetterBest Usage 4 Irregular Comparatives & Superlatives Use bad to describe inferior quality. Bad Worse Worst Use little when referring to something uncountable. Little Less Least Use few when referring to something countable. Few Fewer Fewest Usage 5 Irregular Comparatives & Superlatives Use far to describe distance. Far FartherFarthest Use far to describe extent. Far Further Furthest Use many when referring to something countable or for tow or more syllable adjectives. Many More Most Use much when referring to something uncountable. Much More Most Quick Practice 3 Complete the gaps with comparatives. Quick Practice 4 Complete with better/best or worse/worst. Quick Practice 5 Speaking Activity: In pairs, choose an adjective and take turns using that adjective to compare your partner (or people or things connected to your partner) until one of you says something that isnt true. The last person to say something true before that mistake gets a point, then you can continue the game with a different adjective. Adjectives to use for comparing: Big/ Large SmallCheap Expensive Far Close/ NearFast Slow Healthy UnhealthyHeavy Light Long ShortOld New Old YoungTall Short High LowHot Cold Early LateInteresting Boring Possible things to compare: Family Diet Home town Home Weekend Hobby