COMPARATIVES AND SUPERLATIVES ADJECTIVES OF SUPERIORITY Grammar Review

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 her e-mail to her sister Yara , then answer the questions which follow. 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 can’t 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. What does Jane notice about the zebras? What does Jane think of her trip to South Africa?

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 Ex. Thin Ex. Fat Bigger Thinner Fatter 3. Rule 3. For adjectives that end in “y”, change “y” to “i” and add “er”. Ex. Silly Ex. Pretty Sillier Prettier

Rules 2 4. Rule 4. Add “er” to two-syllable adjectives ending in –er, -le, -ow, -y. Ex. Simple Ex. Narrow Ex. Clever Simpler Narrower Cleverer 5. Rule 5. For adjectives with –le ending add only the “r”. Ex. Gentle Ex. Supple 6. Gentler Suppler Rule 6. Use “more” for comparative adjectives that have more than one syllable. Ex. Beautiful Ex. Famous More Beautiful More Famous 7. Rule 7. Equally, use “less” for comparative adjectives that have more than one syllable when making negative comparisons. (inferiority) Ex. Beautiful Ex. Famous Less Beautiful 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. 1 Yara Jane, would you mind if I borrow your blue dress to wear to the party tonight? 2 Jane No problem, but you are taller than I and the dress might look too short on you. 3 Yara I am definitely not taller. We are close in height. Haya I think is the tallest. She is known as “giraffe” in her class. 4 Jane You are hilarious Yara. Why don’t you borrow one of Haya’s dresses then? 5 Yara Not if I don’t want to look like a sack! 6 Yara I will look in my closet again. I think tonight’s party is exciting. 7 Jane Are you kidding? It’s 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 tonight’s 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 Ex. Thin Ex. Fat Bigger Thinner Fatter Biggest Thinnest Fattest 3. Rule- For adjectives that end in “y”, change “y” to “i” and add “est”. Ex. Silly Ex. Pretty Sillier Prettier Silliest Prettier

Rules 4 4. Rule - Add “est” to two-syllable adjectives ending in –er, -le, -ow, -y. Ex. Simple Ex. Narrow Simpler Narrower Simplest Narrowest 5. Rule- For adjectives with –le or –e ending add only the “st”. Ex. Gentle Ex. Supple Ex. Safe Gentler Suppler Safer Gentlest Supplest Safest 6. Rule- Use “most” for comparative adjectives that have more than one syllable. Ex. Beautiful Ex. Famous More Beautiful More Famous Most Beautiful Most Famous 7. Rule - Equally, use “least” for comparative adjectives that have more than one syllable when making negative comparisons. Ex. Beautiful Ex. Famous Less Beautiful Less Famous Least Beautiful 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. This is the best score I've ever had in an exam. Yesterday's menu was good but today's is better. To which score is the boy comparing his latest results? To which menu is the man comparing today’s menu?

Usage 3 Irregular Comparatives & Superlatives • ! Remember Some adjectives have irregular comparatives and superlatives. • Use good to describe superior quality. Good Better Best • Use well when referring to health. Well Better Best

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. Fewer Fewest

Usage 5 Irregular Comparatives Superlatives & • Use far to describe distance. Farther Farthest • Use far to describe extent. Far Furthest • Use many when referring to something countable or for tow or more syllable adjectives. Many More • Use much uncountable. when Much More Most referring to something 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 isn’t 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 – Small Far – Close/ Near Healthy – Unhealthy Long – Short Old – Young High – Low Early – Late Possible things to compare: • Family • Diet • Home town • Home • Weekend • Hobby Cheap – Expensive Fast – Slow Heavy – Light Old – New Tall – Short Hot – Cold Interesting – Boring