THE COMPARATIVE vs. THE SUPERLATIVE





COMPARATIVES
SUPERLATIVES
MAIN USE

Comparatives are used to compare two things and to highlight the superiority, inferiority, or equality of one term compared to another.
For comparisons in larger groups, you must use the superlative. The superlative designates extremes: the best, the first, the worst, the last, etc.
SUPERIORITY a) Short adjectives: adj + -ER THAN
Peter is taller than Sandra.

b) Long adjectives: MORE + adj + THAN
A Ferrari is more expensive than a Mini.
Short & long adjectives:
THE MOST + adjective

This is the most pleasant place on Earth!
EQUALITY Short & long adjectives:
AS... adjective... AS
English is as easy as German.
Doesn't exist
INFERIORITY Short & long adjectives:
LESS + adjectif + THAN
July is less cold than January.
Short & long adjectives:
THE LEAST + adjective
This is the least interesting movie of the year!
NOTES:
Short adjectives: 1 syllable (eg: young) + 2-syllable adjectives ending in -y (eg: pretty)
Long adjectives: all the other adjectives
COMPARATIVES:
> If the adjective ends in "--y" the "y" becomes "i" : heavy --> heavier
> If the adjective ends in "--e" only an "r" is needed: wise --> wiser
> If the adjective ends with "single vowel + consonant" the consonant is doubled and one adds "--er" : big --> bigger
> Some very common adjectives have irregular comparatives: good --> better | bad --> worse | far --> farther


SUPERLATIVES:
Irregular forms:         good --> the best ·        bad --> the worst ·        far --> the farthest

Modals


Modals


MODALS: CAN, MAY, MUST, HAVE TO
CAN
MUST
1) Ability
I can drive

2) Possibility
I can come
1) Obligation
I must do my homework.

2) For an opinion that you think has a good possibility of being true.
Look at his uniform. He must be a policeman.
MAY
HAVE TO
1) Probability
She may come tomorrow.

2) In a very polite question
May I open the window?
1) In the affirmative: HAVE TO has a meaning similar to MUST.
I have to go to the school.

2) In the negative: HAVE TO has a different meaning: 'you don't need to do that'
It's Sunday! I don't have to go to school.

Making suggestions


Making suggestions


4 ways to tell your friends what you would like to do in the next few days:

1) WHAT ABOUT/HOW ABOUT ... + Base form + -ING
What about going to the pictures tonight?
How about going to the pictures tonight?
2) WHY + NegativeWhy don't we go to the swimming pool tomorrow?

3) IMPERATIVE: Let's + Base form
Let's go to the restaurant now!

4) COULD
We could visit Paris next week.

Parts of the house: Vocabulary

GAME: Verb Machine

Verb Machine
 Verb Machine

SIMILES AS…AS…


Present perfect, since and for


App of the Day: English Idioms Interactive

Cambridge idioms
DESCRIPTION
Idioms are one of the trickiest parts of the English language. Native speakers use them without thinking about them too much, but for language learners they often cause mix-ups and confusion. English Idioms Interactive is an iOS app from Cambridge English Online featuring 45 colourful cartoons illustrating some of the funniest English idioms, plus quizzes and information to help improve your knowledge and command of English idioms. The full app costs €1.99 but there is a 'lite' version with three idioms at each of the three levels.

Movie Trivia Quiz

 The Academy Awards Ceremony (aka the Oscars) takes place this Sunday, so to get you in the right frame of mind, why not test your knowledge of movie history with this fun quiz?



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Cartoon: New E.U. Flag


New eu flag
THE CARTOON
This cartoon by Chappatte from the International New York Times relates to the UK's upcoming EU referendum. A man dressed as a stereotypical English 'city gent' complete with umbrella and briefcase is looking at the 'new EU flag', which now consists of the old EU flag, overlaid with the Union Jack. The man comments, "Not enough concessions."
EXPLANATION
The message is that some people, i.e., hard-line Eurosceptics and Europhobes, will never be satisfied with membership of the EU, no matter how many concessions the UK government manages to wring from Brussels, and David Cameron's much-vaunted/derided EU renegotiation deal was never going to make them change their minds.