• Comparative is the name for the grammar used when comparing two things. The two basic ways to compare are using as .. as or than. Examples of each are shown below:

• She's twice as old as her sister.

• He's not as stupid as he looks!

• I'm almost as good in maths as in science.

• This book is not as exciting as the last one.

• The cafeteria is not as crowded as usual.

• Russian is not quite as difficult as Chinese.

• This computer is better than that one.

• She's stronger at chess than I am.

• It's much colder today than it was yesterday.

• Our car is bigger than your car.

• This grammar topic is easier than most others.

• I find science more difficult than mathematics.

• Today's ESL lesson was more interesting than usual.

• How to make comparative adjectives

• Do you know how to make comparative adjectives? Here you will find the rules that you need to know:

• The key to making comparative adjectives is counting the syllables in the word. Every word is made up of units of speech, usually containing vowel sounds.

• Use -er for one-syllable words

• For one-syllable words we add -er to the adjective to make it a comparative. The following are all one syllable adjectives:

• Small becomes smaller Cheap becomes cheaper Quick becomes quicker

• Use more / less for two+ syllable words

• Adjectives with two or more syllables take more / less:

• Beautiful becomes more beautiful Sensitive becomes more sensitive Dangerous becomes more dangerous

• Note - If the adjective ends in a consonant-vowel-consonant combination (CVC), double the finalconsonant before adding –er:

• Big becomes bigger Hot becomes hotter Wet becomes wetter

• Use -ier for adjectives ending with y

• For most adjectives that end with a y we change the y to i and add er:

• Dirty becomes dirtier Smelly becomes smellier Ugly becomes uglier

• Some adjectives take both forms

• Some two-syllable adjectives can take either -er or more:

• Simple becomes simpler or more simple Narrow becomes narrower or more narrow Quiet becomes quieter or more quiet

• Irregular forms

• Some adjectives don't follow any of the above rules. Here are some of the most common irregular forms:

• good becomes better bad becomes worse far becomes farther

• In the superlative you talk about one thing only and how it is the best, worst, etc. You do not compare two things. The following guidelines apply to the superlative:

• 1-syllable adjectives: add -est to the adjective (plus the)

• My sister is the tallest in our family. • Yesterday was the coldest day of the year so far. • Note: If the word ends: consonant-vowel-consonant,

then the last consonant is usually doubled in the superlative. Examples: big-biggest, fat-fattest, hot-hottest.

• 2-syllable adjectives ending in -y: change the -y to -iest (plus the)

• The richest people are not always the happiest. • Which do you think is the easiest language to

learn? • She's the luckiest person I know. • Beware: Do not confuse adjectives and adverbs.

2-syllable adverbs ending in -y form their superlative with the words the most. Example: Of all the people I know my father drives the most quickly (quickliest).

• Other 2-syllable adjectives: use the most with the unchanged adjective

• The most boring thing about ESL class is doing grammar exercises.

• My sister is the most careful person I know.

• Note: The superlative of some shorter 2-syllable adjectives can be formed with -er. Examples: simple-simplest, clever-cleverest, narrow-narrowest. To be sure which superlative method to use, you will need to consult a good dictionary.

• Adjectives with 3 or more syllables: use the most with the unchanged adjective

• Some people think that Russian is the most difficult language.

• Albert Einstein was the most intelligent person in history.

• My most enjoyable class is English. • You are the most irritating person I have ever

met! • Following are two common irregular

comparative/superlative forms: • good-better-the best • bad-worse-the worst

• The following guidelines apply to the comparative/superlative of most adverbs:

• 1-syllable adverbs: add -er/-est • I can run faster than you. / I can run the fastest in

my class. • She works harder than me.† / She works the

hardest of all students. • Other adverbs: use more / the most* • She ran more quickly than me.† / Of all the

students she ran the most quickly. • * In informal English it is common to hear the

adjectival comparative/superlative form of two-syllable adverbs. For example: She ran quicker than me.† | She ran the quickest.

Stress word stress rule: ONLY stress Vowels!

One Word

– One word cannot have two stresses.

• If you hear two stresses, you hear two words.

– This means that at least one of the syllables is l o n g e r and louder than the other

• Here are rules that can help you understand where to put the stress.

• Do not rely on them too much, because there are many exceptions. It is better to try to "feel" the music of the language and to add the stress naturally.

Matthew won the

CONtest but I am going

to conTEST the results.’

http://youtu.be/65AgbiwQ6ko

http://youtu.be/580zORPK98A in French

English rhythm

• I really like eating apples.

• I really like eating apples.

• Content words tend to be stressed while function words are unstressed. (In French, all words tend to be equally stressed.)

Why is this important for pronunciation? It is important because it adds "music" to the language. It is the rhythm of the English language. It changes the speed at which we speak (and listen to) the language. The time between each stressed word is the same.

• Listen to the teacher say each word. Then underline the stressed syllable: • 1 mother • 2 America • 3 computer • 4 guarantee • 5 paper • 6 machine • 7 answer • 8 introduce • 9 visitor • 10 about • 11 afraid • 12 another • 13 telephone • 14 Japan • 15 hotel • 16 Hong Kong • 17 animal • 18 between • 19 hairdresser

ENGLISH RHYTHM SENTENCE STRESS

CONTENT WORDS

Words carrying the meaning Example

main verbs SELL, GIVE, EMPLOY

nouns CAR, MUSIC, MARY

adjectives RED, BIG, INTERESTING

adverbs QUICKLY, LOUDLY, NEVER

negative auxiliaries DON'T, AREN'T, CAN'T

The girl is interested in increasing her

vocabulary.

The girl is interested in increasing

her vocabulary.

ENGLISH RHYTHM SENTENCES STRESS

STRUCTURE WORDS

Words for correct grammar Example

pronouns he, we, they

prepositions on, at, into

articles a, an, the

conjunctions and, but, because

auxiliary verbs do, be, have, can, must

The girl is interested in increasing her

vocabulary.

The girl is interested in increasing

her vocabulary.

Practice

• Directions: Everyone comes up with two truths about themselves and one lie. The others have to guess what the lie is.

– Example: The three things I could say about myself are,

– "I have been to Africa. I am allergic to horses. And I am one of 11 children."

– The people guess which of the three is not true. Then, when everyone has made their choice the person reveals the lie, "The lie is I am allergic to horses."

Practice Finish the sentence

• My best friend ... • Last night ... • I have never ... • The third world ... • Politicians ... • Parents ... • I once dreamt that ... • Christmas ... • I get really angry when ... • Some people ... • Going on holiday ... • Having my hair cut ... • Making my bed ... • Talking to a drunk ... • Hippies ... • A millionaire ... • When it rains, I ... • Vegetarians ...