Comparatives and Superlatives

are special forms of adjectives. They are used to compare two or more things. Generally, comparatives are formed using -er and superlatives are formed using -est. How comparatives and superlatives are created depends on how many syllables there are in the adjective. Here are the rules: Adjective form Only one syllable, ending in E. Examples: wide, fine, cute Only one syllable, with one vowel and one consonant at the end. Examples: hot, big, fat Only one syllable, with more than one vowel or more than one consonant at the end. Examples: light, neat, fast Two syllables, ending in Y. Examples: happy, silly, lonely Superlative Add -st: widest, finest, Add -r: wider, finer, cuter cutest Double the consonant, and Double the consonant, and add -est: hottest, biggest, add -er: hotter, bigger, fatter fattest Add -er: lighter, neater, faster Add -est: lightest, neatest, fastest Comparative

Change y to i, then add Change y to i, then add -er: est: happiest, silliest, happier, sillier, lonelier loneliest Use more before the Use most before the Two syllables or more, not adjective: more modern, adjective: most modern, ending in Y. Examples: modern, more interesting, more most interesting, most interesting, beautiful beautiful beautiful

2. How to use comparatives and superlatives

When comparing two things. You can use sentences with than, or you can use a conjunction like but. Comparatives

Edgar is taller than me. Edgar is tall, but Kevin is taller.

Superlatives are used to compare more than two things. Superlative sentences usually use the, because there is only one superlative.

Superlatives

Kevin is the tallest in the class. Sebastian is tall, and Edgar is taller, but Kevin is the tallest.

Actividad CON PARTICIPACIN DE SALN:

What is the comparative of "heat"? 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. heater heatter heatier hetter none of these

NONE "Heat" is a noun -- it doesn't have a comparative or a superlative form! The adjective would be "hot", not "heat".

1. What is the comparative of "hot"? 1. hoter 2. hotter 3. hotest 4. hottest 2. What is the comparative of "destructive"? 1. destructiver 2. more destructive 3. destructivier 4. more destructiver 3. What is the superlative of "small"? 1. smallier 2. smaller 3. smalliest 4. smallest 4. What is the superlative of "deep"? 1. deeper 2. deepper 3. deepest 4. deeppest 5. What is the comparative of "lively"? 1. livelyer 2. more livelyer 3. livelier 4. more livelier 6. What is the superlative of "soft"? 1. softest 2. softiest 3. softtest 4. most soft 7. What is the comparative of "sad"? 1. sader 2. sadder

3. 4.

sadier Saddier

QUANTIFIERS
8. Quantifiers are a type of determiner which denotes imprecise quantity. They differ from numbers or numerals which indicate precise quantity.

9. The most common examples: the most common quantifiers used in English are: Some / any, much, many, a lot, a few, several, enough.

10. There are three types of quantifier; 1. neutral quantifiers, 2. quantifiers of large quantity, and 3. quantifiers of small quantity

1. Neutral quantifiers:
11. Some and any: several, a number of, etc.

12. Some and any are both quantifiers and articles. In many contexts, some is the plural indefinite article, the plural of "a" or "an"; 13. but more often, Some implies a limited quantity, and for this reason has the value of a quantifier. 14. Some is used in affirmative statements; it is replaced with any in negative and interrogative contexts.

15. Examples: I've got some apples in my basket and some water in my bottle. I haven't got any apples in my basket, nor any water in my bottle. Have you got any apples in your basket? Have you got any water in your bottle? We had some visitors last weekend, but we didn't have any this weekend Have you got any rooms free for the night of September 30th?

16. Several and a number of imply "more than one, but less than a lot". They are not usually used in negative or interrogative structures, only in affirmative statements. For example
17. There are several books / a number of books by J.Z.Plummerman in our library. Several people / A number of people said that they'd seen the missing child.

18. Enough 19. Enough implies a sufficient quantity; it is used in affirmations, negations and questions.

20. We can get tickets for the concert; I've got enough money now. Have you got enough money for the tickets?
21. NOTE: do not confuse enough as a quantifier preceding a noun, with enough as an intensifier following an adjective, as in: 22. That's good enough for me.

2. Large quantity quantifiers:

23. Much, many, lots of, plenty of, numerous, a large number of, etc.

24. Much and many: much is used with non countable nouns which are the nouns that refer to generalisations, abstractions, concepts or substances, things that cannot be put in the plural; for example. Water, oxygen, eternity, psychology, anger, politics, heat, alcohol... 25. Many is used with countable nouns in the plural which are the nouns that refer to things that can be multiplied or counted, for example: One man, two women, three children, four cars, five shirts, six computers, seven sisters, and so on.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Much and many are not often used, in modern spoken English, in affirmative statements; but they are very commonly used in interrogative and negative contexts: I dont have much patience left. How much is it ?
26. Examples: I have many reasons for thinking that this man is innocent is acceptable, but rather formal; most English speakers would more naturally say: I have plenty of / a lot of / a large number of reasons for thinking .....

27. Lots of, a lot of, plenty of, a large number of, numerous. These expressions all mean more or less exactly the same. In the list above, they are arranged in order of formality, going from the most informal (lots of) to the most formal (numerous).

3. Small quantity quantifiers:

Few, a few, little, a little, not many, not much, a small number of, etc.

28. These quantifiers are normally only used in affirmative statements.

Little, a little, not much are used with non countable nouns (always in the singular) There isnt much water left. You should have a little more patience. There's little point in trying to mend it. You'll never succeed! I've got a little money left; let's go and have a drink.

Few, a few, not many are used with countable nouns in the plural. Few people can speak more than three languages A few (of the) paintings in this gallery are really good. Not many warriors know how to use a sword like that.

MODIFIER
A modifier is a word or group of words that describes: another word and makes its meaning more specific. Often modifying phrases, it adds information about "where", "when", or "how" something is done. In English, there are two parts of speech which are modifiers: adjectives and adverbs. Adjectives modify nouns and pronouns; whereas, adverbs modify verbs, adjectives and other adverbs.

Actividad CON PARTICIPACIN DE SALN:

important letter (adjective modifying a noun) adjective noun

Paint it correctly. (adverb modifying a verb) verb adverb

extremely fast (adverb modifying an adjective) adverb adjective

Fin

A modifier works best when it is right next to the word it modifies. For example, consider the modifiers in the following sentence (they are underlined for you):

The awesome dude rode a wave breaking on the shore.

The word "awesome" is an adjective (or, a one-word modifier); it sits right next to the word "dude" it modifies. The phrase "breaking on the shore" tells us where he rode the wave. Thus, "breaking on the shore" is a modifying phrase that must be placed next to the "wave" it modifies.

Actividad CON PARTICIPACIN DE SALN

Below is an example of poorly placed modifiers. See if you can identify the problems:

Roger looked at twenty-five sofas shopping on Saturday.

Obviously twenty-five sofas were not shopping on Saturday. Because "shopping on Saturday" is meant to modify Roger, it should be right next to Roger, as follows: Shopping on Saturday, Roger looked at twenty-five sofas.