suffixes noun makers, comparison and contrast

FCE Language focus 1: Comparison

Comparatives and superlatives

A   Forms Regular one-syllable adjectives:

A    add -er and -est to the adjective:

Adjective : cheap

Comparative : cheaper

Superlative : the cheapest

Other examples: clean, dark, light, short, tall, slow

B   add -r and -st to adjectives ending in -e:

late     later       the latest

Other examples: large, loose, safe, strange, wise

c   double the consonant of adjectives ending in a short vowel and a consonant, and add -er and -est:

thin      thinner      the thinnest

Other examples: fat, sad, wet, red, big, hot, fit

2   Regular adjectives with more than one syllable

Ause more and most in front of the adjective:

sincere        more sincere          the most sincere

Other examples: boring, careful, modern, comfortable

B   change -y to -i and add -er and -est to adjectives ending in -y after a consonant:

happy        happier             the happiest

Other examples: dirty, friendly, funny, noisy, tidy, silly

C   a limited number of two-syllabic adjectives can form the comparative and superlative in two ways:

stupid       stupider        more stupid        the stupidest         the most stupid

Other examples: clever, common, polite, quiet, gentle

Dmost adverbs form their comparative and superlative with more and most:

quietly         more quietly            the most quietly

a limited number have comparative and superlative forms with -er (or -r) and -est (or -st)

fast              faster           the fastest

Other examples: early, hard, late, long, soon

a: irregular adjectives in comparative and superlative

b: Comparative and superlative form of adverbs:

c: Irregular forms: determiners in comparative and superlative

B    Use

1   To talk about people or things that arc different in some way we use:

a   Comparative forms of adjectives/adverbs + than.

I think listening is more difficnlt than reading.

For small differences use a bit, a little, slightly.

You need to work a little harder

For big differences use much, a lot, far, significantly.

My new car's much faster than my old one.

bSuperlative forms of adjectives/adverbs:

That's the nicest thing you've said to me all day.

To emphasize the difference between one person or thing from all the others we can use by far:

This is by far the best book I've ever read.

c   Less ... than and the least

Rugby is less popular than football here. That's my least favourite track on the album.

2As ... as

a For people or things that are the same in some way we use as + adjective/adverb +as.

Size's as intelligent as her sister.

Almost, nearly; just, twice, three times, etc can be used to qualify the comparisons.

There were nearly twice as many people at the party as last year.

bSo can replace the first as in negative sentences.

It's not so difficult as I thought it would be.

Quite and nearly can be used to qualify negative sentences of this type.

Her new film isn't nearly as bad as her last one. (= her new film is much better than her last one)

He's not quite so impatient as his brother.

(= he's a little more patient than his brother)

c    The same + noun + as

My mom 's the same age as my dad.

3    The + comparative, the + comparative

We use this structure for things which occur together .

The more money I have, the faster I spend it.

Language focus 1: Comparisons

Complete the following sentences from the text. If a word is given in brackets, write the correct form of that word. You may need to write more than one word.

Now check your answers in the reading text.

A Comparative and superlative forms

1 Why are the following comparative and superlative forms not possible in sentences 2 and 5 above? TALK ABOUT IT

more long     complexer      militantest      most young

2 What are the comparative and superlative forms of the following adjectives? In the first gap write the comparative form and in the second gap write the superlative form.

3 Easy and quickly both have two syllables and both end in -y. The comparative form of easy is easier. Why isn't quicklier the comparative form of quickly in sentence 3? GIVE YOUR REASON

4 In sentence 3 , far is used with a comparative (far more quickly) to talk about a big difference. Which of the following are used before comparatives for big differences and which for small differences? write B for BIG and S for small

B Other comparative structures

1To talk about people or things that are the same in some way we can use as + adjective or adverb + as.

They're just as silly as each other.

In negative sentences which talk about differences, so can be used instead of the first as.

She's not so fit as she used to be.

Not so becomes not such if a noun is used after the adjective.

Maybe this isn't such a good idea as I thought.

2 The + comparative, the + comparative

This structure is used to show that two changes happen together. The second change is often the result of the first.

The more facts we have at our fingertips, the less we seem to know.

The older he gets, the more slowly he drives.

1 Match each sentence 1-6 with a sentence a-f which expresses a similar idea. The first one has been done for you.

1 She's far lazier than anyone else. c

a She doesn't work nearly as much as she should.

b She has fewer difficulties than before.

c Everyone works much harder than her.

d She's more successful when she works harder.

e She's slightly more hardworking than before.

f I've never had such a bad student in my class.

2 Complete the second sentence so that it has a similar meaning to the first sentence, using the word given. Use between two and five words, including the word given .

3 a Write down one example for each of the following: TALK ABOUT THEM

1 The best type of pet.

2 The best smartphone.

3 Your favourite pop or rock group.

4 A film you really enjoyed.

5 A sportsman or woman you admire. 6 A favourite holiday destination.

b  Work in small groups. Try to persuade the other members of your group that your choices are better than theirs. DO IT

Example:

Student A : Cats are the best pets to have. They're far more independent than most other animals.

Student B : Yes; but cats aren't nearly as playful as dogs. Dogs are a lot more fun.

Student C : You're both wrong. Hamsters are the friendliest pets - much nicer than cats or dogs ...

Word formation: Nouns 1

Write the correct noun form of the words in brackets to complete these extracts from the reading text. You may need to use a plural form.

Check your answers in the text.

2 Use the suffixes in the box to create nouns from the words in 1-6. The same suffix is required for all four words in each group. The final word in each group also requires a spelling change. There is an example at the beginning (0) .

react/object/predict/convert : -ion

3 Use the word given in capitals at the end of some of the lines to form a noun that fits in the gap in the same line. You may need to use a plural or a negative form. The first one has been done for you.