NB2 25/10/17

 p.16

draw /drɔː $ drɒː/

I love reading comics and doing sport.

I don’t really like doing the ironing.

This week I need to buy a new fridge.

I want to learn to program a computer.

I don’t really enjoy being cold.

arrangement /əˈreɪndʒmənt/ UK  US  

 • arrangements sustantivo plural

preparativos, planes

the arrangements for the party

los preparativos para la fiesta

department /dɪˈpɑːtmənt/

p. 17

What time do you want to meet?

Sounds good

square /skweə/ UK  US

plaza

There's a market in the square every Friday.

Hay mercado en la plaza todos los viernes.

Homework: read the text on page 67

Comparative and superlative adjectives: form

One-syllable adjectives (big, cold, hot, long, nice, old, tall)

To form the comparative, we use the -er suffix with adjectives of one syllable:

It’s colder today than yesterday.

Sasha is older than Mark.

To form the superlative, we use the -est suffix with adjectives of one syllable. We normally use the before a superlative adjective:

I think that’s the biggest apple I’ve ever seen!

At one time, the Empire State building in New York was the tallest building in the world.

They have three boys. Richard is the oldest and Simon is the youngest.

Spelling of comparatives and superlatives with one-syllable adjectives

type of adjective	comparative	superlative
most adjectives	add -er:cheaper,richer,smaller,younger	add -est:cheapest,richest,smallest,youngest
adjectives ending in -e	add -r: finer,nicer, rarer	add -st:finest,nicest,rarest
adjectives with one vowel + one consonant:	double the final consonant and add -er:bigger,hotter, thinner	double the final consonant and add -est:biggest,hottest,thinnest

Note the pronunciation of these comparatives and superlatives:

1.                      long /lɒŋ/ longer /lɒŋgə(r)/ longest/lɒŋgəst/

2.                      strong /strɒŋ/ stronger /strɒŋgə(r)/strongest /strɒŋgəst/

3.                      young /jʌŋ/ younger /jʌŋgə(r)/youngest /jʌŋgəst/

Some one-syllable adjectives have irregular comparative and superlative forms:

1.                      bad, worse, worst 

2.                      far, farther/further, farthest/furthest

3.                      good, better, best 

4.                      old, older/elder, oldest/eldest

The morning flight is better than the afternoon one.

His elder sister works for the government.

Olivia is Denise’s best friend.

I think that was the worst film I’ve ever seen!

Pluto is the furthest planet from the sun in our solar system.

Two-syllable adjectives

Two-syllable adjectives ending in -ychange y to i and take the -er and -estendings:

busy, busier,busiest	happy, happier,happiest
easy, easier,easiest	funny, funnier,funniest

We were busier last week than this week.

Are you happier now that you’ve changed your job?

That was the easiest exam I’ve ever taken.

Some other two-syllable adjectives (especially those ending in an unstressed vowel sound) can also take the -er and -est endings:

clever, cleverer,cleverest	quiet, quieter,quietest
narrow, narrower,narrowest	simple, simpler,simplest

I’ve always thought that Donald was cleverer than his brother.

This new bed is narrower than the old one.

The guest bedroom is the quietest room in the house because it overlooks the garden.

We don’t normally use the -er and –est endings with two-syllable adjectives ending in -ful. Instead, we use more and most/least:

This dictionary is more useful than the one we had before.

Not: This dictionary is usefuller …

You’ll have to try to be more careful in the future.

The most useful tool in the kitchen is a good sharp knife.

Not: The usefulest tool in the kitchen …

This is the least harmful chemical in terms of the environment.

Longer adjectives

Adjectives of three or more syllables form the comparative with more/less and the superlative with most/least:

The second lecture was more interesting than the first.

Not: The second lecture was interestinger …

If you are going as a group, the least expensive option is to rent an apartment or villa.

Comparatives

This car is bigger than this other car.

Today she is hap-pier than yesterday (happy).

My sister is cle-verer than me.

She is more intelligent than us.

Superlatives

This car is the biggest.

Today she is the happiest person in the world.

My sister is the cleverest in the family.

She is the most intelligent teacher.