Unit 13 Dialogues - Some/Any 1. Do you have any coffee? No, I don't, but I've got some tea.

Do you want some? Yes, please. Do you want a cookie too? Sure, I love cookies. ----2. I'm really hungry. Let's eat. OK. I've got some chicken in the refridgerator, do you want some? Yea, that sounds great. I've also got some tacos in the cupboard, and there's an apple pie as well. Do you have any juice? Sure, it's over there. Help yourself. ----3. It's Mum's birthday next week. Let's get her a present. OK. How about some perfume? Well, she doesn't have any. She doesn't use it. So how about some clothes or a watch? That's a good idea, but I don't know her size. Let's just buy a gift voucher. Then she can choose her own present. Great idea! -------Key Vocabulary any coffee some tea I've got = I have cookie get present perfume use watch size

refridgerator taco cupboard birthday

gift voucher then choose

Grammar 1. Quantifiers - Some / Any Quantifiers are words that show how much there is of something - they show quantity. Numbers for example are also quantifiers. Some Some is used to show an indefinite quantity, the exact number is not important. It is used in affirmative statements, for example: - I have some books. - She wants some apples. Some is also in questions, but only when you think the answer wil be "Yes". For example: - Do you have some paper? (I hope the answer is "Yes") - Would you like some french fries? ( I expect the anwer is "Yes") Any Any is used in negative statements. For example: - I don't have any money. - There aren't any taxis near here. Any is also generally used in questions, especially when we expect the answer to be "No". for example: - Do you have any paper? (I expect the answer will probably be "No") - Is there any time to go to the doctor's? ( I think there probably isn't time). This can however look and sound awkward, so you can sometimes just use ' instead. For example with names: Thomas's book, Tess's house can also be Thomas' book, Tess' house. Some and any are often used like articles for plural nouns. A/an is used for singular countable nouns, and some/any can be used for plural noun, countable or uncountable. For example: I have a newspaper, some newspapers, and some money. "A newspaper" is a singular countable noun so uses a, "newspapers" is a plural countable nouns so uses some, and money is an uncountable noun so also uses some. ----As always it seems complicated especially the first time, but when you use grammar rather than just read about it it makes much more sense, and as you grow in experience and confidence you'll soon be learning to use English grammar well. On with the exercises! Unit 14 Dialogues - Much/Many/A Lot

1. We need to go shopping. I don't think so, we've got a lot of food here. We don't have much milk or bread, and we don't have much water. Oh, OK. Lets go shopping this evening. ----2. How's your university? It's great. I have lots of friends and there are a lot of great professors. I don't have much money, but that's OK. Also I'm really busy these days, so I don't have much time. Are you enjoying it? Sure, it's going well. ----3. How many students are in your class? We don't have many students, just eight. That's great! You can study a lot. Right. And I can talk to the teacher a lot as well. That's good. Do you have many friends in your class? Yes, I go out with them a lot. -------Key Vocabulary shopping think a lot of much milk bread shopping evening new university friends professors busy these days class many right go out

Grammar 1. Quantifiers - Much / Many / A Lot of

Quantifiers are words that show how much there is of something - they show quantity. Much, many, and a lot of indicate a large quantity of something, for example "I have a lot of milk" means I have a large quantity of milk. Much Much is used with uncountable nouns, and is generally used in negative statements and questions. It's uncommon to use much in positive statements. For example: - I don't have much money. - Do you have much time? - "I have much time." This sounds unusual. Many Many is used with plural countable nouns, and is often used in negative statements and questions. It is also used in positive statements however. For example: - I don't have many apples. - Do you have many friends? - Many people come here in summer. Much and many can be used in affirmative statements, but give a more formal meaning. For example: - He has many good friends from Harvard University. Much and many often appear in short answers. For example: - Do you see your family much? - No, not much. A lot of A lot of is used with uncountable and countable nouns, and is generally used for affirmative statements. For example: - I have a lot of friends. - I have a lot of time. A lot of is also used in questions, especially when you expect a positive response. Although it is often said that much and many are used for questions, we usually use them for questions which expect a negative response. For example: - Do you want a lot of pizza? I expect you want to eat a lot. - Do you want much pizza? This sounds unusual, as though I expect you don't want to eat much. Lots of can be used in the same way as a lot of, often in informal speech. For example: - I have lots of time. - I have a lot of time. How much / many? How much is used to ask about the price of something. For example: - How much is it? - How much is that dog in the window? How much and How many are used to ask about quantity. For example: - How much money do you have? - How many apples does he have?

----1. How's your job going? It's great, now I save a little money every month. That's great. These days I can save little money, my apartment is expensive. Oh, that's too bad. ----2. Are there any bookstores near here? Not really, there are few bookstores near here. So how do I buy books? There are a few bookstores in the center of town. Let's go together this afternoon. Thanks, that sounds great. ----3. Do you like coffee? No, I drink little coffee, it doesn't taste very good. How about tea? Sure, I often drink a little tea. Do you want some? Yes, please! -------Key Vocabulary job a little money every month save apartment expensive bad bookstore few near buy center town afternoon taste drink

Grammar 1. Quantifiers - Few / Little / A Few / A Little THese quantifiers are used to show a small quantity of something, for example "I have a few books" means I have a small quantity of books. A Few A few is used with countable nouns to show a small quantity. It is used in affirmative statements, but not negatives. We generally use any or questions. For example: - I have a few books. - I don't have a few books This is incorrect. - I don't have any books This is correct. - Do you have a few books? Sometimes this is possibe, but generally speaking we use any for questions, for example "Do you have any books?" Few There is an important difference between a few and few. Few without a is used to mean we don't have enough of something. For example: - She has few apples in the refridgerator. (She doesn't have enough apples). - She has a few apples in the refridgerator. (She has a small quantity of apples) Put another way, "a few" means "a small quantity", but "few" means "not a big quantity" For example: - A few friends came to my party. This is a positive idea, I'm happy a few people came./ - Few friends came to my party. This is a negative idea, I'm not happy because not many people came. Notice how "a few" focuses on how many people did come, but "few" focuses on how many didn't come. In sum, A few means a small quantity - few means not a big quantity A Little A little is used with uncountable nouns to show a small quantity. Again, it is generally used in affirmative statements, not negatives or questions. For example: - I have a little orange juice. Negatives and Questions use "any" as usual. - I don't have a little orange juice. This is incorrect. - I don't have any orange juice. This is correct - Do you have a little orange juice? Again, we generally use any for questions, for example "Do you have any orange juice?" Little As with few, there is also the same difference between a little and little. Little without a is used to mean we don't have enough of something. For example: - She has little for breakfast. (She doesn't eat enough for breakfast). - She has a little for breakfast. (She has a small quantity of food for breakfast). -----

Now try some exercises with few, a few, little, and a little! Unit 16 Dialogues - Possessives 1. Whose watch is this? Oh, it's mine. And whose pen is this? It's Tim's, I think. ----2. Whose CDs are these? They're mine. Do you like them? Sure, I've got the same CDs at home. ----3. Who lives in that house? Oh, that's the Jones' house. This is our house. Your house is really nice. Thanks. Is this your car? No that's not mine, it's my neighbor's. This is mine. -------Key Vocabulary whose watch mine these CD mine same Jones - a common family name our nice neighbor

Grammar 1. Possessives Possessives show who or what something belongs to - they show possession.

Most nouns can be made possessive simply by adding 's. For example: - The restaurant's food is very good. - David Beckham's right foot is excellent. - You can eat an apple's skin. If the noun is plural and ends in "s", you add just '. For example: girls is plural and ends in "s" so:' - The girls' books are interesting. (The girls's books are interesting) children is plural but doesn't end in "s" so we just add 's as normal: - The children's boks are interesting. boss ends in "s" but is not plural, so again just add 's. - The boss's office is very big. This can however look and sound awkward, so you can sometimes just use ' instead. For example with names: Thomas's book, Tess's house can also be Thomas' book, Tess' house. The basic rule is; if the noun is plural and ends in "s" add ' - otherwise just add 's. 2. Possessive Adjectives Here are the possessive adjectives with example sentences. Notice that possessive adjectives come before the noun. Possessive Adjective My Your (singular) Her His Our Your (plural) Their Its 3. Possessive Pronouns Here are the possessive pronouns with example sentences. Notice they never come before nouns. Possessive Pronoun My Your (singular) Her His Our Your (plural) Their Its Uncountable This book is mine. That car is yours. Theexpensive watch is hers. The house on Chamber Street is his. The cute dog is ours. Those friends are yours. This ball is theirs. -Uncountable This is my book Your car looks great. Her watch is expensive. His house is on Chamber Street. Our dog is cute. Your friends are nice. This is their ball. The cat likes its food.

There is no possessive pronoun for its, so you cannot say "The book is its". Also possessive pronouns often come at the end of sentences and are usually stressed. "This is my book" can be have a fairly factual meaning, but "This book is mine" stresses more strongly whose book it is.

Now try and put it all into practice!

Unit 17 Dialogues - There is / There are 1. Tyler, do you like London? Sure, there are lots of restaurants and shops, and there's a lot of beautiful parks and museums as well. I really want to live there. Me too! ----2. Hey, this is a great apartment. Thanks. There's a lot of space, and there are some really nice neighbors as well. Are there any stores near here? Sure, there is a supermarket near here. You have a great view! Right. There's only one problem. What's that? It's really expensive! ----3. Is there any pizza? No we don't have any, sorry. Well, are there any apples? Er, yes, there's some in the kitchen. Help yourself. -------Key Vocabulary there are restaurant shop there is beautiful park museum space near nearby view problem expensive pizza

there live apartment

sorry kitchen help yourself

Grammar 1. There is / there are "There" is a kind of pronoun used to show something you know exists. Compare these two sentences: - "A fly is in my soup." - "There is a fly in my soup!" The first sentence is factual and impersonal. The fly is the subject, and the soup is the object. In the second sentence the object is "a fly in my soup", so the subject is "There". "There" functions as a kind of dummy subject that represents a more personal perspective, rather than a factual statement. Especially in spoken English we usually use the contraction "there's", rather than "there is". Here are the forms of "there" in the Simple Present. Statements There's a tree in my garden. There are books on the desk. Negatives There isn't a computer in my bedroom. There aren't any cinemas here. There is usually subject-verb agreement when using there is/there are. For example: - There are ten students in my class. - There is ten students in my class. Sometimes however we can use "there is" with compound subjects, for example: There's a bank and a post office near my house. Unit 18 Dialogues - Can / Can't 1. Can you play the piano? Yes, a little. How about you? No I can't, but I can play the guitar. ----2. Can you cook? Not really. I can make toast and pasta, that's all. Questions Is there a restaurant here? Yes, there is. / No, there isn't

Everyone can make toast! Well, can you cook? Yes, I can. I can cook delicious fish and chicken. Wow, that's great. ----3. So what can you do? I can draw, and I can paint really well too. I can also speak English and Korean. How about you? I can play chess and I can write computer programs. I can also speak English and Spanish. Excellent! -------Key Vocabulary can play piano can't guitar cook delicious fish wow draw paint Korean chess write computer computer program Spanish excellent

Grammar 1. Can Can is a kind of auixiliary verb called a modal verb. Modal verbs express a particuilar character or mood of a verb. Ability Can is often used to show ability. For example: "We can speak English", or "He can sing well." Here are the Simple Present forms of can for ability. Statements I can play the piano. She can drive a car. Negatives Questions Can you play the piano? Can she drive a car?

I cannot play the piano. She cannot drive a car. Contractions Cannot and can't are the same: eg. - I cannot cook well. - I can't cook well. Can't is much more common in spoken English. Permission Can is also used to show permission. For example: "You can go home after class". Here are the Simple Present forms of can for permission. Statements You can meet her tommorrow. - (You have permission to meet her). Questions Can we go to the movies? - (Please give us permission to watch a movie).

Negatives She can't come to our house. - (She doesn't have permisson to visit us). This Unit is relatively straightforward, so on to the exercises! Unit 19 Dialogues - Have / Have got 1. What have you got? I've got a new jacket. How about you? I've got a some new T-shirts. ----2. What do your friends look like? Greg's got brown hair, glasses and he's really tall. Cindy's got blond hair, blue eyes and she's slim. Let's meet them together! ----3. I've got a new apartment. That's great! What's it like? Well, it's got two bedrooms, a big living room and a bathroom. Has it got a nice view?

Sure, you can see the ocean from my window. That's excellent. -------Key Vocabulary have have got jacket T-shirt look like Greg - a boy's name brown hair glasses Cindy - a girl's name blond blue eyes slim meet bedroom living room bathroom view ocean window

Grammar 1. Have - have got "Have" and "have got" are both used to show possession. For example: "I have a pen", and "I have got a pen" have the same meaning. Here are the main points when choosing which one to use. Have The Simple Present forms of have are as follows. Singular Affirmative I have a pen You have a pen She has a pen He has a pen It has a pen Negative I do not have a pen = I don't have a pen You do not have a pen = You don't have a pen She does not have a pen = She doesn't have a pen He does not have a pen = He doesn't have a pen It does not have a pen = It doesn't have a pen Questions Do I have a pen? We do not have a pen = We don't have a pen You do not have a pen = You don't have a pen They do not have a pen = They don't have a pen Plural Affirmative We have a pen You have a pen They have a pen

Negative

Questions Do we have a pen? Do you have a pen?

Do you have a pen? Does she has a pen? Does he has a pen? Does it have a pen?

Do they have a pen?

You make questions with have as normal by using the auxiliary verb "to do". For example: - Statement: You have a pen. - Question: Do you have a pen? - Have you a pen? This is generally incorrect, although occasionally found in British English. The verb have is often contracted in English, but when have is used for possession you cannot use a contraction, you should use have got instead (see below). For example: - I've a pen, He's a pen. These are incorrect. Do not and does not can of course still be contracted to don't and doesn't. For example: - He doesn't have a pen = He does not have a pen. The Simple Present forms of have got are as follows. Have got Singular Affirmative I have got a pen = I've got a pen You have got a pen = You've got a pen She has got a pen = She's got a pen He has got a pen = He's got a pen It has got a pen = It's got a pen Negative I have not got a pen = I haven't got a pen You have not got a pen = You haven't got a pen She has not got a pen = She hasn't got a pen He has not got a pen = He hasn't got a pen It has not got a pen = It hasn't got a pen Questions Have I got a pen? Have you got a pen? Has he got a pen? Has she got a pen? Has it got a pen? We have not got a pen = We haven't got a pen You have not got a pen = You haven't got a pen They have not got a pen = They haven't got a pen We have got a pen = We've got a pen You have got a pen = You've got a pen They have got a pen = They've got a pen Plural

Have we got a pen? Have you got a pen? Have they got a pen?

Affirmative statements can contract have got, for example: - I have got some food = I've got some food. - He has got some food = He's got some food. Negatives contract as follows: - I haven't got any food = I have not got any food. - She hasn't got any food = She has not got any food.

----Have got is a slightly unusual form because it is a perfect tense form, something which we haven't learnt yet and which will be covered later. Also, remember that the verb have is used in many ways, but the above is only for its use for possession. The lists above may seem rather laborious, but you will quickly learn to use these verbs when you apply them to some real English usage. So, on to the exercises! Grammar 1. Conjunctions Conjunctions are words that conjoin things - they connect sentences and parts of a sentence. This unit deals with five conjunctions: and, but, or, so and because. And And is oftne used to join nouns, for example: - I like spaghetti and pizza. And is also used to show time sequence, for example: - I ate spaghetti for lunch and pizza for dinner. But But is used to show an exception or conflict. For example: - I like spaghetti, but I don't like hamburgers. Or Or is used to show choice, for example: - You can eat spaghetti or pizza for dinner. So So is used to show the result of something. For example: - I like all Italian food, so I like pizza. So can also be used give additional information, for example: - I like Italian food, and so does my brother. Because Because is used to show the cause of something. For example: - I eat a lot of pizza because I like it. - I study English because I want a good job. ----There are many other specific usages of the above conjunctions, but they usually center around the main concepts outlined here. Now try using some conjunctions with the follwoing exercises.

Unit 21 Dialogues - Imperatives

1. Be careful! Why? What's wrong? You're standing on my foot. Oh, sorry. ----2. Hello everybody. Please sit down and open your books. Teacher, let's play a game! No, today we study. Open your books, and let's start! ----3. Tyler, the kitchen is really dirty! Yea, I know. So do the dishes now! And vacuum the floor! Why don't you do it? I do it every day - now it's your turn. Oh, OK. You're right, it's my turn. Thanks. Your welcome. -------Key Vocabulary be careful standing foot everybody sit down open game today start dirty dishes vacuum floor every day turn

Grammar 1. Imperatives

Imperatives are used to give orders or suggestions. For example: "Come here!" or "Have a cookie". Imperatives almost always have no subject, and the second person is usually implied as the subject instead. For example "Come here!" implies the subject "(you) Come here!". Here are some of the situations you can use imperatives. Orders Close the door! - Stand up! - Sit down! - Open your books! Instructions To make a cup of coffee: - Boil some water - Put some coffee in a cup - Add some water - Drink the coffee. Directions To go to the bank Turn left at Orchard Street, and then go straight. Offers and Invitations - Have some tea - Come over to our house sometime. Let's The verb let is often used as an imperative to give strong suggestions. Let's is a contraction of let us. For example: - Let's go home! - Let's watch a movie! ----Unit 22 Dialogues - Present Continuous 1. What are you doing? I'm studying English. What are you doing? I'm making some food. Do you want some? Sure! ----2. Right now I'm working at home. My friend is talking on the 'phone and my sister is studying Spanish. She wants to be a businesswoman, so she's learning a new language. I usually work at the office, but today I'm working at home. It's great fun! -----

3. How's Sarah? She's fine. She's living in Chicago now. Really! Yes, and she's working as a fashion designer. That's great. Is she having a good time? Yes, she's doing really well. -------Key Vocabulary make food talk 'phone sister businesswoman learn language usually office fun Sarah - a girl's name Chicago fashion designer

Grammar 1. Present Continuous The Present Continuous is used for actions that are happening around the present time. For example, "I am studying English" means that I am in the process of studying English now. Form The Present Continuous is formed by adding the verb "to be" and the -ing form Singular Affirmative I am studying You are studying She is studying He is studying It is studying Negative I am not studying You are not studying She is not studying He is not studying We do not have a pen = We don't have a pen You do not have a pen = You don't have a pen They do not have a pen = They don't have a pen Plural Affirmative We are studying You are studying They are studying

Negative

It is not studying Questions Do I have a pen? Do you have a pen? Does she has a pen? Does he has a pen? Does it have a pen?

Questions Do we have a pen? Do you have a pen? Do they have a pen?

For negatives we simply add not after the auxilary verb "to be", for example: - I am playing - I am not playing. For questions we invert the subject and auxiliary verb to be, for example: - You are playing - Are you playing? Usage The Present Continuous is used for actions happening at the present time. For example: - We are studying English. - You are using a computer. The Present Continuous is also used for processes happening around the present time. For example: - It is raining today. - I am working in Paris this month. - The world is turning. The time period of the first sentence is today, the second sentence one month, and the third sentence forever, but all of these sentences are about processes that happen around the present. They started before the present, are happening now, and will continue after the present. This is a key idea of the Present Continuous. The Present Continuous is also used for repeated actions or habits. Such repetition is seen as one continuing process. For example: - I am getting up early this week. Obviously I'm not getting up just one time for a whole week, but during one week I will get up early every day, so this can be seen as one process. The Present Continuous is also used for future arrangements at a particular time. For example: - I'm going to Rome at 10.30 tomorrow. - She's coming to my apartment this evening. Spelling To make the -ing form, also known as the present participle, we usually add -ing to the verb. For example: - study - studying - eat - eating - jump - jumping For verbs ending in -e, we leave out the -e and add -ing. For example: - write - writing: not writeing - skat - skating: not skateing. For verbs ending in a vowel and a consonant, we usually double the last consonant and add -ing. For example:

- run - running: not runing - cut - cutting: not cuting For verbs ending in -ie we change the -ie to -y and add -ing. For example: - lie - lying: not lieing ----Try these exercises using the Present Continuous. Unit 23 Dialogues - Adverbs of Frequency 1. What do you do at the weekend? I always go out on Saturday. Sometimes I go to a restaurant, and sometimes I watch a movie. I never go to concerts, but I often go to my friend's house. I always have a good time! ----2. What kind of person are you? Well, I'm friendly and outgoing, and I'm usually very happy. I don't often complain, and I never shout or get really angry. How about you? I'm friendly too, and I'm a little shy. I'm always happy, but sometimes I'm very busy. I always try to have a happy face. Me too! ----3. What are some customs in your country? We always bow to people we meet, and we never joke about people's names. That's good. Here we never ask about people's salary, it's rude. Also we usually aren't late for meetings. That's good too! -------Key Vocabulary weekend always sometimes watch movie never concert often what kind get angry shy busy face custom country bow people meet

person friendly outgoing usually complain shout Grammar Adverbs of Frequency

joke salary rude late meeting

Adverbs of frequency show how often something happens. For example: "I always brush my teeth" means I brush my teeth every day. Here are some common adverbs of frequency. Adverb Always - He always eats breakfast. Usually - He usually eats breakfast. Often - He often eats breakfast. Sometimes - He sometimes eats breakfast. Never - He never eats breakfast. For infrequent events we can use: Don't usually - He doesn't usually eat breakfast. 20% Affirmative/Negative Frequency Adverbs Affirmative frequency adverbs can be made negative, for example: - I don't always eat rice for breakfast. - He doesn't usually come home late. Negative frequency adverbs can't be made negative: for example: - I don't never eat rice for breakfast - This is incorrect Adverb Position Adverb position varies greatly in English. However as a general rule, adverbs of frequency come before the main verb. For example: These are correct: "sometimes" comes before the main verb "play" - We sometimes play sports. - We don't often play sports. These are incorrect: - We play sometimes sports. - We don't play often sports. Other positions are also possible, for example: - We play sports sometimes. Here the adverb is in the end position. Frequency 100% 80% 60% 40%-50% 0%

- Sometimes we come home late. The beginning positon is possible, especially when adding emphasis. ----Unit 24 Dialogues - Prepositions of Time 1. What are you doing at the weekend? On Saturday I'm meeting my friends at 2.00, and in the evening I'm watching a movie. On Sunday I'm not busy, so maybe we can go out together. That sounds great! ----2. I'm so busy these days! How come? I get up at 6.30 in the morning, and I finish work at 8.00 in the evening. It's a really long day. You're so busy! I know. My boss wants our project finished in March, so we're working really hard. I think you need a holiday. Well, in the summer I have three weeks holiday. I can't wait! ----3. Hello, this is doctor Watson's clinic. How can I help you? Hello, this is Tyler Saunders. I'd like to make an appointment. OK, Mr. Saunders. How about on Tuesday at 3.30? I'm busy all day on Tuesday. Is Friday OK? Well, the doctor can see you in the morning at 9.30. 9.30 on Friday is fine. Very good, Mr Saunders. We look forward to seeing you. Thankyou, good bye. Goodbye. -------Key Vocabulary

evening maybe how come finish long know boss project March

holiday summer weeks wait clinic appointment Tuesday Friday

>> - Next Page - Grammar - >> Grammar Prepositions of Time Prepositions of time show the time something happens. For example: "I get up at 7.00" shows the time I get up. Some of the most common prepositions of time are: in, on, at, from, to. In In is used for morning, afternoon, and evening. For example: - I study Japanese in the afternoon. - He gets up early in the morning. In is also used for other periods of time, including months, seasons, years, centuries, and ages. For example: - My birthday is in March. - The Portuguese came to Japan in 1542. - Flowers grow in spring. On On is almost always used for some kind of day. For example: - My birthday is on March 29th. - I go to church on Sunday. - We visit my family on New Year's Day. Compare: He gets up early in the morning. But: He gets up early on Monday morning. At At is used for a particular time. For example: - I study Spanish at 2.00. - He gets up at 7.30. - I come home at lunchtime. At is also used for used for night. Compare: I sleep in the afternoon. But: I sleep at night.

From - to From and to are used to show the start and end of a defined period of time. For example: - I work from 9.00 to 5.00. - Our vacation is from January 5th to February 1st. ----Unit 25 Dialogues - Comparatives / Superlatives 1. How's the weather in your country? The summer is much hotter than here, and the winter is also much colder. The best time is spring, it's beautiful! ----2. Which restaurant do you like? Bella Rosa is good, they've got good food but it's expensive. McDonalds is cheaper, but it's really unhealthy. I think the Vietnamese restaurant is the best, it's the cheapest, the healthiest, and the most delicious! ----3. How's your English going? Oh, it's much better these days. It's easier than before, and I know more words and I can speak more confidently. It's great. I'm really glad to hear it. Keep up the great work! Key Vocabulary weather country summer hotter colder best expensive cheaper unhealthy Vietnamese cheapest healthiest most delicious better these days easier before know words more confidently

Grammar Comparatives and Superlatives

Comparatives show more or less of a particular attribute, they compare things. Comparatives are generally used for comparing two things, and superlatives are used for comparing three or more things. If it's clear what we are comparing to, then we can just use the comparative form on its own. For example: - I am faster. - She is older. Otherwise we use than before the thing we are comparing to. For example: I am faster than John. She is taller than me. Superlative forms don't use than and are always preceded by the definite article the. For example: - I am the tallest student in my school. Comparatives ----One-Syllable Adjectives To make a comparative from an adjective with one syllable, we add -er to the adjective, for example: - slow - slower - fast - faster - tall - taller - short - shorter To make a comparative from a one syllable adjective ending in -e, we just add -r. For example: - nice - nicer - large - larger If the one syllable adjective ends in a vowel and a consonant, we double the consonant. For example: - big - bigger - hot - hotter - thin - thinner Two-Syllable Adjectives If the adjective has two or more syllables, we add more before the adjective. For example: This book is more expensive than that book. This picture is more beautiful. However there are many exceptions to this one/two-sylllable rule. Some two-syllable words behave like one-syllable ones: For example: This is easier - Correct This is more easy - Incorrect. This is simpler - Correct This is more simple - Incorrect And some adjectives can use both comparatives forms: For example - clever - cleverer - more clever: These are all correct. - quiet - quieter - more quiet: These are all correct. Exceptions cannot be learnt through rules, the best way to learn them is simply to pick them up case by case. Superlatives -----

One-Syllable Adjectives To make a superlative from an adjective with one syllable, we add -est to the adjective, for example: - slow - slowest - fast - fastest - tall - tallestr - short - shortest To make a superlative from a one syllable adjective ending in -e, we just add -st. For example: - nice - nicest - large - largest If the one syllable adjective ends in a vowel and a consonant, we double the consonant. For example: - big - biggest - hot - hottest - thin - thinnest Two-Syllable Adjectives If the adjective has two or more syllables, we add most before the adjective. For example: This book is the most expensive book. This picture is the most beautiful picture in the museum. Irregular Forms There are a few irregular forms. Below gives the adjective, comparative, and superlative forms. good - better - best bad - worse - worst far - farther - farthest far - further - furthest little - less - least much/many - more - most For example: You are the best student in the world! I am far from home, he is further from home, but he is the furthest from home. ----As usual, what looks complicated in a list of rules will become simpler with practice and experience. Good luck! Click below for exercises using comparatives and superlatives.