Irregular adjectives: Comparative and superlative

At this point, I consider it is not necessary to explain what comparative and superlative of adjectives are.
The only new thing is that there are some adjectives that do not take the regular "-er"/"more" for the comparative and "-est"/"most" for the superlative. They are called irregular adjectives. Here you will find the most common ones.

Of course all of them are used in comparative and superlative sentences.
e.g.: My car is older than yours
My sister is the best volleyball player at school.

On this web you can complete more exercises about the comparative and superlative of adjectives.

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Adjectives: Comparative and Superlative

You should use the comparative form of an adjective to compare exactly two things. You can form the comparative by adding the suffix "-er" to the modifier (for some short words) or by using the word "more" with the modifier:
Now that it is March, the days are getting longer. (longer now than before)
You should use the superlative form to compare three or more things. You can form the superlative by adding the suffix "-est" to the modifier orby using the word "most" with the modifier:
This is definitely the most beautiful and cheapest car I have ever seen

To form the comparative and superlative forms of adjectives we must take into account the number of syllables it has. The general rules to form the comparative and the superlative of adjectives are as follows:

1. One-syllable adjectives
- Most one-syllable adjectives add suffix –er to form the comparative and –est to form the superlative:
tall – taller – tallest
cheap – cheaper – cheapest

- Adjectives ending in –e only add –r to form the comparative and –st to form the superlative.
nice – nicer – nicest
late – later - latest

- Adjectives ending in a vowel + a consonant, double the consonant:
big – bigger – biggest
thin – thinner – thinnest

Note: real, right, and wrong always have more and most.

2. Two-syllable adjectives
2.1
- Adjectives ending in consonant + -y have –ier and –iest:
pretty – prettier – prettiest
easy – easier – easiest

- Adjectives ending in –ow, –er, and –le normally take –er and –est, although more and most are also possible:
narrow – narrower – narrowest
clever – cleverer – cleverest
noble – nobler – noblest

2.2
- The rest use more and most to form the comparative and the superlative, respectively.
surprised – more surprised – most surprised
frightful – more frightful – most frightful

However, many two-syllable adjectives may have both forms:

polite – politer/more polite – politest/most polite
common – commoner/more common – commonest/most common

Other adjectives that may take both forms are: able, angry, friendly, cruel, gentle, handsome, pleasant, quiet, simple, sour, and obscure.

3. Three-or-more-syllable adjectives
Adjectives of three or more syllables have more and most:

interesting – more interesting – most interesting
beautiful – more beautiful – most beautiful

Nevertheless, words such as untidy (the opposites of two-syllable adjectives endingin –y) are an exception and take –er and –est:

unruly – unrulier – unruliest
uncanny – uncannier – uncanniest

Some compound adjectives have a first element consisting of an adjective which would normally form a comparative or superlative in one word,either by adding -er/-est, or by an irregular form. Such compound adjectives can therefore form a comparative/superlative by using these changes to the first adjective, rather than by using more/most. However, more and most are also possible:
good-looking – better-looking/more good-looking – best-looking/most good-looking
well-known – better-known/more well-known – best-known/most well-known

There are certain modifiers which you cannot logically be used in the comparative and superlative forms. Adjectives like “perfect”, “unique”,or “instantaneous”, for instance, express conditions that do not allow for degrees of comparison. Something cannot be more perfect than another thing: it is either perfect or not perfect.

Note: if you are not certain, you should check a dictionary to see which words use more and most and which words take the suffixes -er and -est.

Exercises:
Elementary(1º ESO y 2º ESO)

Intermediate(3º ESOy 4º ESO)

*Irregular adjectives will be treated in a different article.

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Writing "Giving Instructions" Essays

Giving Instructions essays are essays in which you explain how to do something. Students are often asked for an explanation of how to do something in writing. Essays explaining, for example, how to change a tyre, how to use a software programme, how to get your driving licence, or how to mend your car, are allGiving Instructions essays.

The table below shows the organization of a basic 350 word Giving Instructions essay. Note, first, that the essay is five paragraphs containing three main parts, an introduction, body, and conclusion. The function of the introduction within this organization is to get the reader’s attention and to state the organization of the paper. The function of the conclusion within this organization is to summarize the main points, and to leave the reader with a good impression. The body contains three parts, each part an organizing principle of the main idea.

All the paragraphs have a specific function, as can be seen in the right column. In the first paragraph you "tell your readers what you are going to tell them." In the second, third, and fourth paragraphs readers can find what you "tell them." Finally, in the last paragraph you "tell your readers what you have told them".

from www.eslbee.com

Additional "Tips" for Five-Paragraph Giving Instructions Essays

1. Use chronological order. Many Giving Instructions essays must be written in chronological order. If you are explaining how to make a cake, for example, all the necessary steps must be in chronological order, or the reader will not succeed in making a good cake. (Chronological order often requires effective use of time transitions as follows: first, second, then, after that, later, and finally, for example).

2. Know your audience, and write for your audience. If you are explaining how to send an attachment with an e-mail message (or how to download an MP3 and convert it to WAV) to someone who has limited computer experience, it is necessary to explain it simply so it can be easily understood.

3. Stick to the point. When explaining how to make a cake, for example, don’t discuss where to buy cheap flour or how to beat the eggs. Such details may interest the reader, but they won’t help in making the cake.

4. State your organization. This point simply cannot be overemphasized! Even if you know how your paper is organized, your readers do not, so tell them explicitly! Do not leave it to your readers to figure out. While this may sound childish or even simplistic to the non-native English speaker, it is not simplistic. On the contrary, it is the exactly the organizational pattern that readers of English expect.You will never go wrong if you err on the side of clarity, so state your organization clearly.

5. Use a straight line of development."Tell your readers what you are going to tell them." Then "tell them." Then "tell them what you told them."

Here you are an example of a Giving Instructions essay. Read it.

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Verb Tenses

When learning English there are a couple of things we must first take into account.

1. The word order in sentences. Remember that the common order in positive sentences is as follows:

SUBJECT + VERB + INDIRECT OB. + DIRECT OB. + COMPLEMENTS
eg.She will tell you the truth next week

Here you are a page on the web to practise it.

2. The form and use of verb tenses.
To be able to have a good command of English it is essential that students of English master verb tenses.
On this page you can find an excellent tutorial to learn and practise verb tenses in English, both in the active and the passive voice. All levels are included on the page.

And in these files you can find several exercises related to the subject:

Elementary (1º ESO and 2º ESO)

Intermediate (3º ESO and 4º ESO)

Advanced (1º Bachillerato and 2º Bachillerato)

Any doubts with verb tenses? Ask them by writing a commentary to this "article".

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Irregular verbs!!!

Irregular verbs are those verbs that do not take the -ed ending for the Past Simple and Past Participle forms. They are very frequently used and, unfortunately, must be learnt by heart ("de memoria").

Here you are two files with lists of the most common irregular verbs in English (it is believed that there are 618 irregular verbs approximately in English). In the former, the irregular verbs have been divided into blocks from I to XV so that you can find it easier to learn them according to your course. In the latter, the same irregular verbs have been ordered alphabetically.
Finally, if you want to check whether you have learnt them properly or not, you may try to fill in a couple of crosswords on the web. The former includes verbs from a-l, and the latter from m-w. Or, do you prefer to answer these 85 questions?

Have fun with irregular verbs!

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PAU (Pruebas de acceso a la universidad)

As I have already told some of the students of the 2nd year of Bachillerato, the English test of the "PAU" might be changed for the course 2007-2008. If this happened, we would let you know it as soon as possible. However, at the moment, the structure of the test and the kinds of questions asked will remain the same.

That is the reason why you may find here the English tests of June 2004, September 2004, June 2005, and September 2005.

You should always bear in mind that when learning a second language, "the more you practise the better for you". From now on, I am at your disposal in case you want to get any of these tests corrected.

By the way, here you are another one whose passage talks about the intention of Germany of launching a new satellite to orbit the Moon.

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The Flag of the United Kingdom or "Union Jack"

As we know, the United Kingdom comprises four different countries: England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. In the map below you can see their location and capitals.

Exercise: Print this file and label the map.

Maybe, you have wondered why the flag of the United Kingdom is made up of red, and white crosses on blue background.

The reason is that the "Union Jack" or "Union Flag", as it is also known, is made up of the design of three different flags: The St George's Cross of England, the St Andrew's Cross of Scotland, and the St Patrick's Cross of Northern Ireland.

But FOUR countries, THREE flags?

The flag of Wales is a green and white bicolour picturing a large, red dragon. The symbol of the dragon has been used in Wales for a long time, since the Romans invaded and occupied the country in the 1st century. Although Wales officially united with England in 1536, it still retains its ancient flag.

Finally,
St George is the national saint of England. He is believed to have been a Christian martyr. According to tradition, he killed a dragon to save a woman. This is the reason why he is frequently shown in pictures fighting the dragon. The emblem of the cross was adopted by Richard the Lion Heart (Ricardo Corazón de León) and was brought to England in the 12th century. St George's Day is celebrated on 23rd April.

St Andrew is the patron saint of Scotland. He was one of the twelve apostles. According to tradition his bones were brought to a town on the east coast of Scotland, later called St Andrews. The legend says that he was killed on a cross in the shape on an X in Greece. This is the cross on the Scottish flag. St Andrew's Day is celebrated on 30th November.

St Patrick is the national saint of Ireland. It is thought that he was not Irish, but probably Welsh. He travelled to Ireland in 432. He converted a lot of people to Christianity, and it is thought that he had great powers, including one which explains why there are no snakes in Ireland. Snakes are said to have drowned in the sea because St Patrick tricked all of them. St Patrick's Day is celebrated on 17th March.

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Talk It!

Empezaremos por un software que nos ayudará a mejorar nuestra pronunciación y, a la vez, puede resultar tremendamente

divertido.
Se trata de un programa llamado Talk It! que, con unos altavoces adecuados, reproduce, con distintos tipos de voz, las palabras, oraciones o textos que se escriban tanto en inglés como en español. Si quieres pasar un buen rato, bájatelo y practica con él!

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