3A

comparatives and superlatives: comparing tw o actions

adjectives and adverbs 1 M y fa th e r d riv e s faster than m e. 2 12)))

comparing tw o people, places, things, etc. Y o u w a lkmore quickly th a n l do.
A t la n ta p la ye d w orse tod ay than la s t w eek.
1 M y sis te r is a litt le taller than m e. 2 ID)) 2 M a x d o e sn 't s p e a k E n g lis h as well as h is w if e does.
S a n F ra n c is co is more expensive than C h ica g o . I d o n 't e a rn a s much a s m y boss.
T h is te st is less difficult than th e la st one.
O liv e o il is better f o r y o u than bu tte r. 1 W e use c o m p a ra tiv e adverbs to c o m p a re tw o a c tio n s.
2 T h e n e w so fa is n 't as com fortable as the • R e g u la r co m p a ra tiv e adverbs: s p e llin g ru le s
o ld one. fast > faster slowly > m ore slowly carefully > m ore carefully
I d o n 't have as many b o o k s as I used to. • Ir r e g u la r co m pa ra tive s:
well > better badly > worse
1 W e u se c o m p a ra tiv e adjectives to co m p a re tw o
2 W e ca n a ls o use (not) as + ad verb + as to m a ke c o m p a ris o n s ,
pe o p le , places, th in g s, etc.
• R e g u la r c o m p a ra tiv e adjectives: s p e llin g ru le s
superlatives
old > older big > bigger easy > easier
modem > m ore modern difficult > m ore difficul K e v in is the tallest p la y e r o n the team . 2 13)))
• Ir re g u la r c o m p a ra tiv e adjectives: T o k y o is the m ost expensive c ity in th e w o rld .
good > better bad > worse fa r >farther / T h e s m a ll b ag is the least expensive.
further L u c y is th e best student in th e class.
• O n e -s y lla b le a d je ctive s e n d in g in -ed: W h o d re sse s the most stylishly in y o u r fa m ily ?
T h a t's the worst w e ’ve e ve r played.
bored > m ore bored stressed > m ore stressed
tired > m ore tired
2 W e c a n a ls o use (not) as + a d je ctive + as to m a ke
• W e use s u p e rla tiv e adjectives a n d adverbs to co m p a re p e op le, th in g s , o r
a c tio n s w ith a ll o f th e ir group .
co m p a ris o n s .
-est in ste a d o f -er an d most /
• F o rm su p e rla tiv e s lik e c o m p a ra tive s , b u t use
f j Object pronouns (me, him, etc.) after than least in ste a d o f more / less.
and as • W e u s u a lly use the b e fore su p e rla tiv e s, b u t yo u ca n a lso use p osse ssiv e
After than or as we can use an object pronoun ad jectives, e.g., my bestfriend, their most famous song.
(me, him, her, etc.) or a subject pronoun (/, he, • W e o fte n use a su p e rla tiv e w it h pre sen t p e rfe ct + ever, e.g., It’s the best
she, etc.) + auxiliary verb.
book I’ve ever read.
She’s taller than me. OR She’s taller than I am.
NOT -ShHs-tatler-thafrl.
They're not as busy as us. OR They’re not as
P in after superlatives
busy as we are. NOT -Tkey-'fe-not -aslousy-as-we. Use in (NOT of) before places after a superlative.
It’s the longest bridge in the world. NOT o f th e world
the same as It’s the best beach in Florida. NOT of Florida
We use the same as to say th at two people,
places, things, etc. are identical.
Her dress is the same as mine.

a C o m p le t e w it h th e c o m p a r a t iv e o r s u p e r la t iv e o f th e b C o m p le t e w i t h o n e w o r d .
bold w o r d (a n d than i f n e c e s s a ry ). G o in g b y m o to r b o a t is more e x c itin g t h a n t ra v e lin g
the fastest w a v t o g e t a r o u n d M i a m i? fast
W h a t ’s b y fe rry .
1 I t h in k s k iin g i s _________ h o rs e b a c k r id i n g , easy 1 A b u s is n ’t a s c o m f o r t a b le ______ a t r a in .
2 A m o to r c y c le i s _________ a s c o o te r, powerful 2 It’s ______m o s t e x p e n s iv e c a r w e ’v e e v e r b o u g h t.
3 I t h in k th a t t r a v e lin g b y t r a in i s _________ f o r m o f 3 T h e t r a f f ic w a s w o r s e ______w e e x p e c te d .
t r a n s p o r t a t io n , relaxing 4 T h i s is th e lo n g e s t t r i p I ’v e ______b e e n o n .
4 Y o u w a lk _________ I d o. slowly 5 H e g e ts h o m e la te , b u t h is w if e a r riv e s la te r t h a n _____
5 _________ t im e t o tra v e l is o n h o lid a y w e e k e n d s , bad 6 T h e ______in te r e s t in g p la c e I ’v e e v e r v is it e d is V e n ic e .
6 _________ I've e v e r d r iv e n is f r o m W a s h in g t o n , D . C . to 7 I le av e h o m e at th e s a m e t i m e ______m y b ro th e r.
C h ic a g o , far 8 H e d r iv e s ______c a r e fu lly t h a n h i s g ir lf r ie n d - he 's
7 T h e L o n d o n U n d e r g r o u n d i s _________ th e s u b w a y in n e v e r h a d a n a c c id e n t.
N e w Y o r k C it y , old 9 W e d o n 't g o a b r o a d ______o ft e n a s w e u se d to.
8 T h i s i s _________ b u s I've e v e r b e e n o n . hot 10 W h a t 's th e lo n g e s t f re e w a y _____ th e U S ?
9 O f a l l m y fa m ily , m y m o m i s _________ d r iv e r , good
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articles: a /a n , the, no article • W e u se the:
1 w h e n w e ta lk a b o u t s o m e th in g w e ’ve a lre a d y m e n tio n e d .
a / an
2 w h e n it's c le a r w h a t y ou 're r e fe rrin g to.
3 w h e n th ere's o n ly o n e o f s o m e th in g .
1 I saw an old man w ith a dog. 2 17)))
2 It's a nice house. S h e 's a lawyer. 4 w ith p la ce s in a to w n , e.g., movies an d theater.
3 W h a t an awful day! 5 w it h su p erlativ e s.
4 I have cla ss e s th re e tim e s a week.
n o a r t i c le

• W e use a / an w ith s in g u la r c o u n ta b le n oun s:

1 th e f ir s t tim e y ou m e n tio n a th in g / p e rson .
1 Women u s u a lly t a lk m o re th a n men 2 19)))
Love is m o re im p o r t a n t th a n money
2 w h e n y o u say w h a t s o m e th in g is o r w h a t
2 S h e 's n o t at home today.
s om e b o d y does.
I get b a ck from work at 5:30.
3 in e x cla m a tio n s w ith What...! 3 I n e v e r have breakfast.
4 in e x p re ss io n s o f fre qu e n cy. 4 See y o u next Friday.

th e • W e d o n 't use a n a rticle :

1 l saw a n o ld m a n w ith a dog.
The dog w a s b a rk in g .
2 M y fa th e r o p e n e d the door.
The children are at sc h o o l.
3 The moon goes a ro u n d the Earth.
4 I'm g o in g to the movies to n ig h t.
5 It's the best re s ta u ra n t in to w n .
1 w h e n w e are sp e a k in g in g e n e ra l (w ith p lu ra l an d u n c o u n ta b le n oun s).
2 18)))
C o m p a re :
I loveflo w e rs. (= flo w e rs in general)
I love th e flow er s in my garden. (= the s p e c ific flo w e rs in m y garden)
2 w ith som e n o u n s , (e.g., home, work, school) a fte r at / to Ifrom .
3 b e fore m eals, days, a n d m on th s.
4 b e fo re next / last + day, w eek, etc.

a (Circle) the correct answers. b C o m p le t e w it h a / an, the, o r - (= n o a r t ic le ) .

I lo v e ( w edding )/ the weddings ! A W e ’re lo s t. L e t ’s s to p a n d b u y a m ap.
1 Jess is nurse / a nurse in a h o s p it a l. A hospital / B N o n ee d . I 'll p u t the a d d re s s i n the G P S .
The hospital is fa r f r o m h e r h o u s e . 1 A H o w o f t e n d o y o u g o t o ______g y m ?
B A b o u t th re e t im e s ______w e e k . B u t I n e v e r
2 W hat a horrible day / horrible dayl W e 'll
g o o n _________ F rid a y s .
h a v e t o h a ve o u r p i c n ic in the car / a car. ^
A W h a t t im e d o e s ______t r a in le ave?
3 M y w if e lik e s love stories / the love stories,
B In te n m in u te s . C a n y o u g iv e m e ______r id e t o ______ s ta tio n ?
b u t I p re fe r the war movies / war movies. ^
A W h a t ______b e a u t if u l d re s s !
4 W e g o to theater / the theater a b o u t B T h a n k s . I b o u g h t i t o n ______ s a le ______ la s t m o n th .
once a month / once the month. 4 A W h a t ’s ______ m o s t in t e r e s t in g p la c e t o v is i t i n y o u r to w n ?
5 I’m h a v in g dinner / the dinner w it h s o m e B P r o b a b ly _____ m u s e u m . I t’s _______o ld e s t b u ild in g in to w n .
f r ie n d s the next Friday / next Friday. 5 A W h a t s h o u ld w e d o ______n e x t w e e k e n d ?
B L e t ’s in v it e s o m e f r ie n d s f o r ______lu n c h . W e c o u ld e at o u ts id e
6 M y b o y f r ie n d is chef / a chef. I t h in k h e ’s
i n ______ y a rd .
the best co o k I best cook i n th e w o r ld .
A D o y o u l i k e ______ d o g s ?
7 I’m n o t su re i f I c lo s e d the windows /
B N o t re a lly . I p r e f e r ______c a ts. I t h in k th e y ’r e ______ b e s t p e ts.
windows b e f o re I le ft the hom e / home
A Is y o u r m o m ______ h o u s e w ife ?
t h is m o r n in g .
B N o , s h e ’s ______te a ch e r. S h e ’s a lw a y s t ir e d w h e n she g e ts h o m e
8 In g e n e ra l, I lik edogs / the dogs, b u t I d o n ’t f r o m ______w o r k .
lik e dogs I the dogs th a t liv e n e x t d o o r to m e . 8 A H a v e y o u e v e r h a d ______p r o b le m in y o u r re la tio n s h ip ?

9 I g o t to the school / school la te e v e r y d a y B Y e s, b u t w e g o t o v e r ______p r o b le m , a n d w e g o t m a r r i e d ______

the last week / last week. la s t year.

9 A W h e n i s _____ m e e tin g ?
10 I t h in k happiness / the happiness is m o re
B T h e y 'v e c h a n g e d ______da te. I t 's ______ n e x t T u e s d a y n ow .
im p o r t a n t th a n success / the success.
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can, could, be able to (ability and possibility) Could you open the door
for me, please?
c a n / c o u ld

I can s p ea k th re e la n gu a g es flu e n tly . 2 34)))

Je nn y can’t co m e to n ig h t. S h e's sick .
M y c o u s in could p la y the v io lin w h e n she w as thre e.
T h e y couldn’t w a it because th ey w ere in a h u rry .
Could y o u o p e n th e d o o r f o r m e, please?

• can is a m o d a l verb. It o n ly ha s a p re se n t fo rm (w h ic h ca n be used w ith

(could).
fu tu re m e a n in g ) a n d a p ast o r c o n d itio n a l f o r m
• F o r a ll o th e r ten se s an d fo rm s , w e use be able to + base fo rm .

b e a b le t o + b a s e fo rm
1 L u k e has been able to s w im s in ce he w as th re e .
I'd lik e to be able to sk i.
I lo v e being able to stay in b e d la te o n S u n d a y m o rn in g .
Y o u ’ l l be able to p ra c tice y o u r E n g lis h i n th e U S .
2 F o rtu n a te ly , I am a b le to a cce p t y o u r in v ita tio n .
M y c o lle a g u e s weren’t able to co m e to ye sterda y's m e etin g .
1 W e use be able to + base f o r m f o r a b ilit y and
2 35)))
p o s s ib ility , e s p e c ia lly w here th ere is n o fo rm o f
can, e.g., fu tu re , p re se n t p e rfe ct, in f in it iv e and
g e ru n d, etc.
2 W e s o m e tim e s use be able to in the p re sen t and
past (in ste a d o f can / could), u s u a lly i f w e w a n t to
be m o re fo rm a l.

a C o m p le t e w i t h t h e c o r r e c t f o r m o f be ab le to ( 0 , E L b ( C ir c le ) th e c o r r e c t f o r m . C h e c k / i f b o t h a r e p o s s ib le .
or[?]).

I ’ve n e v e r been able to s c u b a d iv e .

1 H e r c e ll p h o n e h a s b e e n tu r n e d o f f a ll m o r n in g , s o I
t a lk to h e r vet.
2 I d o n 't lik e n o is y re s ta u ra n ts . I l i k e _________________
h a v e a c o n v e r s a t io n w it h o u t s h o u tin g .
3 I _________________le a ve h o m e w h e n I g et a job .
4 W e 're h a v in g a p a r ty n e x t S a t u r d a y ._________________ can /(be a b le lcjid a n ce salsa .
I ’v e a lw a y s w a n te d to
y o u _________________co m e ?
1 M y lit t le b o y couldn't / wasn’t able to s p e a k u n t il h e w a s
5 Y o u n e e d ________________ s w im b e fo r e y o u c a n g o i n a a lm o s t t w o y e a rs o ld .
ca n o e .
can /
2 S h e ’s m u c h b e t te r a f te r h e r o p e r a tio n . S h e ’ l l
6 I'm g o in g to F r a n c e n e x t w e e k , b u t I d o n 't s p e a k be able to w a lk a g a in in a fe w m o n th s .
F re n c h . I h a t e _________________c o m m u n ic a t e w it h
3 H e h a s n 't could / been able to f i x m y b ik e yet. H e ’ ll d o it
p e o p le .
to m o r ro w .
7 F o r t u n a t e ly , f ir e f ig h t e r s _________________re sc u e a ll o f
4 I t’s th e w e e k e n d a t la s t! I lo v e can / being able to g o o u t
th e p e o p le tra p p e d in s id e th e b u r n in g h o u s e .
w i t h m y fr ie n d s .
8 I ’m v e ry s o r r y , b u t w e _________________g o t o y o u r
5 W h e n w e liv e d o n th e co a st, w e u s e d to can / be able to
w e d d in g n e x t m o n t h . W e 'l l be o n v a c a tio n .
g o to th e b e a ch e v e ry day.
9 I'm fe e lin g a lit t le w o r s e ._________________y o u
6 I c a n ’t / ’m not able to se n d a n y e m a ils r ig h t n o w .
_________________c o n ta c t th e d o c t o r yet?
M y c o m p u te r is n ’t w o r k in g .
10 T h e m a n a g e r ________________ se e y o u r ig h t n o w
7 I could I was able to re a d b e fo re I s ta rte d s c h o o l.
b e ca u s e h e 's i n a m e e tin g .
8 W e w o n ’t can / be able to g o o n v a c a t io n t h is y e a r
b e ca u s e w e n e e d to s p e n d a lo t o f m o n e y o n th e h o u s e .
9 L in d a hasn't been able to / couldiih f in d a job .
10 A le x can / is able to s p e a k K o r e a n f lu e n t ly a f te r l iv in g
in S e o u l f o r te n y e a rs.

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have to, m ust, should d o n 't h a v e t o

have t o / m u s t (+ base form) You don’t have to pay - th is m u se u m is fre e . 2 4 3 )))

You don’t have to go to th e p a r ty i f y o u d o n ’t w a n t to.
1 You have to w e a r a sea t b e lt in th e car. 2 4 2 )))
D o yo u have to w o r k o n S a tu rd a ys?
m ust not
I had t o w e a r a u n if o r m at m y e le m e n ta ry sch oo l.
I’ l l have t o get u p e a rly to m o rro w . M y in t e rv ie w is a t 9:00 .
You must not p a rk here. 2 44)))
2 Y o u must be o n tim e to m o rr o w b ecau se th ere 's a test.
Y o u must re m e m b e r to c a ll E m ily - it's h e r b irth d a y.
3 I lo v e the L o u v re ! Y o u have t o g o w h e n y o u 're in P a ris .
• W e use don’t have to w h e n th ere is n o o b lig a t io n to do
Y o u must see th is m o v ie — it's a m a zin g ! must not w h e n s o m e th in g is p ro h ib ite d .
s o m e th in g , a n d
• don’t have to a n d must not are c o m p le te ly d iffe re n t. C o m p a re :

• have to an d must a re u s u a lly use d to ta lk a b o u t o b lig a tio n o r You don't have to drive - we can take a train. (= Y o u c a n d riv e i f
s o m e th in g th a t is n e c e ssa ry to do. y o u w a n t to, b u t it ’s n o t n e ce ssa ry / o b lig atory .)

1 have to is a n o r m a l v e rb a n d it e x ists in a ll tenses a n d fo rm s ,
e.g., a ls o as a g e ru n d o r in f in it iv e .
2 must is a m o d a l verb . It o n ly e x is ts in the prese nt, b u t it c a n be
u sed w it h a fu tu re m e a n in g .
3 Y o u c a n a ls o use have to o r must fo r s tr o n g re co m m e n d a tio n s .
You must not drive along this street. (= It's p ro h ib ite d , a g ain st
th e law, N O TYo u don’t-kaveto-drive along this street.)
• Y o u ca n o fte n use can’t o r not allowed to in ste a d o f must not.
You must not / can ’t / ’re not allow ed to park here.

P
s h o u ld / s h o u ld n 't (+ b a s e fo rm )
have to or must?
Have to and must have a very similar meaning, and you Y ou should ta ke w a rm c lo th e s w it h yo u to Q u it o . 2 45)))
can usually use either form. It m ig h t be c o ld a t n ig h t.
Have to is more common for general, external obligations, Y o u shouldn’t d r in k so m u c h coffe e . It is n ’t g o o d f o r you.
for example rules and laws. I t h in k th e g o v e rn m e n t should d o s o m e th in g a b o u t
Must is more common for specific (i.e., on one occasion) u n e m p lo y m e n t.
or personal obligations. Compare:
I have to wear a shirt and tie a t work. (= It’s the rule in this
company.) • should is n o t as s tro n g as must / have to. W e use it to give ad vice
o r an o p in io n - to say i f w e th in k s o m e th in g is th e rig h t o r
I must buy a new shirt - this one is too old now. (= It’s my
own decision.) w ro n g t h in g to do.
• should is a m o d a l verb . T h e o n ly fo rm s a re should / shouldn’t.
have got to
Have got to is often used instead of have to in spoken
English, e.g., I’ve got to go now. It's very late.

a C o m p le t e w i t h t h e c o r r e c t f o r m o f have to ( 0 , Q , o r [7]). b (^C i r c l e ) th e c o r r e c t f o r m . C h e c k / i f b o t h

a r e p o s s ib le .
I’ll have to c a ll b a c k la te r b e ca u se th e lin e 's b u s y . 0
1 P a s s e n g e rs _________ t u r n o f f th e ir la p to p s d u r in g t a k e - o f f Q You don’t have to / (jnust'nop u se y o u r p h o n e
2 _________ y o u __________ d o a lo t o f h o m e w o r k w h e n y o u w e re in in q u ie t z o n e s .

s c h o o l? CO 1 D o y o u th in k w e should j have to te x t D a d to
t e ll h im w e ’ l l b e la te ?
3 M y s is te r is a n u rs e , s o s o m e w e e k s s h e _________ w o r k n ig h t s . 0
4 _________ y o u e v e r __________h a v e a n o p e r a t io n ? [7] 2 Y o u d o n 't have to / must not se n d te xt
m e ss a g e s w h e n y o u a re d r iv in g .
5 S a t u rd a y s a re th e b e s t d a y o f th e w e e k . I lo v e _________ g e t u p
e arly . Q
3 A p il o t has to / must w e a r a u n if o r m w h e n
h e ’s a t w o rk .
6 I _________ leave a m essage o n h e r v o ic e m a il be ca u se sh e w a s n ’t in . 0
4 You shouldn’t / must not t a lk o n y o u r c e ll
7 In th e fu tu re , p e o p l e _________ go to sc h o o l; th e y 'll a l l s tu d y a t
p h o n e w h e n y o u 're f i l l i n g u p th e c a r w it h gas.
hom e. G
5 I have to / should s p e a k to m y p h o n e
8 W it h o ld c e ll p h o n e s , y o u u s e d t o _________ c h a rg e th e b a t te r y
c o m p a n y . M y la s t b i l l w a s w ro n g .
m o r e o fte n . 0
6 W e d o n 't have to / shouldn't h u rry . W e h a v e
9 _________ y o u r b o y fr ie n d _________ a n sw e r h is w o rk e m a ils o n
p le n ty o f tim e .
w eeken ds? |T]
10 T h e e x h ib it io n w a s fre e , s o I _________ pay. QJ < p .39

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