Unit 7 - City or Country Life?

A. Grammar & Vocabulary

Forming regular comparatives and superlatives

1. We use comparatives to compare two things or two people. (E.g. She is taller than her
husband.)
2. Superlatives are used, however, to show the difference between more than two things or more
than two people. (e.g Paris is the biggest city in France)
3. To form comparatives and superlatives you need to know the number of the syllables in the
adjective. Syllables are like "sound beats".
For instance:
 "find" contains one syllable,
 but "finding" contains two — find and ing.

The rules to form comparatives and superlatives:

1. One syllable adjective ending in a silent 'e' — nice
 Comparative — add 'r' — nicer
 Superlative — add 'st' — nicest
2. One syllable adjective ending in one vowel and one consonant — big
 Comparative — the consonant is doubled and 'er' is added —bigger
 Superlative — the consonant is doubled and 'est' is added—biggest
3. One syllable adjective ending in more than one consonants or more than a vowel (or long vowels) —
high, cheap, soft.
 Comparative — 'er' is added — higher, cheaper, softer.
 Superlative — 'est is added — highest, cheapest , softest.
4. A two syllable adjective ending in 'y' — happy
 Comparative — 'y' becomes 'i' and 'er' is added — happier
 Superlative — 'y' becomes 'i' and 'est' is added — happiest
5. Two syllable or more adjectives without 'y' at the end — exciting
  Comparative — more + the adjective + than — more exciting than
 Superlative — more + the adjective + than — the most exciting
Examples:
 The Nile River is longer and more famous than the Thames.
 Everest is the highest mountain in the world.
 This is one of the most exciting films I have ever seen.

Irregular comparatives and superlatives

Adjectives Comparatives Superlatives

bad worse worst

far(distance) farther farthest

far(extent) further furthest

good better best

little less least

many more most

much more most

How to use comparatives and superlatives

Comparatives Superlatives

Comparatives are used to Superlatives are used to compare more than two
compare two things or two things or two people. Superlative sentences
people: usually use 'the':
Alan is taller than John. Alan is the most intelligent.

Similarities
To express similarities use the following structure:

... as + adjective + as ...

Examples:

 Mike is as intelligent as Nancy.

  Larry is as popular as Oprah.

Useful phrases for comparing places

more beautiful – uglier more cosmopolitan better for… - worse more powerful –
for… weaker

bigger/ larger – smaller more dangerous/ more historic snowier

riskier – safer

cheaper – more more democratic – more important more stable – more

expensive more repressive unstable

cleaner – dirtier more developed – longer more touristic

more old-fashioned/
more primitive
closer to/ nearer… - drier – more humid/ more modern – more more tropical
further from… wetter traditional

cloudier drier – rainier/ wetter further north/ more wider

northerly – further
south/ more southerly
colder – hotter further east/ more poorer – richer/ windier
easterly – further wealthier
west/ more westerly
more corrupt flatter – more more popular
mountainous

B. Exercise

Complete the sentences with comparative or superlative forms.

1. Kangaroos can jump _____higher than___ me. (high)

2. What are ____the most popular___ cafés and restaurants? (popular)

3. Mexican food is ____________________ Japanese food. (spicy)

4. This sofa is ____________________ that chair. (comfortable)

5. Trains are____________________ buses. (fast)

6. Buckingham Palace is much ____________________ my house. (big)

7. The more he practised English grammar, ____________________ he got. (good)

 8. London is far from the seaside, but Oxford is ____________________. (far)

9. Is Jakarta ____________________ Zagreb? (humid)

10. Rome is ____________________ Paris, in my opinion. (beautiful)

11. Russia is ____________________ than the UK. (cold)

12. What's ____________________ way to travel around? (easy)

13. What's ____________________? (fast)

14. What are ____________________ things to see and do? (interesting)

15. Are there any areas which are not safe? Which are ____________________?
(dangerous)

16. What's ____________________ time of year to visit your city? (good)

17. What's ____________________ supermarket? (cheap)

18. What's ____________________? (near)

19. What's ____________________ building? (old)

20. What's ____________________? (modern)

C. Conversation

1. Practice the following dialogue with a partner.

David: How do you like living in a big city?

Maria: I like it so much more than living in the country. There are many things that make it
better.

David: Oh, really? Can you give me some examples?

Maria: Well, it certainly is more interesting out in the city than it is in the country. There is so
much more to do and see!

David: Yes, but the city is more dangerous than the country.

Maria: That's true. People in the city aren't as open and friendly as those in the countryside,
and the streets aren't as safe.
David: I'm sure that the country is more relaxed, too!

Maria: Yes, the city is busier than the country. However, the country feels much slower than
the city.

David: I think that's a good thing!

Maria: Oh, I don't. The country is so boring! Being in the country is much more boring than
being in the city.

David: How about the cost of living? Is the country cheaper than the city?

Maria: Oh, yes. Living in the city is more expensive than in the country.

David: Life in the country is also much healthier than in the city.

Maria: Yes, it's cleaner and less dangerous in the country. But, the city is so much more
exciting. It's faster, crazier and more fun.

David: I think you are crazy for moving to the city.

Maria: Well, I'm young now. Maybe when I'm married and have children I'll move back to the
country.

2. Now make a conversation with a partner about your preference: loving in a city or in a
countryside. Use the words or phrases for comparing places in part A.