MINISTERIO DE EDUCACIÓN, CULTURA, CIENCIA Y TECNOLOGÍA

INSTITUTO DE EDUCACIÓN SUPERIOR “Juan Mantovani”

PROVINCIA DEL CHACO
“Año 2020: Año del Congreso Pedagógico”

Language and Grammar of the Foreign Language I

CLASS #: 4 Published: 18/08/2020
TEACHER: Roman, Norma

In this class we will see different kinds of words in English, word formation process and comparative
structures.

READ THE INSTRUCTIONS CAREFULLY:

 Read about every word class
 Go to the ACTIVITIES section and solve the exercises

Different words classes

Nouns
 Nouns are people, places, or things.
 Nouns always come before verbs and after verbs.
 Every sentence will have at least one noun.
 Nouns are usually in these positions:
a/an/the ___noun________ e.g. The prediction came true.
adjective ___noun________ e. g. Wrong predictions are dangerous.
 Possessive (my, your, his, her, John’s) ___noun________ e. g. Their prediction was wrong.
 have ___noun________I have a prediction.
 ___noun________ Verb. e. g. Predictions make people’s lives easier.
Verbs
 Verbs show the action or state of being in a sentence.
 Verbs usually aren’t the first word in a sentence.
 Exception—Commands: (Go to class.)
 EVERY sentence MUST have a verb!
 Verbs are usually in these positions:
Subject _____verb_____ e.g. Jessica predicted that she would win the game yesterday.
Adverb ___noun________ e.g. He always predicts the weather.
can/should/might/must ___noun________ e.g. She can’t predict what he will do.
didn’t/don’t ___noun________ e.g. Don’t predict something unless you know it is true.
to ___noun________ e.g. I’m going to predict your future.
Adjectives
 Adjectives describe nouns (people, places, and things).
 They answer the question: “What kind of person/place/thing?”
 Adjectives are usually in these positions:
am/is/are/was/were ____adjective___ e.g. The game was predictable.
 MINISTERIO DE EDUCACIÓN, CULTURA, CIENCIA Y TECNOLOGÍA
INSTITUTO DE EDUCACIÓN SUPERIOR “Juan Mantovani”
PROVINCIA DEL CHACO
“Año 2020: Año del Congreso Pedagógico”

____adjective___noun e.g. Predictable people are easy to understand.

very ____adjective___ e.g. Tony is a very predictable person.
adverb ____adjective___ e.g. Tony is always predictable.
a/an/the ____adjective___ noun e.g. The predictable answer was “yes.”
Adverbs
 Adverbs describe verbs or adjectives.
 They answer the question “How did he do it?”
 Usually, you add -ly to the adjective to make an adverb (but not always!)
 Adverbs are usually in these positions:

______adverb______ , ………full sentence………. e.g. Predictably, Tommy was late again.

______adverb______ Verb e. g. He predictably walked in late.

Verb______adverb______ e.g. He walked quickly.

very ______adverb______ e.g. He walked very quickly.

______adverb______ Adjective e.g. Tom is predictably late.

As part of basic word formation learning, the addition and subtraction of prefixes and suffixes are used to
create new words.

Word formation is the process of creating new words. The following word formation processes result in
the creation of new words in English:

Prefixes
 a- – without, not (asleep)
 co- – together (contend)
 de- – opposite, negative, removal, separation
 dis- –opposite, negative (disaprove)
 en- – cause to be
 ex- – former, previous, from
 in- – negative, not (insecure)
 non- – absence, not (nonsense)
 re- – again, repeatedly
 un- – negative, not, opposite, reversal
Suffixes
 -able – senseofbeing
 -er – agent
 -ful – characterizedby (useful)
 -fy – make, become, cause to be
 -ism – action or practice, state or condition (capitalism)
 -less – lackof (homeless)
 -ly – -like
 -ology – study, science
 -ship – condition, character, skill
 -y – characterizedby, inclination, condition
 MINISTERIO DE EDUCACIÓN, CULTURA, CIENCIA Y TECNOLOGÍA
INSTITUTO DE EDUCACIÓN SUPERIOR “Juan Mantovani”
PROVINCIA DEL CHACO
“Año 2020: Año del Congreso Pedagógico”

The English language has a genius for the formation of expressive compound words. Common
examples include sun-stroke, pick-pocket, elbow-room, land-lord, humming-bird etc.
The two parts of a compound word are usually separated by a hyphen. However, in the case of many
common compound words, the component parts have become so closely connected that they are now
written as one word without any hyphen between them.
Examples are: sunstroke, landlord, pickpocket, overload etc.
And in the case of some other compound words, complete integration has been achieved by modifying one
or both of the component parts.
For example, pass time is now written as pastime. In the same way, holy day has become holiday and prime
rose has become primrose.

There are different types of compound words

Noun + noun
Examples are: master-piece, table-cloth, maid-servant, bread-winner, shoe-maker etc.
Noun + gerund
Examples are: wool-gathering, snake-charming, bull-baiting, sooth-saying etc.
Noun + adjective
Examples are: court-martial, knight-errant
Gerund + noun
Examples are: piping-hot, walking-stick, drawing-room, laughing-stock, skipping-rope etc.
Adverb + noun
Examples are: out-patient, over-load, fore-sight, under-tone, in-sight etc.
Verb + noun
Examples are: dare-devil, cut-throat, break-fast, spend-thrift, pass-port etc.
Adjective + noun
Examples are: short-hand, free-thinker, lay-man, hard-ware, strong-hold etc.
Present participle + noun
Examples are: humming-bird, flying-fish, loving-kindness etc.
Pronoun + noun
Examples are: he-goat
Possessive noun + noun (In this case, the apostrophe is usually omitted)
Examples are: sportsman, craftsman, statesman, hair’s-breadth, stone’s-throw

Comparative structures

Comparative structures: things or people that are the same

First, we can use 'as ... as' with a normal adjective (not a comparative) to say two things are the same:
John is as tall as Luke (= they are the same height).
The red shirt is as expensive as the blue shirt (= they are the same price).
We can use 'not as ... as' to say that two things are not the same.
Lucy is not as tall as Helena (= Helena is taller than Lucy).
Paris is not as big as London (= London is bigger than Paris).

Comparative Structures: one thing or person is more than another thing or person
We can say that something is more than another thing by using a comparative adjective with 'than'.
France is bigger than Scotland.
Luke is taller than Lucy.
Your book is more interesting than my book.

We can make the comparison stronger by using 'far' or 'much' or 'a lot' before the adjective. We can make it
less strong by using 'a little' or 'a bit'.
Canada is far bigger than Scotland.
Your book is much more interesting than my book.
Amanda is a lot younger than Julie.
This exercise is a little more difficult than that exercise.
 MINISTERIO DE EDUCACIÓN, CULTURA, CIENCIA Y TECNOLOGÍA
INSTITUTO DE EDUCACIÓN SUPERIOR “Juan Mantovani”
PROVINCIA DEL CHACO
“Año 2020: Año del Congreso Pedagógico”

We can say that one thing or person is less than another thing by using 'less ... than':
Scotland is less big than France.
Lucy is less tall than Luke.
My book is less interesting than your book.

To show something is changing, we can use 'comparative and comparative' or 'more and more adjective'.
That child is getting taller and taller.
The climate is getting hotter and hotter.
This city is becoming more and more crowded.

To make the comparative form of adjectives (like 'bigger' or 'more expensive') and the superlative form (like
'biggest' or 'most expensive'), first we need to know how many syllables are in the adjective.

Adjectives with one syllable

Usually if an adjective has only one syllable, we add 'er' to make the comparative form. We add 'est' to make
the superlative form.
clean → cleaner / cleanest
cold → colder / coldest
small → smaller / smallest
young → younger / youngest
tall → taller / tallest

There are some spelling changes. If there is one vowel followed by one consonant at the end of the adjective,
we often double the consonant.

wet → wetter / wettest

big → bigger / biggest
hot → hotter / hottest
thin → thinner / thinnest

If the adjective ends in 'y', this often changes to 'i'.

dry → drier / driest

If the adjective ends in 'e', we don't add another 'e', just 'r'.
nice → nicer / nicest
large → larger / largest

Even when the adjective has only one syllable, it's still not wrong to use 'more' or 'most'. It's possible to say
'more wet' or 'most tall'. This isn't incorrect.

There are a few adjectives that we have to use 'more' or 'most' with, even though they only have one syllable.
We CAN'T add 'er' or 'est'.
fun → more fun / most fun (NOT funner / funnest)
real → more real / most real (NOT realer / realest)
right → more right / most right (NOT righter / rightest)
wrong → more wrong / most wrong (NOT wronger / wrongest)

Adjectives with two syllables

For adjectives with two syllables we generally use 'more' or 'most'.
careful → more careful / most careful
bored → more bored / most bored

But some two syllable adjectives can take 'er' or 'est'. It's also fine to use 'more' (for the comparative) or 'most'
(for the superlative).
clever → cleverer / cleverest
 MINISTERIO DE EDUCACIÓN, CULTURA, CIENCIA Y TECNOLOGÍA
INSTITUTO DE EDUCACIÓN SUPERIOR “Juan Mantovani”
PROVINCIA DEL CHACO
“Año 2020: Año del Congreso Pedagógico”

simple → simpler / simplest

narrow → narrower / narrowest
quiet → quieter / quietest

Adjectives with two syllables that end in 'y' usually can add 'er' or 'est' (y generally changes to i). It's also fine to
use 'more' or 'most'.
dirty → dirtier / dirtiest
pretty → prettier / prettiest
happy → happier / happiest
ugly → uglier / ugliest

Adjectives with more than two syllables

Adjectives with more than two syllables can only make their comparative by using 'more' and their superlative
by using 'most'.
beautiful → more beautiful / most beautiful
intelligent → more intelligent / most intelligent
interesting → more interesting / most interesting
expensive → more expensive / most expensive

Comparison can be made using the three forms of the adjective.

Adjective is a word and it qualifies a noun. It gives more information about the noun.

eg. The lion is a strong animal. Rita is a beautiful girl.

Adjectives are of three degrees. (1) Positive (2) Comparative (3) Superlative
eg. David is a rich man.
eg. Cancel is more dreadful than cholera.
eg. Mount Everest is the highest peak in the world.

Adjective and Adverbs have three degrees, Positive, Comparative and Superlative.

The Positive Degree is used to denote the mere existence of quality. The Positive Degree of an adjective in
comparison is the adjective in its simple form. It is used to denote the mere existence of some quality of what
we speak about. It is used when no comparison is made.
It is a tall building.
Apple is sweet to taste.
The Comparative Degree is used to compare the qualities of two persons or things.The Comparative Degree
denotes the existence of a higher degree of the quality than the positive. It is used when two things (or two sets
of things) are compared.
This building is taller than any other building.
Apple is sweeter than pear.
The Superlative Degree denotes the existence of the highest degree of the quality. It is used when more than
two things are compared.
This is the tallest building.
Apple is the sweetest fruit.
The Superlative Degree is used when more than two nouns or things are compared.
Johnsy is kind (Positive Degree)
Johnsy is kinder than Rosy (Comparative Degree)
Johnsy is the kindest of all (Superlative Degree)

Comparisons and contrasts

1. When we compare two objects, persons, qualities, degrees etc. tha tare some respects equal, we may use the
comparion of equality. This is formed by the use of
as... adjective / adverb... as
eg. Your house is as large as mine.
 MINISTERIO DE EDUCACIÓN, CULTURA, CIENCIA Y TECNOLOGÍA
INSTITUTO DE EDUCACIÓN SUPERIOR “Juan Mantovani”
PROVINCIA DEL CHACO
“Año 2020: Año del Congreso Pedagógico”

2. When we compare unquals, we may use the comparative degree of the adjective or adverb with than eg. His
new book is more interesting than his earlier books

3. When the comparison is negative, we use

so... adjective / adverb... as
eg. Your house is not quite so large as mine.

4. In some adverbial clauses of comparison both subject and verb are dropped.
eg. He is more shy than (he is) unsocial.
Some people think more about their rights than (they do) about their duties.

5. In clauses of comparison introduced by than that ‘should’ is used.

eg. I am already to do the work myself rather than that you should have to do it.

6.Comparison and contrast are also expressed by the use of

the...the...with comparatives.
eg. The sooner you start, the sooner you’ll finish.
The more he read, the less he understood.

1- Here more than two persons or things or places are compared. Matchless comparisons come
in this type.

Superlative Comparative Positive

Iron is the most useful of all Iron is more useful than any other No other metal is so useful as
metals. metal. iron.

2-Here more than two persons or things or places are compared. Generally this type is in
plural form.
Superlative Comparative Positive

Paris is one of the busiest cities Paris is busier than most other Very few cities in England are as
in England. cities in England. busy as Paris.

Common exceptions
good  better,  the best
bad  worse,  the worst
fun  more fun the most fun
far  farther.  the farthest

Comparison: comparisons of equality (as tall as his father)

As … as …
If two things are equal in some way, we can use a comparison with as … as …. The comparisons may involve
adjectives (adj) or adverbs (adv) after the first as, and noun phrases (np) or clauses after the second as:

He’s grown so much. He’s as tall as his father now. (adj + noun phrase)
The team is still as good as it was five years ago. (adj + clause)
The second game didn’t go as well as the first one. (adv + noun phrase)
The company is not performing as successfully as it did when Arthur Carling was the
President. (adv + clause)

When the second part of the comparison is a clause, the clause is often a reduced clause (a clause with ellipsis)
or one with a substitute verb do or a modal verb:
 MINISTERIO DE EDUCACIÓN, CULTURA, CIENCIA Y TECNOLOGÍA
INSTITUTO DE EDUCACIÓN SUPERIOR “Juan Mantovani”
PROVINCIA DEL CHACO
“Año 2020: Año del Congreso Pedagógico”

If the sales figures are as bad as predicted, the company will probably go bankrupt. (…as bad as
economists have predicted…)
I worked as hard as I had ever done in my life for my final exam. (…as hard as I had ever worked
in my life …)
We tried as hard as we could.
Noun phrases
If we use as … as … with a noun phrase, we must use much or little + uncountable noun or many or few +
plural noun:
She had as much work as she needed and did not want to take on any more.
There are as many students in Class 2A as there are in 2B.
He spent as little money as he could.
Negative forms
We can form the negative of as … as … with not as … as …, or with not so … as … The form not as … as … is
more common:
He didn’t run as fast as he did in the European Championship.
He didn’t pay as much tax this year as last year because he earned less.
She’s not so shy as she used to be. (less common)
I don’t read so many novels now as I used to. (less common)

Take note: much/a lot

We use much or a lot before an adjective or adverb to emphasise the degree of comparison.
Shirley is much more popular than Janet.
This winter is a lot worse than last year.
I work much more effectively when I have a good night's sleep.

Take note: (not) as … as

To say that two things or people are similar in some way, use as + adjective/adverb + as.
Mario is as clever as his brother.
Juliana shouted as loudly as the others but the teacher didn’t choose her.

Idioms with (not) as … as

There are many set idioms in English which use as + adjective + as to make comparisons. These are often
used in narrative texts to make writing more interesting and colourful.
He was as quiet as a mouse.
The material was as thin as ice.
Her hands were as warm as toast.
He ran as fast as the wind to escape.
When Anna heard the news, she turned as white as a sheet.
He picked her up and she was as light as a feather.

We can use not as/so + adjective + as to say that two things or people are not equal in some way.
Isabel is not as talented as her sister.
The final wasn't so exciting as the semi-final.

ACTIVITIES
Use the given theory to solve the following activities:

CHOOSE THE BEST OPTION:CHOOSE THE BEST OPTION:

1. Very few books are read ................................. Harry Potter by children.
 MINISTERIO DE EDUCACIÓN, CULTURA, CIENCIA Y TECNOLOGÍA
INSTITUTO DE EDUCACIÓN SUPERIOR “Juan Mantovani”
PROVINCIA DEL CHACO
“Año 2020: Año del Congreso Pedagógico”

(a) as much as (b) more than (c) the most

2. Life in the desert is …………………… than life in the mountains.

(a) as dreary as (b) the dreariest (c) drearier

3. Honey is …………………….. medicine.

(a) as good as (b) better than (c) the best

4. School days are ……………………… than college days.

(a) as enjoyable as (b) more enjoyable (c) the most enjoyable

5. The coconut tree has ………………………… any other tree.

(a) as much uses as (b) more uses than (c) the most uses of

6. Dogs are …………………………….. dolphins.

(a) as friendly as (b) more friendly (c) the most friendly

7. No other country sells ………………………… number of cellphones as India after America.

(a) as many (b) more (c) the most

8. Nursing is ……………………… many other professions.

(a) as noble as (b) nobler than (c) the most noble

9. Very few channels are watched by children ……………………………….. the Cartoon Channel.
(a) as much as (b) more than (c) the most

10. Black is …………………………………….colour.

(a) as dark as (b) darker than (c) the darkest

11. Milk is ………………………… diet.

(a) so good as (b) better than (c) the best

12. Noodles is ……………………………………….. dish for children and youngsters.

(a) so enjoyable as (b) more enjoyable than (c) the most enjoyable

13. We have not played any match ……………………………… this.

(a) so bad as (b) worse (c) the worst

14. This road is …………………………………… one in town.

(a) as long as (b) longer than (c) the longest

Comparatives & Superlatives Error Correction

Are these comparative and superlative sentences Correct or Wrong?
1. Much less water flooded into the house than I expected.
2. There are less people here than promised to come.
3. Tennis is a far harder game than football.
4. The more you protest, more guilty you look!
5. This house is twice as big as the other one we saw.
6. Your dog is so friendlier than my one.
7. That company is considerably richest than that one.
8. That's by far the largest dam I've ever seen.
 MINISTERIO DE EDUCACIÓN, CULTURA, CIENCIA Y TECNOLOGÍA
INSTITUTO DE EDUCACIÓN SUPERIOR “Juan Mantovani”
PROVINCIA DEL CHACO
“Año 2020: Año del Congreso Pedagógico”

Complete the article with the sentences below. Write the letter on the line.

a) So, she can have many pets!

b) But the dog also had a little friend, a kitten!
c) She’s also got a mouse and a lizard.
d) She found her first pet, a dog, in a field near her house.
e) She gives them a fantastic home.

Kathryn’s pets
Kathryn Johns loves animals. She likes big animals and small animals and even ugly animals! Kathryn lives in
a village and she has got a very big garden. (1)______ At the moment, Kathryn has got four dogs, five cats
ant three rabbits. (2)______ That’s a lot of pets! How did she get all these pets? (3) ______ The dog needed
a home, so she took him to her home. (4) ______ So she took the kitten too! Later, a neighbour visited her.
He had a sick rabbit, so she took it. The rabbit is fine now, and very happy!
Now, Kathryn looks after lots of sick animals. (5) ______ They are the happiest animals in the world!

Choose the appropriate options to complete the sentences. WRITE ONLY THE LETTER of the option you
choose.

1. a. more b. most c. very

2. a. bigger b. more c. many
3. a. smaller b. more small c. smallest
4. a. very b. more c. such
5. a. very cheap b. more cheap c. cheaper
6. a. every b. most c. more
7. a. better b. more good c. most good
8. a. few b. much c. little
9. a. very cheaper b. little more expensive c. little cheaper

Prague is one of the (1) …………… popular tourist destinations in Europe. After all the political changes of the
early 1990's, the capital of the Czech Republic began to take advantage of its beautiful cultural and
architectural heritage to attract (2)……… tourists than ever before
Prague is a (3) …………… city than many people imagine and it is (4) ………….easy to move around this
wonderful city on foot. Public transport is (5) …………. in Prague than in (6) …………other European cities but it
is often (7)………… to walk, enabling you to appreciate marvellous buildings you might have missed if you had
been sitting on a bus or a tram.
(8)………. people leave the city of Prague without commenting on the superb food and drink available here.
Eating out here is a (9) ………. than it used to be but you can still have a three course meal for around $15
without any problems.