jueves, 17 de noviembre de 2016

SPEAKOUT UPPER INTERMEDIATE VIDEO PODCAST UNIT 1



SPEAKOUT UPPER INTERMEDIATE UNIT 6


IDIOMS WITH "HORSE"

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COMPARATIVES & SUPERLATIVES



Comparative/superlative

Comparative is the name for the grammar used when comparing two things. The two basic ways to compare are using as .. as or than. Examples of each are shown below:
  • She's twice as old as her sister.
  • He's not as stupid as he looks!
  • I'm almost as good in maths as in science.
  • This book is not as exciting as the last one.
  • The cafeteria is not as crowded as usual.
  • Russian is not quite as difficult as Chinese.
  • This computer is better than that one.
  • She's stronger at chess than I am.
  • It's much colder today than it was yesterday.
  • Our car is bigger than your car.
  • This grammar topic is easier than most others.
  • I find science more difficult than mathematics.
  • Today's ESL lesson was more interesting than usual.
Note: In each of the example sentences above, the comparative form of the adjective is shown. See the foot of this page for information about the comparison of adverbs.
When comparing with as .. as, the adjective does not change. When comparing with than, however, some changes are necessary, depending on the number of syllables the adjective has:
1-syllable adjectives: add -er to the adjective
  • My sister is much taller than me.†
  • It's colder today than it was yesterday.
Note: If the word ends: consonant-vowel-consonant, then the last consonant is usually doubled in the comparative. Examples: big-bigger, fat-fatter, hot-hotter.
2-syllable adjectives ending in -y: change the -y to -ier
  • She's looking happier today.
  • This grammar topic is easier than the last one.
  • Why is everyone else luckier than me? �
Beware: Do not confuse adjectives and adverbs. 2-syllable adverbs ending in -y must be compared with the word more. Example: I drive more quickly (quicklier) than my brother.
Other 2-syllable adjectives: use more with the unchanged adjective
  • The shops are always more crowded just before Christmas.
  • Is there anything more boring than reading about grammar?
  • My sister is more careful with her writing than I am with mine.
Note: The comparative of some shorter 2-syllable adjectives can be formed with -er. Examples: simple-simpler, clever-cleverer, narrow-narrower. To be sure which comparative method to use, you will need to consult a good dictionary.
Adjectives with 3 or more syllables: use more with the unchanged adjective
  • Russian grammar is more difficult than English grammar.
  • My sister is much more intelligent than me.†
  • I find maths lessons more enjoyable than science lessons.
  • The older you get, the more irritating you become.

In the superlative you talk about one thing only and how it is the best, worst, etc. You do not compare two things. The following guidelines apply to the superlative:
1-syllable adjectives: add -est to the adjective (plus the)
  • My sister is the tallest in our family.
  • Yesterday was the coldest day of the year so far.
Note: If the word ends: consonant-vowel-consonant, then the last consonant is usually doubled in the superlative. Examples: big-biggest, fat-fattest, hot-hottest.
2-syllable adjectives ending in -y: change the -y to -iest (plus the)
  • The richest people are not always the happiest.
  • Which do you think is the easiest language to learn?
  • She's the luckiest person I know.
Beware: Do not confuse adjectives and adverbs. 2-syllable adverbs ending in -y form their superlative with the words the most. Example: Of all the people I know my father drives the most quickly (quickliest).
Other 2-syllable adjectives: use the most with the unchanged adjective
  • The most boring thing about ESL class is doing grammar exercises.
  • My sister is the most careful person I know.
Note: The superlative of some shorter 2-syllable adjectives can be formed with -er. Examples: simple-simplest, clever-cleverest, narrow-narrowest. To be sure which superlative method to use, you will need to consult a good dictionary.
Adjectives with 3 or more syllables: use the most with the unchanged adjective
  • Some people think that Russian is the most difficult language.
  • Albert Einstein was the most intelligent person in history.
  • My most enjoyable class is English.
  • You are the most irritating person I have ever met!
Following are two common irregular comaparative/superlative forms:
  • good-better-the best
  • bad-worse-the worst

The following guidelines apply to the comparative/superlative of most adverbs:
1-syllable adverbs: add -er/-est
  • I can run faster than you. / I can run the fastest in my class.
  • She works harder than me.† / She works the hardest of all students.
Other adverbs: use more / the most*
  • She ran more quickly than me.† / Of all the students she ran the most quickly.
* In informal English it is common to hear the adjectival comparative/superlative form of two-syllable adverbs. For example: She ran quicker than me.† | She ran the quickest.
† Many educated English speakers prefer to use the nominative plus a verb rather than the accusative in such comparative sentences, especially in formal situations. They say, for example, My sister is taller than I am. or She ran more quickly than I did.The alternative, omitting the verb as in the following examples, is considered to be even more formal and is avoided by most British English speakers: My sister is taller than I. or She ran more quickly than I.


EXERCISE 1

EXERCISE 2

EXERCISE 3

viernes, 4 de noviembre de 2016

PRESENT SIMPLE VS PRESENT CONTINUOUS


taken from https://www.ego4u.com/en/cram-up/grammar/simpre-prepro
Simple PresentPresent Progressive
infinitive
(3rd person singular: infinitive + 's')
I speak
you speak
he / she / it speaks
we speak
they speak
form of 'be' and verb + ing
I am speaking
you are speaking
he / she / it is speaking
we are speaking
they are speaking
Exceptions
Exceptions when adding 's' :
  • For can, may, might, must, do not add s.
    Example: he can, she may, it must
  • After o, ch, sh or s, add es.
    Example: do - he does, wash - she washes
  • After a consonant, the final consonant ybecomes ie. (but: not after a vowel)
    Example: worry - he worries
    but: play - he plays
Exceptions when adding 'ing' :
  • Silent e is dropped. (but: does not apply for -ee)
    Example: come - coming
    but: agree - agreeing
  • After a short, stressed vowel, the final consonant is doubled.
    Example: sit - sitting
  • After a vowel, the final consonant l is doubled in British English (but not in American English).
    Example: travel - travelling (British English)
    but: traveling (American English)
  • Final ie becomes y.
    Example: lie - lying
See also explanations on Simple Present and Present Progressive

Use

In general or right now?

Do you want to express that something happens in general or that something is happening right now?
Simple PresentPresent Progressive
in general (regularly, often, never)
Colin plays football every Tuesday.
present actions happening one after another
First Colin plays football, then he watches TV.
right now
Look! Colin is playing football now.
also for several actions happening at the same time
Colin is playing football and Anne is watching.
Signal words
  • always
  • every ...
  • often
  • normally
  • usually
  • sometimes
  • seldom
  • never
  • first
  • then
  • at the moment
  • at this moment
  • today
  • now
  • right now
  • Listen!
  • Look!
Note: The following verbs are usually only used in Simple Present:
be, have, hear, know, like, love, see, smell, think, want

Timetable / Schedule or arrangement?

Do you want to express that something is arranged for the near future? Or do you refer to a time set by a timetable or schedule?
Simple PresentPresent Progressive
action set by a timetable or schedule
The film starts at 8 pm.
arrangement for the near future
I am going to the cinema tonight.

Daily routine or just for a limited period of time?

Do you want to talk about a daily routine? Or do you want to emphasis that something is only going on for a limited (rather short) period of time?
Simple PresentPresent Progressive
daily routine
Bob works in a restaurant.
only for a limited period of time (does not have to happen directly at the moment of speaking)
Jenny is working in a restaurant this week.

Certain Verbs

The following verbs are usually only used in Simple Present (not in the progressive form).
  • state: be, cost, fit, mean, suit
    Example: We are on holiday.
  • possession: belong, have
    Example: Sam has a cat.
  • senses: feel, hear, see, smell, taste, touch
    Example: He feels the cold.
  • feelings: hate, hope, like, love, prefer, regret, want, wish
    Example: Jane loves pizza.
  • brain work: believe, know, think, understand
    Example: I believe you.
  • Introductory clauses for direct speech: answer, ask, reply, say
    Example: “I am watching TV,“ he says.

Exercies on Simple Present and Present Progressive

Tests on Simple Present and Present Progressive