Day 1

English Grammar Upgrade S2

Date:

Comparative and superlative adjectives

Lesson 1: faster the cheapest as tall as
Time limit: 15 min

1.

To compare two or more nouns with one another, we use comparative and superlative adjectives. The comparative is used when we compare two nouns. This car is faster than that one. The superlative is used when we compare three or more nouns. That is the cheapest shampoo available.

2. To make the comparative, add -er to the adjective. Mary is older than Hugh. Tom is stronger than Ben. 3. To make the superlative, add -est to the adjective. We use the with the superlative form. John is 16, Tim is 14, and Sam is 12. Sam is the youngest.

Ben

Tom

There are also certain spelling changes that take place with comparative and superlative adjectives. Adjective With one syllable Ending in single vowel then single consonant (except -y and -w) Ending in consonant and -y Ending in consonant and -e + -er / -est double the consonant + -er / -est -y -ier / -iest -e + -r / -st Action Example tall taller tall tallest big bigger big biggest easy easier easy easiest close closer close closest

4. If the two nouns are the same in some way, we use as ... as to compare them. Mary is as tall as Jane. We use the negative form not as ... as if they are different. This red ruler is not as long as the blue one.

English Grammar Upgrade S2

Lesson 2: more interesting most interesting

Time limit: 15 min

1. For longer adjectives, we dont use -er or -est, but we use the words more or less (for the comparative) and most or least (for the superlative) in front of the adjective. The memory of an event is more important than the actual experience. That is the least important point we have spoken about. 2. We add -er and -est to two-syllable adjectives ending in -ow (hollower; hollowest) and -er (cleverer; cleverest). In the case of two-syllable adjectives ending in -y, -y is replaced with -i. dirty dirtier; dirtiest We add more or most to other two-syllable adjectives and adjectives with three or more syllables (more interesting; most interesting). He is more talented than the other two artists. (comparative) He is the most talented of the many artists in our school. (superlative)

A small number of adjectives form irregular comparatives and superlatives. good better best The latest software is better than the previous version. Avatar is the best film in the world. bad worse worst The effects of global warming are worse than many people thought. This is the worst disaster in history.

3. Sometimes comparatives and superlatives are used in advertising slogans. a better solution a fuller flavour the greatest show on Earth

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Day 8: Past continuous tense

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Day 8

Time limit: 14 min

Mr Lee is murdered in his house at 10:00 p.m. on a summer night. Inspector So is called to the scene. Mr Lees body is in the study. Inspector So interviews the four people who were in the house when the murder happened. He starts by asking the suspects, Where were you at 10:00 p.m. last night? Read the statements below and fill in the blanks with the correct forms of the verbs in brackets. Mrs Lee At the time of my husbands death, I was watching television in bed, it was just after my husband said he (1) (plan) to sell the house. My husband and I didnt always get on well, but I

certainly didnt kill him. I heard someone outside my room at 9:55 p.m. They (2) (run) towards my husbands study. Mr Wong Mr Lee was very kind to me. He lent me money from time to time. I (3) (make) a sandwich in the kitchen when I heard a scream. I ran up the stairs and found Miss Yim outside Mr Lees study. She (4) Miss Yim I (5) (walk) in the garden when I saw a man climb out of Mr Lees study. I thought (groan). I went inside to I heard a noise from the house. It sounded like a man (6) find out what (7) (go) on. It was me who found Mr Lee. He (8) (plan) to run away (love) him.

(lie) on the study floor. He was dead. I loved him. We were (9) together. Mr Chan (cook) I (10) take a knife. I asked him what he (11) (12) (13) Wong normally (14)

(cook) in the kitchen at 9:30 p.m. and saw Mr Wong come in and (do). He told me he was hungry and

(make) a sandwich. He left about ten minutes later. It was only when I (pack up) for the night that I discovered one of my knives was missing. Mr (walk) down every night about that time to chat with me.

Keep g going!

Day 14: Question tags

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Day 14

Time limit: 16 min

I. Your teacher has given you the following exercise. Match the first part of the sentence with the second part. Put the correct letters in the blanks. Time: 6 min 1. We have never met before, 2. You are new here, 3. That isnt the correct number, 4. People very rarely climb that mountain, 5. Easter is late next year, 6. I am going to be the best student in the class, 7. We dont want to leave yet, 8. Do not forget to post the letters, 9. He has stopped calling, 10. Lets all recycle more, 11. She loves Biology, 12. You cant be serious, (A) arent I? (B) isnt it? (C) do we? (D) have we? (E) can you? (F) arent you? (G) hasnt he? (H) shall we? (I) is it? (J) will you? (K) do they? (L) doesnt she?

II. Imagine you are on holiday with some friends. Write a dialogue in which you talk about the new friends you have made, how nice they are, and what you think about the activities you have done. Use sentences with question tags and replies. Write at least four question tags with replies. The beginning has been given to you. Time: 10 min

Peter: We've had a great time here in Mexico, haven't we?

Keep g going!

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English Grammar Upgrade S2

List of tests and related topics:

Test 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Relative clauses Reporting statements Prepositions of movement Conditional sentences Question phrases Past continuous tense Present perfect tense Nouns without articles Reflexive pronouns Connectives of time, result and reason Passive voice Indefinite pronouns Question tags Related topic Comparative and superlative adjectives 1 2 3 4 5 8 6 7 9 Day
(p.2)

10 (p.38)
(p.6) (p.10) (p.14) (p.18) (p.30)

11 (p.42)
(p.22) (p.26) (p.34)

13 (p.50) 12 (p.46) 14 (p.54)

Test 1

Time limit: 8 min

Your friend is disappointed with the service he received at a restaurant, and he has written a letter of complaint. However, he has made some mistakes on the use of comparative and superlative adjectives and relative clauses. Help him underline the mistakes and write the correct words above them. The first one has been done for you.

Dear Sir / Madam,

Which / that I am writing to complain about the very poor service who I received when I visited your restaurant on 1 June 2010. I normally visit your chain of restaurants, whom up till now have been among the best in the city. I came with friends and I wanted to show them the goodest service who our city had to offer. The food was the baddest I have ever tasted, the environment was most dirty I have ever seen, and the service was very bad. We had to wait twenty minutes before a waiter came to ask us what we wanted. We had to wait fifteen minutes until our drinks came, who were warm instead of cold. Then we had to wait another hour before our food came. When it came, not only was it more colder than it should have been, but it also tasted awful. In fact, the wrong dishes came. We ordered chicken curry, but instead received fish curry. We hope to receive far more good service if we return, although I doubt we will. Yours sincerely, John Chan
Score: /8

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English Grammar Upgrade S2

Test 10

Time limit: 4 min

A police officer visits Mr Wong and asks him some questions. Circle the correct indefinite pronouns. Police officer: Did you see (1. anyone / someone) or hear (2. anything / something) unusual last night? Mr Wong: Im not sure. Maybe there was (3. anything / something) strange. About midnight, I heard (4. anyone / someone) throwing some stones up at our window. Or perhaps it was a cat. I dont normally hear any sounds at night as where we live is quiet. Usually, (5. anybody / nobody) is around at night, so on second thought, Im not sure I heard (6. anything / something). There is (7. anything / nothing) more to say.
Score: /7

Test 11
Read the following dialogue. Fill in the blanks with the correct question tags. Harry: Youre not from London, (1) ?

Time limit: 4 min

Janet: No, I moved here with Mum and Dad two years ago. Harry: Its quite nice here, (2) ? ? ?
Score: /4

Janet: Its OK, but the weather here is terrible. It rains every day, (3) Harry: No, not quite every day. You dont mind if I buy you a drink, (4) Janet: No, not at all. That would be great.

Check your scores from Tests 1-11 and find out how well you have done. Excellent Test 1 Test 2 Test 3 Test 4 Test 5 Test 6 Test 7 Test 8 Test 9 Test 10 Test 11 7-8 9-10 7-8 2 4 11-12 3 7 4 7 4 Good 6 8 6 N/A 3 9-10 2 5-6 3 5-6 3 Harder work needed 4-5 5-7 4-5 1 2 6-8 1 4 2 4 2 More careful revision needed 0-3 0-4 0-3 0 0-1 0-5 0 0-3 0-1 0-3 0-1

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English Grammar Upgrade S2

Day 1 Comparative and superlative adjectives

Adjective With one syllable Ending in single vowel then single consonant (except -y and -w) Ending in consonant and -y Ending in consonant and -e Action + -er / -est double the consonant + -er / -est -y -ier / -iest -e + -r / -st Example tall taller tall tallest big bigger big biggest easy easier easy easiest close closer close closest

Day 2 Reporting statements

Pronoun changes: Direct speech I we you me us you Reported speech he / she they he/ she / they him / her them him / her / them Time and place changes: Direct speech this here today now yesterday tomorrow last week next month Reported speech that there that day then / at that time the previous day / the day before the following day / the next day the previous week / the week before the following month / the next month

Tense changes: Tense Simple present simple past Present continuous past continuous Modal verb will would can could may might Example I m tired, said Donna. Donna said she was tired. I am thinking about it, he confirmed. He confirmed he was thinking about it. Example Time will tell, she commented. She commented that time would tell. I can write a poem, Tom suggested. Tom suggested he could write a poem. I may be able to help, she hinted. She hinted she might be able to help.