1B1 ACTIVE SPEAKING

UNIT 7

COMPARATIVE ADJECTIVES

When we talk about two things, we can “compare” them. We can see if they are the same or different. We can use comparative adjectives to describe the differences. Here you have some examples of adjectives:

 

Formation of Comparative Adjectives

There are two ways to make or to “form” a comparative adjective:

short adjectives: add “-er”
long adjectives: use “more”

Short adjectives: add -er	examples
1-syllable adjectives	old, fast
2-syllable adjectives ending in -y	happy, easy
RULE: add “-er”	old → older
Variation: if the adjective ends in -e, just add -r	late → later
Variation: if the adjective ends in consonant, vowel, consonant, double the last consonant	big → bigger
Variation: if the adjective ends in -y, change the y to i	happy → happier

Long adjectives: use more	examples
2-syllable adjectives not ending in -y	modern, pleasant
all adjectives of 3 or more syllables	expensive, intellectual
RULE: use “more”	modern → more modern expensive → more expensive

Look at these examples:

John is 1.80. He is tall. But Chris is 1.85. He is taller than John.
America is big. But Russia is bigger.
I want to have a more powerful computer.
Is French more difficult than English?

EXERCISES:

https://www.ego4u.com/en/cram-up/grammar/adjectives-adverbs/adjectives/exercises

Unit 8 LOOK LIKE/BE LIKE

Let’s see this video:

Look like

Look like is used to ask for and give an opinion about appearance.

What does Peter look like?
He’s tall, with dark hair, and he wears glasses.

Be like
Be like is used to ask for and give a description of people’s personality.

What is Julie like?
She is reliable, pleasant and helpful. She is like a friend.

Who + Look like

It is used when a person is physically similar to another.

Who do you look like?

I look like my mother but some people say I also look like my father.

What does Alex look like?
(=describe his appearance). He is tall and handsome, and he dresses well.
He’s a big guy. He looks like a rugbyman.
Who does Alex look like?
(=his similarity with another person). He looks like his father really, but in some ways
he also looks like George Clooney.
What is Alex like?
(=describe his personality). He is nice and friendly and always willing to help –
a great friend to have.