What to review:
5. how to present an article
- superlative
- comparative
- present perfect
- BE+ing and how to describe a picture
- how to present an article
- vocabulary from the sequence INDIA
- irregular verbs ( 2nd page)
THE COMPARATIVE AND THE SUPERLATIVE
COMPARATIVE ADJECTIVES
Comparative adjectives are used to compare differences between the two objects they modify (larger, smaller, faster, higher). They are used in sentences where two nouns are compared, in this pattern:
Noun (subject) + verb + comparative adjective + than + noun (object).
The second item of comparison can be omitted if it is clear from the context (final example below).
EXAMPLES
- My house is larger than hers.
- This box is smaller than the one I lost.
- Your dog runs faster than Jim's dog.
- The rock flew higher than the roof.
- Jim and Jack are both my friends, but I like Jack better. ("than Jim" is understood)
SUPERLATIVE ADJECTIVES
Superlative adjectives are used to describe an object which is at the upper or lower limit of a quality (the tallest, the smallest, the fastest, the highest). They are used in sentences where a subject is compared to a group of objects.
Noun (subject) + verb + the + superlative adjective + noun (object).
The group that is being compared with can be omitted if it is clear from the context (final example below).
EXAMPLES
- My house is the largest one in our neighborhood.
- This is the smallest box I've ever seen.
- Your dog ran the fastest of any dog in the race.
- We all threw our rocks at the same time. My rock flew the highest. ("of all the rocks" is understood)
FORMING REGULAR COMPARATIVES AND SUPERLATIVES
Forming comparatives and superlatives is easy. The form depends on the number of syllables in the original adjective.
ONE SYLLABLE ADJECTIVES
Add -er for the comparative and -est for the superlative. If the adjective has a consonant + single vowel + consonant spelling, the final consonant must be doubled before adding the ending.
| Adjective | Comparative | Superlative |
|---|---|---|
| tall | taller | tallest |
| fat | fatter | fattest |
| big | bigger | biggest |
| sad | sadder | saddest |
TWO SYLLABLES
Adjectives with two syllables can form the comparative either by adding -er or by preceeding the adjective with more. These adjectives form the superlative either by adding -est or by preceeding the adjective with most. In many cases, both forms are used, although one usage will be more common than the other. If you are not sure whether a two-syllable adjective can take a comparative or superlative ending, play it safe and use moreand most instead. For adjectives ending in y, change the y to an i before adding the ending.
| Adjective | Comparative | Superlative |
|---|---|---|
| happy | happier | happiest |
| simple | simpler | simplest |
| busy | busier | busiest |
| tilted | more tilted | most tilted |
| tangled | more tangled | most tangled |
THREE OR MORE SYLLABLES
Adjectives with three or more syllables form the comparative by putting more in front of the adjective, and the superlative by putting most in front.
| Adjective | Comparative | Superlative |
|---|---|---|
| important | more important | most important |
| expensive | more expensive | most expensive |
IRREGULAR COMPARATIVES AND SUPERLATIVES
These very common adjectives have completely irregular comparative and superlative forms.
| Adjective | Comparative | Superlative |
|---|---|---|
| good | better | best |
| bad | worse | worst |
| little | less | least |
| much | more | most |
| far | further / farther | furthest / farthest |
EXAMPLES
- Today is the worst day I've had in a long time.
- You play tennis better than I do.
- This is the least expensive sweater in the store.
- This sweater is less expensive than that one.
- I ran pretty far yesterday, but I ran even farther today.
PRESENT PERFECT
DEFINITION OF THE PRESENT PERFECT TENSE
The present perfect is used to indicate a link between the present and the past. The time of the action is before now but not specified, and we are often more interested in the result than in the action itself.
BE CAREFUL! There may be a verb tense in your language with a similar form, but the meaning is probably NOT the same.
THE PRESENT PERFECT IS USED TO DESCRIBE ( nous avons appris que les deux premiers usages en jaune)
- An action or situation that started in the past and continues in the present. I have lived in Bristol since 1984 (= and I still do.)
- An action performed during a period that has not yet finished. She has been to the cinema twice this week (= and the week isn't over yet.)
- A repeated action in an unspecified period between the past and now. We have visited Portugal several times.
- An action that was completed in the very recent past, expressed by 'just'. I have just finished my work.
- An action when the time is not important. He has read 'War and Peace'. (= the result of his reading is important)
Note: When we want to give or ask details about when, where, who, we use the simple past. Read more about choosing between the present perfect and the simple past tenses.
ACTIONS STARTED IN THE PAST AND CONTINUING IN THE PRESENT
- They haven't lived here for years.
- She has worked in the bank for five years.
- We have had the same car for ten years.
- Have you played the piano since you were a child?
WHEN THE TIME PERIOD REFERRED TO HAS NOT FINISHED
- I have worked hard this week.
- It has rained a lot this year.
- We haven't seen her today.
ACTIONS REPEATED IN AN UNSPECIFIED PERIOD BETWEEN THE PAST AND NOW.
- They have seen that film six times
- It has happened several times already.
- She has visited them frequently.
- We have eaten at that restaurant many times.
ACTIONS COMPLETED IN THE VERY RECENT PAST (+JUST)
- Have you just finished work?
- I have just eaten.
- We have just seen her.
- Has he just left?
WHEN THE PRECISE TIME OF THE ACTION IS NOT IMPORTANT OR NOT KNOWN
- Someone has eaten my soup!
- Have you seen 'Gone with the Wind'?
- She's studied Japanese, Russian, and English.
Read more about using the present perfect with the words "ever", "never", "already", and "yet", and about using the present perfect with the words "for" and "since".
FORMING THE PRESENT PERFECT
The present perfect of any verb is composed of two elements : the appropriate form of the auxiliary verb to have (present tense), plus the past participle of the main verb. The past participle of a regular verb is base+ed, e.g. played, arrived, looked. For irregular verbs, see the Table of irregular verbs in the section called 'Verbs'.
| Affirmative | ||
| Subject | to have | past participle |
| She | has | visited. |
| Negative | ||
| Subject | to have + not | past participle |
| She | has not (hasn't) | visited. |
| Interrogative | ||
| to have | subject | past participle |
| Has | she | visited? |
| Negative interrogative | ||
| to have + not | subject | past participle |
| Hasn't | she | visited? |
TO WALK, PRESENT PERFECT
| Affirmative | Negative | Interrogative |
|---|---|---|
| I have walked | I haven't walked | Have I walked? |
| You have walked | You haven't walked. | Have you walked? |
| He, she, it has walked | He, she, hasn't walked | Has he, she, it walked? |
| We have walked | We haven't walked | Have we walked? |
| You have walked | You haven't walked | Have you walked? |
| They have walked | They haven't walked | Have they walked? |
EX: The document under scrutiny/ under study is an excerpt from....
This article was written by *....* and published on July 2014/ on Monday, March 5th, 2018 ( regardez bien comment on construit les dates svp) in the sport section of The Times magazine newspaper.
This article deals with...... ( pleaaase: je vous en supplie pas de this documents speaks about/talks about) This article focuses on ......this articles tackles the topic/the issue of.....
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