Summary of Comparative Adjectives, Modals, and Questions
Comparative Adjectives, Modals, & Questions: Student Guide
Introduction
This study material, focused on English for high school students, covers basic vocabulary, pronunciation, grammar (can / could, 'how...?' questions), comparative and superlative adjectives, and units of measurement. The material is divided into clear sections with examples and exercises, so students can quickly practice using it in context.
Basic Vocabulary and Pronunciation
- The dictionary includes nouns, verbs, and adjectives along with their phonetic transcriptions. Use them to form sentences and practice reading aloud.
Tip: Repeat the words aloud, paying attention to word stress and common phrases (e.g., "user guide").
Selected words:
- physics /'fi:zi:ks/ — physics
- player /'plei:ə(r)/ — player
- pressure /'preʃə(r)/ — pressure
- scientist /'saɪəntɪst/ — scientist
- programmer /'prəʊɡræmə(r)/ — programmer
Questions with How ... ? (frequency, quantity, and qualities)
We use 'how' + 'often' / 'much' / 'many' / adjective to ask about frequency, quantity, or a specific quality.
- How often do you go shopping?
- How much coffee do you drink?
- How many cousins have you got?
- How high is that mountain?
Practical Examples and Exercises:
- How far can you swim? (far / high / many) — How far can you swim?
- How strict are your teachers? (often / strict / long) — How strict are your teachers?
- How many cousins have you got? — How many cousins have you got?
- How much tea do you drink? — How much tea do you drink?
Definition: Questions beginning with HOW are used to ask about frequency, quantity, degree, or a quality.
Abilities: can and could
- can describes present ability: I can speak German now.
- could describes past ability or polite requests: She could ride a horse when she was six.
Table: Usage of can / could
| Form | Affirmative sentence | Negative | Question | Short answer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| can (present) | I can swim. | I can't swim. | Can you swim? | Yes, I can. / No, I can't. |
| could (past) | I could dance. | I couldn't dance. | Could you dance? | Yes, I could. / No, I couldn't. |
Practical Tips:
- After can/could, we use the base form of the verb (without 'to'): can swim, could run.
- In spoken English, contracted forms like can't and couldn't are used.
Examples:
- My little sister can't write yet, but she can read easy sentences.
- We couldn't play tennis when we were ten, but now we're good at it.
Comparative and Superlative Adjectives
Formation Rules:
| Adjective Type | Comparative | Superlative |
|---|---|---|
| One-syllable | add -er (old → older) | add -est (old → oldest) |
| One-syllable ending in a single vowel + consonant | double the final consonant + -er (big → bigger) | double the final consonant + -est (big → biggest) |
| Ending in -e | add -r (nice → nicer) | add -st (nice → nicest) |
| Two or more syllables ending in -y | remove -y + -ier (easy → easier) | remove -y + -iest (easy → easiest) |
| Other two or more syllables | more / most (careful → more careful / the most careful) | |
| Irregular | good → better → the best; bad → worse → the worst |
Exercise: Complete with the correct form
- This book is the most expensive (expensive) in the shop.
- Leonardo da Vinci was one of the most intelligent (intelligent) people of all time.
- Maths is easier (easy) than French.
Definition: The comparative compares two things; the superlative compares more than two things and indicates the highest degree of a quality.
Common Mistakes (Things to Watch Out For):
- Do not use "more" with one-syllable adjectives that form their comparative with -er (e.g., "more big" is incorrect).
- Don't forget to double the final consonant for short one-syllable words (big → bigger).
Units of Measurement and Numbers (in Context)
Common units and their usage in questions and answers:
- kilometre (or kilometer) — H
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English — Fundamentals and Grammar
Klíčové pojmy: Using how + often/much/many/adjective in questions, Can = ability in the present; Could = ability in the past, Can/could are followed by the base form of the verb (without 'to'), Comparative: -er or more; Superlative: -est or most, Doubling the consonant with short one-syllable adjectives (big → bigger), Irregular comparisons (good → better → best), Units: kilo, kilometer, second, minute, million, Read the context to infer the meaning of unfamiliar words, Use contracted forms can't and couldn't in spoken English, Forming HOW questions for frequency, quantity, and degree