Comparative and Superlative forms

1 One-syllable and two-syllable adjectives ending in –y

2 Other two-syllable adjectives and longer adjectives

But we usually use -er and the -est with the following two-syllable adjectives: clever, quiet, simple, gentle.

3 Irregular forms

4 Prepositions in comparative phrases

I think she’s more attractive than her sister.

Your eyes are very similar to your mother’s.

Are these glasses very different from your old ones?

She looks like a businesswoman.

Her earrings are the same as mine.

PRONOUNS

Some/Any/No

1 Some, any and no are used with uncountable nouns (coffee, sugar, etc.)

and plural countable nouns (cars, flowers, etc.).

some coffee, some cars

2 Some and its compounds (someone, somebody, something, somewhere)

are normally used in affirmative sentences.

He’s got some friends.

There is somebody at the door.

3 Any and its compounds are usually used in interrogative sentences.

Not any is used in negative sentences.

Have you got any money?

There aren’t (=are not) any shops near here.

He is not anywhere.

4 Any and its compounds are also used with negative words such as without,

never, seldom, rarely, etc.

He left without any excuse. She has hardly any money left.

5 No and its compounds are used instead of not any in negative sentences.

They haven’t got any time./They’ve got no time.

6 We use a singular verb with compounds of some, any and no.

Someone iscalling for help.

There is nothing on the table.

7 Some and its compounds are also used in interrogative sentences when we

make an offer or request.

Would you like some orange juice? (offer)

Can I say something? (request)

A Lot – Much – Many

A lot of/Lots of are used with both plural countable and uncountable nouns. They are normally used affirmative sentences.

Mary’s got a lot of /lots of dresses.

There is a lot of / lots of coffee in the pot,

Much and many are normally used in interrogative and negative sentences.

Much is used with uncountable and many with plural countable nouns.

There’s much cheese in the fridge.

There isn’t muchcheese left.

‘Have you got many books?’ I haven’t got many books’

Much

We use much with singular (uncountable) nouns and many with plurals.

Much and many are most common in questions and negatives, and after so, as, too, very.

In other informal affirmative sentences, we generally prefer a lot (of), lots (of), plenty (of).

‘How much time have we got?’ ‘ How many tickets do we need?’

‘Do you have much trouble with English?’ ‘I don’t have much trouble speaking, but I have lots of difficulty writing .’

‘Are there many opera houses in London?’ ‘Not many, but a lot of theatres and plenty of cinemas.’

There are too many people here.

I love you so much.

A little/Little

A little/Little are used with uncountable nouns (tea, money, etc.).

A little means not much, but enough.

She’s got a little money. She can go shopping.

Little means hardly any, almost none.

We’ve got (very) little time. We must hurry.

A few / Few

A few /Few are used with plural countable nouns (books, plates, etc.).

A few means not many, but enough.

I’ve got a few friends, so I am not lonely.(positive idea)

Few means hardly any, almost none

I’m sad and I am lonely. I’ve got few friends. (negative idea)

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MODAL VERBS

A list of the modal verbs in English:

Modals are different from normal verbs:

1 They are followed by the infinitive without to, except for ought to.

We must be at the airport by seven

You should try this ice-cream – it’s delicious.

But: You ought to be more careful.

2 There is no do/does in the questions.

Can I help you?

When shall I phone you?

3 The form is the same for all persons. There is no -s in the third person

singular.

She must be tired.

She can’t be at home.

4 To form the negative, add n’t. There is no don’t/doesn’t.

You can’t use the gym between 1.00 and 2.00.

Date: 2015-12-11; view: 1427