Level 4: March 2012

Unit 9 Online Practice Exercises

1. Vocabulary: The World

http://www.englishexercises.org/makeagame/viewgame.asp?id=3749

http://www.englishexercises.org/makeagame/viewgame.asp?id=5450

http://www.englishexercises.org/makeagame/viewgame.asp?id=1656

http://www.englishexercises.org/makeagame/viewgame.asp?id=3230

http://www.englishexercises.org/makeagame/viewgame.asp?id=6605

2. What are comparative adjectives?

Comparative adjectives are used to compare the difference between 2 nouns, or a collective noun.

Note: Superlative adjectives are used to compare 3 or more nouns.

Examples:

•The black dog is older than the white dog.

•My house is bigger than my sister's house.

•The yellow hat is more expensive than the green hat.

The Rules for using Comparative Adjectives

"Than" is usually used after the comparative adjective.
-er is added to the end of a 1-syllable adjective	cold - colder small – smaller tall – taller	The winter is colder than the summer. The green hat is smaller than the yellow hat. Most basketball players are taller than me.
-er is added to the end of an adjective with 2 syllables, if the word ends in -y.	early - earlier happy – happier crazy - crazier	I came home earlier than my sister. I am happier now than 1 year ago. My friend is crazier than me.
"More" or "less" is used for adjectives that have 2 syllables, if the word doesn't end in -y. Adjectives that end in -y, change the -y to i and add -ed.	honest - more honest difficult- more difficult modern - more modern	The policeman are more honest than criminals. The last test was more difficult than the test today. Our generation is more modern, than our parents generation.
"More" or "less" is used for adjectives that have 3 or more syllables	expensive - more expensive comfortable - more comfortable	My car is less expensive then my sister's car. The chair is more comfortable, then the green chair.
Adjectives that end in -e, only -r is added to end of the adjective.	nice – nicer safe - safer	The beach is nicer then that park. Airplanes are safer then cars.
Adjective that end in with a consonant, vowel, consonant - the last consonant is doubled.	big –bigger hot -hotter	My house is bigger than, my sister’s house. The summer is hotter than the winter

Structure Of Competitive Adjectives

There are two ways to form comparative adjectives, depending on the length of the adjective.

Adjectives with 1 syllable or adjectives with 2 syllables, if the word ends in -y, then

-er is added to the end of the word.

Notes:

Adjectives ending in -y; change the -y to -i and add -er.
Adjectives that end with a consonant, vowel, consonant - the last consonant is doubled and -er is added to the end of the adjective.

Examples:

•cold - colder

•small - smaller

•tall - taller

•early - earlier

•happy - happier

•crazy - crazier

•big -bigger

•fat-fatter

•hot -hotter

Adjectives with 3 more syllables, and words with 2 syllables that don't end in -y. The word "more" or "less" is placed before the adjective.

Note: Adjectives that end in -e, only -r is added to end of the adjective.

Examples:

•honest - more honest

•difficult- more difficult

•modern - more modern

•expensive - more expensive

•difficult - more difficult

•comfortable - more comfortable

Note: "Than" is usually used after the comparative adjective.

Irregular Comparatives

Good - Better
Bad - Worse
Far - Farther/Further

Unit 8 Online Practice Exercises

1. Simple Present & Present Progressive

Simple Present	Present Progressive
infinitive (3rd person singular: infinitive + 's') I speak you speak he / she / it speaks we speak they speak	form of 'be' and verb + ing I am speaking you are speaking he / she / it is speaking we are speaking they are speaking
Exceptions
Exceptions when adding 's' : For can, may, might, must, do not add s. Example: he can, she may, it must After o, ch, sh or s, add es. Example: do - he does, wash - she washes After a consonant, the final consonant y becomes ie. (but: not after a vowel) Example: worry - he worries but: play - he plays	Exceptions when adding 'ing' : Silent e is dropped. (but: does not apply for -ee) Example: come - coming but: agree - agreeing After a short, stressed vowel, the final consonant is doubled. Example: sit - sitting After a vowel, the final consonant l is doubled in British English (but not in American English). Example: travel - travelling (British English) but: traveling (American English) Final ie becomes y. Example: lie - lying

Use

In general or right now?

Do you want to express that something happens in general or that something is happening right now?

Simple Present

Present Progressive

in general (regularly, often, never)

Colin plays football every Tuesday.

present actions happening one after another

First Colin plays football, then he watches TV.

right now

Look! Colin is playing football now.

also for several actions happening at the same time

Colin is playing football and Anne is watching.

Signal Words

Simple Present	Present Progressive

always
every ...
often
normally
usually
sometimes
seldom
never
first
then

at the moment
at this moment
today
now
right now
Listen!
Look!

Note: The following verbs are usually only used in Simple Present:
be, have, hear, know, like, love, see, smell, think, want

Timetable / Schedule or arrangement?

Do you want to express that something is arranged for the near future? Or do you refer to a time set by a timetable or schedule?

Simple Present	Present Progressive
action set by a timetable or schedule The film starts at 8 pm.	arrangement for the near future I am going to the cinema tonight.

Daily routine or just for a limited period of time?

Do you want to talk about a daily routine? Or do you want to emphasis that something is only going on for a limited (rather short) period of time?

Simple Present	Present Progressive
daily routine Bob works in a restaurant.	only for a limited period of time (does not have to happen directly at the moment of speaking) Jenny is working in a restaurant this week.

Certain Verbs

The following verbs are usually only used in Simple Present (not in the progressive form).

state: be, cost, fit, mean, suit
Example: We are on holiday.
possession: belong, have
Example: Sam has a cat.
senses: feel, hear, see, smell, taste, touch
Example: He feels the cold.
feelings: hate, hope, like, love, prefer, regret, want, wish
Example: Jane loves pizza.
brain work: believe, know, think, understand
Example: I believe you.
Introductory clauses for direct speech: answer, ask, reply, say
Example: “I am watching TV,“ he says.

3. Present Progressive

The present progressive puts emphasis on the course or duration of an action.

The present progressive is used for actions going on in the moment of speaking and for actions taking place only for a short period of time. It is also used to express development and actions that are arranged for the near future.

Present progressive is also known as present continuous.

Form:
Use a form of to be and the infinite verb plus -ing.

Use:

am with the personal pronoun I
is with the personal pronouns he, she or it (or the singular form of nouns)
are with the personal pronouns you, we, they (or the plural form of nouns)

	Affirmative	Negative	Question
I	I am playing.	I am not playing.	Am I playing?
he, she, it	He is playing.	He is not playing.	Is he playing?
you, we, they	You are playing.	You are not playing.	Are you playing?