Day 13 Similar words and Comparatives and Superlatives

1.Similar words

tall or high
more than average height

Examples:
Burj Khalifa is the tallest building in the world. My brother is six foot tall.

Sherlock Holmes fell from the top of a high building.

I put the books on a high shelf.

big or large
more than average size

Examples:
You can see how big the city is.

Moving house is a big decision.

2.Comparatives and Superlatives

Meaning and use**

We use comparatives to compare one person or thing with another person or thing.

My new phone is smaller than my old phone.

The film is more exciting than the book.

He’s better than me at tennis.

We use superlatives to compare one person or thing with several other people or things of the same kind. Superlatives tell us which thing or person is the greatest in some way.

It’s the smallest room in the house.

We’ve got the cutest dog in the world.

Antarctica is the coldest place on Earth.

Form
Comparatives

We make comparatives in two ways: by adding -er to an adjective or by putting more in front of the adjective. We often use the word than after the comparative, but not always.

David is older than Juan.

Who is more famous – Brad Pitt or Benedict Cumberbatch?

We add –er to adjectives with one syllable, but if the adjective ends in -e, just add

-r.

old – older

small – smaller

nice – nicer

wide – wider

If an adjective ends in one vowel and one consonant, double the consonant and add

-er (except when the final consonant is ‘w’).

hot­ –­­ hotter

big – bigger

new – newer

few –fewer

If an adjective has two syllables and ends in -y, change the y to i and add -ier.

happy – happier

noisy – noisier

easy – easier

We put more before other adjectives with two or more syllables.

Sit in the chair – it’s more comfortable than the sofa.

A tablet is more useful than a desktop.

Take note: (not) as … as

To say that two things or people are similar in some way, use as + adjective + as.

I think that skiing is as dangerous as snowboarding.

We can use not as + adjective + as to say that two things or people are not equal in some way.

Isabel is not as successful as her sister.

Superlatives

We make superlatives in two ways: by adding -est to an adjective or by putting most in front of the adjective. We usually use the before the superlative.

Usain Bolt is probably the fastest man in the world.

It’s the cheapest restaurant in town.

If an adjective has one syllable, add -est to form the superlative, but if the adjective already ends in -e, just add –st.

high – highest

small – smallest

nice – nicest

wide – widest

If an adjective ends in one vowel and one consonant, double the consonant and add

-est (except when it ends in –w)

hot – hottest

big – biggest

new – newest

If an adjective has two syllables and ends in -y, change the ‘y’ to ‘i’ and add -est

happy – happiest funny – funniest

We put most before adjectives with two or more syllables.

It’s the most beautiful painting I’ve ever seen.

Take note: superlative and present perfect

We often use the superlative with the present perfect.

It’s the most delicious meal I’ve ever had.

Anna is the friendliest girl he’s ever met.

Remember!

After superlative adjectives, we usually use in, not of.

He was the tallest person in his family.

Take note: irregular comparatives and superlatives

Some adjectives have irregular comparative and superlative forms.

good – better – best

bad – worse – worst

It’s the best film I’ve seen in a long time.

It’s the worst winter in history.

adjective - comparative - superlative

good - better (than) - (the) best

well - better (than) - (the) best

bad - worse (than) - (the) worst

ill - worse (than) - (the) worst

far - further (than) - (the) furthest

3.Vocabulary Reference

redevelop
Improving by knocking down an old building and building it again or improving an existing building

working environment
conditions and facilities where people work

hub
the central or main place where there is most activity

capital project
major building work, which will make it possible for an organisation to increase its production

iconic
famous and well known

treasures
collection of valuable things

journalists
people whose job is to report the news for a newspaper, magazine, radio or television programme

bulletins
short news broadcast

gleaming
shiny, clean, and looking in a good condition

artillery barracks
buildings where part of an army that uses large powerful guns live

nominated
officially suggested that someone or something should be given a prize or title

regenerate
improve or develop something again

envisage
have a plan or idea

virtual
something you can see or experience through a computer

titan
someone who is extremely powerful or important

cube
a solid object, with six square-shaped equal sides

shelter
a building which protects you from bad weather or danger

weapon
a tool for fighting, such a gun or a sword

monster
an imaginary creature, which is frightening and dangerous

version
a form of something, which is a little bit different from other forms

drop
by to visit someone informally

warm
(here) friendly

glad
happy and relieved

upset
to be a mix of sad and angry

suspect
someone who is believed to have committed a crime

locket
a type of necklace with a part that opens and has a picture inside

nanny
a person who works in a house to take care of the children

innocent
someone who has not committed a crime

guilty
someone who has committed a crime

murderer
someone who kills a person by choice

sentence
punishment for a crime given by a judge

executed
killed by the order of a judge