PART 2 CHOOSE THE BEST ANSWER
2. Adjectives – superlative – use of definite article
Use the superlative form to describe something that is greater than any other thing.
The Amazon is the longest river in the world.
Helen is the most intelligent student in the class.
Form:
1) Write the before all superlatives.
2) If an adjective is short and has one syllable, add est to the end. If it ends in e already, just add st.
tall => the tallest nice => the nicest thick => the thickest late => the latest 2) If an adjective ends in one vowel and one consonant, write the consonant again, then write est. But never write a w twice.
big => the biggest new => the newest (NOT newwest) thin => the thinnest slow => the slowest (NOT slowwest) slim => the slimmest
The biggest cat in the world is the lion.
3) If an adjective has two syllables and ends in y, change the y to i and add est.
funny => the funniest silly => the silliest It’s the silliest film I’ve ever seen!
4) For other adjectives with two or more syllables, DON’T add est. Write most before the adjective.
interesting => the most interesting surprising => the most surprising
It’s the most interesting book I’ve ever read.
5) Some adjectives have irregular superlative forms. These are listed below.
good => the best bad => the worst far => the furthest
6) a) In is often (but not always) used after a superlative adjective to describe where this statement is true.
London is the biggest city in England.
Everest is the highest mountain in the world.
My brother is the tallest person in my family.
3. Adverbial phrases of time, place and frequency – including word order Use:
An adverbial phrase is a group of words which always go together. they describe where, when or how often something happens.
Adverbial phrases of frequency describe how often something happens.
every morning, every afternoon every day – daily
every week – weekly every month – monthly every year – annually
every Sunday – on Sundays – on Sunday afternoons once a day
twice a day
three / four / five times a day all the time
Form:
1) Adverbs of frequency often go in present simple sentences.
I have toast for breakfast every day.
We visit our grandparents twice a month.
2) Note that ‘on Saturday’ refers to one day. ‘On Saturdays’ means ‘every Saturday’.
Common mistakes
1) Some students write adverbs of frequency in the wrong place.
We every day go the park. => We go to the park every day.
2) Some students use the plural form with every.
John goes swimming every days. => John goes swimming every day.
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Use:
Use adverbs and adverbial phrases of time to talk about when you do something.
Adverbs of time include:
today, tomorrow, tonight, yesterday, tomorrow, nowadays now, first of all, beforehand
soon, afterwards, later, next, then Form:
1) Adverbs of time usually go at the beginning or the end of a sentence or clause.
Tomorrow, I’m going to the beach.
I’m going to the beach tomorrow.
First of all, we had a drink at a café.
We had a drink at a café first of all.
I’m going to the supermarket, and afterwards I’m going to the library.
I’m going to the supermarket, and I’m going to the library afterwards.
2) It is more common to use then at the beginning of a sentence or clause.
Then we arrived at the castle.
I’m going to finish my work and then I’m going to have a drink.
It is more common to use soon and now at the end of a sentence.
We’re going on holiday soon.
I’m going home now.
Common mistakes
1) Don’t use an adverb of time between the subject and the object of a sentence.
I went yesterday to the zoo. => I went to the zoo yesterday. / Yesterday I went to the zoo.
I’m going now to the bank. => I’m going to the bank now.
2) You must use a noun after After and Before. Otherwise, use afterwards or beforehand.
I’ll be late to class tomorrow. I’m going to the doctors before. => I’ll be late to class tomorrow. I’m going to the doctors beforehand.
I’m going to my English class and I’m going to the bar after. => I’m going to my English class and I’m going to the bar afterwards.
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Use:
Use adverbs and adverbial phrases of place to talk about where something happens.
Adverbs of place include:
outside, inside, indoors, upstairs, downstairs (over) here, (over) there
abroad, overseas Form:
1) Adverbs of place usually go after a verb.
She lives abroad.
Let’s go indoors.
2) Adverbs of place can also go after the object of the sentence.
Rachel works in the office upstairs.
Your bag is on the table over there.
4. Adverbs of frequency
With the present simple, we often use adverbs of frequency to say 'how often' we do something. Here's a list of common adverbs:
Frequency Adverb of Frequency Example Sentence
100% always I always go to bed before 11 p.m.
90% usually I usually have cereal for breakfast.
80% normally / generally I normally go to the gym.
70% often* / frequently I often surf the internet.
50% sometimes I sometimes forget my wife's birthday.
30% occasionally I occasionally eat junk food.
10% seldom I seldom read the newspaper.
5% hardly ever / rarely I hardly ever drink alcohol.
0% never I never swim in the sea.
We usually put these adverbs in the middle of the sentence, between the subject and the verb:
I often go to the cinema.
She sometimes visits me at home.
We usually drink coffee.
We can also put them at the very beginning or end of the sentence. This makes them stronger:
Often I go to the cinema.
I go to the cinema often.
But never: I go often to the cinema.
Here are some other expressions we can use to say 'how often'. All of these longer phrases go at the beginning or the end of the sentence but not in the middle.
once in a while: I go to the cinema once in a while.
every now and again: She drinks wine every now and again.
from time to time: From time to time I visit my mother.
To say how often something happens, you can use a number or 'several' or 'many', followed by 'times'.( If the number is one, use 'once' instead of 'one time'. If the number is two use 'twice,' instead of 'two times') Then add 'a' and a period of time:
I go to the cinema twice a week.
She takes these tablets three times a day.
I change the sheets once a fortnight (fortnight = two weeks).
I meet him several times a year.
I visit my parents once a month.
We can also use 'every' + period of time:
every morning
every day
every Tuesday
every week
every month
A day of the week with 's' at the end (for example 'on Tuesdays') means the same as 'every Tuesday':
I take a dance class on Wednesdays.
I relax on Saturdays.
5. Articles – with countable and uncountable nouns Use:
1) Use a before a singular noun.
I've got a brother and a sister.
Use an if the noun begins with a vowel.
I've got an aunt in Texas.
2) Use plural nouns or uncountable nouns to talk about things in general. Don't use an article here.
I like cats.
Dolphins are very intelligent.
Crime is increasing.
3) Use the to talk about one particular thing, or a particular group of things.
Books are interesting. The book on the table is interesting.
Children are noisy. The children in this class are noisy.
4) Use a to introduce a new thing or person. Use the when you already know this person or thing.
There is a restaurant near my house. The restaurant serves good food.
5) Use the when there is only one of these things.
The moon is very big tonight.
My dad is the only doctor in our village.
Joe is the best student in the class.
6) Use the when there are many things, but it is clear which one you mean.
Let's go to the pub! We need to go to the supermarket.
7) Most 'general' nouns do not use an article.
Life is not the same as it used to be NOT: The life…
Health is important to everyone. NOT: The health…
We're worried about pollution. NOT: The pollution…
But some general nouns use the:
the environment People are increasingly worried about the environment.
the weather What's the weather like today?
the countryside I love walking in the countryside.
the sea / ocean I'd love to live near the sea.
the radio There's an interesting programme on the radio.
the theatre / cinema We went to the theatre last night.
the economy The economy is affecting everyone.
Common mistakes:
1) Some students use the when they talk about things in general.
I love the romantic films! => I love romantic films!
2) Some students use singular nouns without a or the.
I want book about the weather. => I want a book about the weather.
3) Some students use the when they talk about things in general.
I want the book about the weather. => I want a book about the weather.