2020-01-29 Grammar: comparatives w/ intensifiers

Greg Malivuk
gmalivuk@staffordhouse.com
http://www.pastebin.com/u/gmalivuk - Notes from all classes
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Homework: part C - Rearrange the words in the sentences.
1 I love my pet rabbit so much.
2 It is extremely hot outside.
3 I am really nervous about the exam.
4 This meal is a little spicy but I can finish it.
	(We can’t put “a little” with an adjective that goes before the noun.)
5 We are very happy to welcome you here today.
6 It is rather warm in here. Can I open a window?
7 It is completely up to you to make this choice.
8 They seem pretty happy. Let’s not disturb them.
9 It is kind of similar, but there are still some differences.
  There are some differences, but it is still kind of similar.
10 The color is too bright. It won’t match everything else.
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Comparatives
- to compare two things or groups
- one way to do this is with comparative adjectives:
	cheap -> cheaper - “short” adjectives just add -er
	big -> bigger - repeat the last consonant if it ends with 1 vowel and 1 consonant (not w, x, y)
	nice -> nicer - just add ‘r’ if there’s already an ‘e’
	happy -> happier - change ‘y’ to ‘i’ before adding ‘er’ (It’s “short” if the last syllable is just “y”.)

	expensive -> more expensive / less expensive - “long” adjectives get “more” (or “less”)

	good -> better
	bad -> worse
	far -> farther
	(maybe we can say little -> less and much/many -> more are also irregular)
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To show that the difference between two things is small or large, we can use intensifiers with comparatives:
A meal for $21 is a little / a bit / a little bit / slightly more expensive than a meal for $20.
A meal for $50 is rather / a lot / much / a great deal / significantly / far / way (informal) more expensive than a meal for $20.
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Handout: https://www.teach-this.com/downloads/2953-over-the-years/file
part B - Complete the sentences with intensifiers or mitigators, depending on your opinion. (One sentence must use a mitigator.)
1 much (intensifier)
2 much (intensifier or mitigator)
3 a lot / significantly (intensifier)
4 a little (mitigator)
5 a bit (probably mitigator)
6 a lot (probably intensifier)
7 far (intensifier)
8 a lot (intensifier or mitigator - how far in the past?)
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back of the handout: How would you compare these pairs of things?
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Homework: handout part C - Use your own ideas to complete the sentences