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In 13A Fernanda compares Rio, where she's from and lives now, with Uberlândia where she lived as a child. You practise:
. comparative adjectives
1 Listen. Which of these is true a, b or c?
a) Fernanda prefers Rio to Uberlândia.
b) She likes them both equally.
c) She prefers Uberlândia to Rio.
That's a difficult question because they're very different. I really enjoy living in Rio. It's so beautiful - that's why it's called the 'marvellous city'. But sometimes I miss Uberlândia - even though I haven't been there for over ten years! We moved back to Rio when I was seventeen. Life moves more slowly in Uberlândia, it's quieter than Rio and much less chaotic. It's a lot easier to drive around and meet friends because it's so much smaller. Some people think it's an old-fashioned or boring place but I don't. While I love the buzz of Rio, Uberlândia is definitely safer too. Rio has the Atlantic forest of course, but there is some gorgeous countryside in Minas, especially the green hills. I suppose I love them both as much as each other.
Mineiros aren't the same as Cariocas. They're more serious and people say they work harder too. It's probably because they can't get to the beach so easily! In Minas they have the best food in Brazil. Nobody would argue with that!
2 Listen again and underline the correct answer.
1. She likes/doesn't like living in Rio.
2. She misses/doesn't miss Uberlândia.
3. She hasn't been back to Uberlândia for ten years/more than ten years.
4. She prefers driving in Rio/Uberlândia.
5. She thinks/doesn't think Uberlândia is boring.
6. She thinks Rio is less exciting/more dangerous.
7. She thinks Mineiros are more/less serious than Cariocas.
8. The food in Minas is better/worse than Rio.
3 Read and complete. Listen again and check.
That's a difficult question because they're ________ different. I really enjoy living in Rio. It's ________ beautiful - that's why it's called the 'marvellous city'. But sometimes I miss Uberlândia - ________ though I haven't ________ there for over ten years! We moved ________ to Rio when I was seventeen. Life moves more _____in Uberlândia, it´s ________ than Rio and much ________ ________. It's a lot ________ to drive around and meet friends because it's so much ________. Some people think it's an old-fashioned or boring place but I don't. While I love the buzz of Rio, Uberlândia is definitely ________ too. Rio has the Atlantic forest of course, but there is some gorgeous countryside in Minas, especially the green hills. I suppose I love them both as ________ as each other.
Mineiros aren't the ________ as Cariocas. They're more ________ and people say they work ________ too. It's probably because they can't get to the beach so_______! In Minas they have the ________ food in Brazil. Nobody would ________ with that!
4 Complete these sentences from earlier in the course with the comparative form of the word in brackets. Do you remember who said them? Listen and check.
1. Ricardo's my _______ brother. (young)
2. I think it's _______ living in a flat. (safe)
3. We eat _______ on Tuesdays and Thursdays. (late)
4. I'm feeling much _______ thanks. (good)
5. Do you have anything ______? (early)
5 Answer this question as if explaining to a class. Compare with the Key.
How do you form comparatives for:
. one syllable adjectives?
. two syllable adjectives?
. longer adjectives?
6 There are three irregular comparative forms. What are they?
7 What are the three spelling rules you tell your students?
8 Which are the six most common modifiers for comparative adjectives?
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Modifiers You can say a bit, a little, much, very much, quite a lot and a lot with comparative adjectives. It's so much smaller. It's a lot easier to drive around. To say that two things are the equal, you can use as . as . Flavia's as clever as Lorena. I love them both as much as each other. Rio isn't as safe as Uberlândia. Or Rio's not as safe as Uberlândia. This means the same as: Uberlândia's safer than Rio. |
9 Pronunciation. Listen and repeat. What happens to the vowel sounds in as, than and the final -er sound in e.g. quieter?Professional Tip
10 Practice: make two factual sentences to compare these pairs. Pronounce as, than 
Example: The sun/the moon
The sun is bigger than the moon.
The moon is colder than the sun.
1. The Nile/The Amazon
2. The USA/China
3. Mount Everest/Mount Aconcagua
4. Cheetahs/lions
5. Football/basketball
11 Make six sentences comparing the current President of Brazil with the previous one.
Example:
X is more intelligent than Y.
Y was older than X when he became president.
12 Think of two towns or cities that you know well and compare them. Answer these questions:
1. Which is .?
bigger / noisier / more historical / more famous/ more beautiful /
less chaotic / more exciting / more dangerous / greener
2. Which one has the best
food? nightlife? countryside?
3. In which of them would you prefer to live? Why?
4. Why do know them both so well?
13 Update your Portfolio. Record your answers to Exercise #12 onto your Portfolio cassette.
Time for a break!
à go to Unit 13 B