4.3 Proverbs and idioms

W hat to remember:

The comparative and superlative are formed as follows:

• When the word consists of one syllable, add –er (for comparative), -est (superlative) e.g. big, bigger, biggest.
• When the adjective consists of two syllables that end in –y , -er , -ly ; add – er , -est . e.g. happ y , happi er , happi est ; clev er , clever er , clever est ; sill y , silli er , silli est .
• When adverbs consist of more than one syllable, have more (comparative) and most (superlative) placed before the positive e.g. cleverly, more cleverly, most cleverly.
• When adjectives consist of two syllables with the stress on the first e.g. caref ul, or more than two syllables e.g. con-ser-va-tive; place more (comparative) and most (superlative) before the positive degree.
• There are some irregular adjectives: good, better / little, less / bad, worse / many/much, more.
• There are some irregular adverbs: little, less, least / much, more, most / bad, worse, worst / well, better, best.

E xercises:

1. What is the difference between the following?

Add –er or more to each of the words below and use it in a sentence to describe the difference between the pairs.

• People and monkeys.
• A lion and a cat.
• An orchid and a daisy.
• A rat and a mouse.
• An eagle and a guinea-fowl.

Example: What is the difference between a twig and a branch.

A twig is smaller than a branch.

2. Look at the picture and then complete the sentence using a degree of comparison.

The Great White and the Zambezi shark are both feared, but the Great White is more feared than the Zambezi.

2.1 Our dog and cat eat very quickly, but our dog eats __________

2.2 The lion, cheetah and leopard all run fast, but the ___________

2.3 Lavender and cacti require little water, but cacti require _________________

2.4 All animals have good camouflage, but the chameleon has the __________

(4)

[20]

Assessment

Memorandum

ACTIVITY 2:

(24)

(6)

ACTIVITY 2:

COMMAS

“was responsible for sending plants , bulbs and seeds…”

“These include Nerine , G azanias , Ericas and Clivias…”(2)

Any acceptable example (1)

Any acceptable example (1)

Any acceptable example (1)

No (1)

“One of the governors of the Cape , Ryk Tulbagh , a lover of wild flowers…”

“… Carl Linnaeus , the Swedish botanical expert…”

“..Sir Joseph Banks , the acting director of Kew , before it …” (2)

“… he collected more than 400 species of plants , includ ing seventy-nine

different species of protea…” (1)

“…Ryk Tulbagh , a lover of wild flowers , was responsible…”

“…the acting director of Kew , before it became a public garden , sent Francis Masson…” (2)

DEGREES OF COMPARISON

(a) People are more intelligent than monkeys.

(b) A lion is more dangerous than a cat.

(c) An orchid is more exotic than a daisy.

(d) A mouse is smaller than a rat.

(e) An eagle flies higher than a guinea-fowl. (5)

2.1 …our dog eats more quickly than our cat does.

2.2 …cheetah runs the fastest.

2.3 … less water than lavender does.

2.4 … best camouflage of all. (4)