Describing people & things - Comparative and Superlative

Describing people & things

Start from scratch

Describing people: appearance

We (normally) use the verb TO BE She is attractive. You are weak.

AltoBajo Gordo Grande Gordito En forma Delgado Esbelto Flaco Débil Fuerte Guapo

Tall Short Fat Large Chubby Fit Thin Slender Skinny Weak Strong Handsome

Viejo Maduro Joven Jovial Atractivo Desaliñado Impresionante Mono Feo Bonito Bonita

Old Mature Young Youthful Attractive Scruffy Stunning Cute Ugly Beautiful Pretty

Describing people: the Hair

COLOUR Blond / Blonde Brown Black Red / Ginger Grey/Silver

SHAPE Curly Wavy Straight Other Bald (TO BE) Shaven (TO BE) Beard Moustache Goatee

LENGTHLong Short Medium

LENGTH + SHAPE + COLOUR HAIR She has long curly brown hair

Describing people: the personality

POSITIVE Friendly Genuine Humble Ambitious Helpful Loyal Kind Tolerant Caring Affectionate Funny

Amigable Genuino Humilde Ambicioso Servicial Leal Amable Tolerante Cariñoso Afectivo Gracioso

Brave Open-minded Generous Bright Charming Polite Thoughtful Smart Intelligent Brilliant Cheerful Joyful Reliable Hardworking

Valiente Abierto de mente Generoso Muy inteligente Encantador Educado Considerado Inteligente Inteligente Súper inteligente Alegre Alegre De confianza Trabajador

Describing people: the PERSONALITY

NEGATIVE Pessimistic Greedy Mean Disrespectful Moody Lazy Impolite Bossy Nosy Narrow-minded Unfriendly

Pesimista Avaricioso Cruel / Tacaño Irrespetuoso Malhumorado / Humor cambiante Vago / Perezoso Maleducado Mandón Metomentodo De mente cerrada Antipático

Selfish Aggressive Arrogant Cocky Careless Malicious Quarrelsome Opinionated Superficial Intense

Egoísta Agresivo Arrogante Gallito Descuidado Malicioso Cizañero / peleón Dogmático Superficial Intenso

Describing people: mood and feelings

NEGATIVE Sad Miserable Angry Irritated Furious Heartbroken Tormented Hurt Disappointed Hopeless

Triste Infeliz Enfadado Irritado Furioso Con el corazón roto Atormentado Dolido Decepcionado Desesperanzado

Devastated Tortured Distressed

Devastado Torturado Afligido

Describing people: Mood and feelings

Feliz Emocionado Alegre Despreocupado Entusiasmado Motivado Entusiasta Tranquilo Encantado Conmovido Emocionado Seguro de sí mismo

POSITIVE Happy Thrilled Gay Carefree Excited Motivated Enthusiastic Peaceful Pleased Moved Touched Confident

Inspired Hopeful Amazed Amused Jubilant

Inspirado Esperanzado Asombrado Entretenido Jubiloso

let's practise!

In this exercise, you need to describe the person shown both physically and their personality. Yoy may also comment on their feelings if you wish. Ready?

Clean Dirty New Old Thick Thin Awesome Awful Far Near Good Bad Hot

Limpio Sucio Nuevo Viejo Grueso Delgado/ fino Maravilloso Horrible Lejos Cerca Bueno Malo Caliente

Cold Warm Cool

Frío Cálido Fresco o 'guay'

dID YOU KNOW...?

Sometimes we can form adjectives from verbs by adding -ING or -ED***, however, BE CAREFUL!

-ING wE ARE DESCRIBING A QUALITY

-ED WE ARE DESCRIBING A STATE/FEELING

The teacher is boring

The teacher is bored

This means that the teacher is not having fun

This means that the teacher is monotonous

Here we have some examples of the VERB-ADJECTIVE FORMATION

InterestAmuse Confuse Amaze Terrify Tire Surprise

COMPARATIVE

Superlative

We use the comparative 'judging' the similarities or differences between TWO people or things. There are three types (although one of them is barely used).

We use the superlative to highlight the quality of one person or thing amongst others, which means one vs. many.

Comparative of superiority Comparative of equality Comparative of inferiority (rarely used)

Comparative: superiority

SHORT ADJECTIVES

As general rule, we add -ER + than A cat is smaller than a zebra.

If the adjective ends with -Y -> -IER than James is lazier than Mary.

If it's monosyllabic ending with C+V+C --> Double cons + ER than An elephant is bigger than a cat.

Comparative: superiority

Long adjectives MORE+ ADJECTIVE + THAN

Examples: More expensive than More beautiful than A car is more expensive than a bike

There are some adjectives that may go with bothforms such as: Narrow Modern Handsome

Comparative: superiority

Irregular adjectives

Comparative: equality

AS + ADJECTIVE + AS Anne is as beautiful as Mary. A mobile phone is as expensive as a tablet.

Comparative: inferiority

LESS + ADJECTIVE + THAN Anne is less beautiful than Rose A mobile phone is less expensive than a tablet.

Superlative

SHORT ADJECTIVES

As general rule, [the + adjective ending by -est This is the smallest T-Shirt.

If the adjective ends with -Y -> the + adjective -IEST She is the laziest in class.

If it's monosyllabic ending with C+V+C --> DOUBLE LAST CONSONANT Russía is the biggest country.

Superlative

LONG ADJECTIVES

THE MOST + ADJECTIVE The most beautiful The most expensive

Superlative

Extras

Freeze (congelar) /Fri:z/Freezer (congelador) Frozen (Congelado) Frizz (Encrespamiento) /friz/ Goosebumps (piel de gallina) Distanced o fallen apart (dos personas distanciadas emocionalmente o cuando una relación se ha enfriado)

eXERCISES

ED / ING EXERCISES COMPARATIVE SUPERLATIVE SUPERLATIVE & COMPARATIVE