Degrees of Comparison

Adjectives have three degrees of comparison:
a. Positive
b. Comparative
c. Superlative

Positive Comparative Superlative
fast
short
tall
happy
pretty
big
thin
good
bad
little
many faster
shorter
taller
happier
prettier
bigger
thinner
better
worse
less
more fastest
shortest
tallest
happiest
prettiest
biggest
thinnest
best
worst
least
most


Notes

The Comparative Degrees is used when there is comparison between two things or person.
The Superlative Degrees is used when there is comparison between three or more things or person.
Use more with most adjectives that have more than two syllables.
Examples : more expensive, more beautiful, more delicious, etc.
In the normal style, the definite article “the” is used before the superlative degree.
Examples:

A : What do you think of the following players considering their age, Chandra Wijaya, Ricky Subagja and Taufik Hidayat?
B : Well, I think Chandra Wijaya is older than Taufik Hidayat, and Ricky Subagja is the oldest among them.
A : Do you mean Taufik Hidayat is the youngest?
B : Yes, you are right.

Expressing Impression and Appreciation

Expression and Response

Look at you!
That’s grate.
Attention, please…..
Aren’t you pleased?
Don’t you think it’s great? Really?
I’m delighted, thanks.
Of course I’m pleased. I’m delighted.
I’m happy to hear that. Thank you.




Example:

Margaret and Joe meet in a café. Then their friend, Tony, comes to them and tries to tell Margaret and Joe about a trip to Bandung.
Margaret : Look at you! You look so great now. What have you been doing?
Joe : Really? I think it’s usual. I’ve been in Canada for two weeks. By the way, how about your job?
Margaret : That’s great. It’s in a big new hospital. My working conditions are much better than the last place.
Tony : Attention, please. Today, we have surprise. We’ve been offered a trip from our Boss.
Joe : Really? Where to?
Tony : Bandung.
Joe : Marvellous. But, where is it located?
Tony : Aren’t you please?
Joe : Yes, of course. I’m delighted to hear that. But tell me where it is.
Margaret : It’s in Indonesia.
Joe : Oh, I see. That’s not so good.
Tony : Don’t worry Joe. My friend, Lisa, who lives there, wrote to me about the conditions in Indonesia. Indonesia is safe now, especially in the town. There is no riot. It’s just a rumour.

Grammar Notes

The Simple Present Tense

Pattern:
S + V(s/es) + O


The Simple Present Tense is used :
1. To express a habitual action.
Examples : My father reads newspaper every morning.
I clean my bedroom everyday.
2. To express general truth.
Examples : Sugar is sweet.
The sun rises in the east.
3. In exclamatory sentences beginning with here and there to express what is actually taking place in the present.
Examples : Here comes the train!
There he goes!
4. To express a future event that is part of a fixed time table or fixed program.
Examples : The match starts at 8 o’clock
The bus leaves at 4.30

DESCRIPTIVE TEXT

Social Function	Generic Structure	Language Features
To describe a particular person, place, or thing.	Identification Identifies phenomenon to be described. Description Describe parts, qualities, characteristics.	Focus on specific participants. Use of attributive and identifying processes. Use of simple present tense.

Example:

LIONS	TITLE
Except for the tiger, the lion is the largest member of the cat family.	IDENTIFICATION
A lioness measures about three meters. The lion stand over one meter tall at the shoulder. He has long hair on his head, neck and shoulders. The hair here is called the mane. The lioness has no mane and is usually a little smaller. When her cubs are born, they are about the size of domestic cats. They have dark spots which disappear later. Both the lion and lioness hunt for food, usually at night. Like tigers and cats, they can see well in poor light. They hunt grazing animals, such as buffaloes, zebras, and antelopes. Unless they are very hungry, most lion do not attack man or a large animal, such as giraffe or a hippopotamus. Lions that are near a village may steal goats or donkeys or calves. The lion’s huge jaws open up to about thirty centimeters and can kill a medium-sized animal with one bite. The lion can run more than eighty kilometers an hour and jump over a barrier almost two meters high. Lions sometimes hunt in groups. They work together to catch their prey. First, some of the lions hide. The others roar loudly and chase the grazing animal towards them. The hiding lions spring up and kill the animal. When a lion hunts alone, it approaches the animal stealthily and pounces on it. You may see lions in a zoo or at a circus. In some zoos, they are kept in cages. Today in many zoos, you can find lions in a small open place, free to wander about as they please. They are separated from visitors by moats. At a circus, the trainer usually makes a lion get on a stool and stand on its hind legs.	DESCRIPTION