READING COMPREHENSION: WHICH IS THE HARDEST LANGUAGE

Today we'll discuss the question whether some languages are easier to learn than others and you will find out which language British diplomats find the most difficult.

http://www.usingenglish.com/comprehension/5.html

Let's have a look at some vocabulary which you might find problematic:

mother tongue - native / first language
affect - influence
staff = personnel - the group of people who work for an organization; do not confuse with stuff - used to refer to a substance or a group of things or ideas, etc., often with a description of their general type or quality or saying who they belong to, without saying exactly what they are
struggle with sth - to experience difficulty and make a very great effort in order to do something
circumstances - a fact or event that makes a situation the way it is

GRAMMAR: COMPARATIVE AND SUPERLATIVE FORMS OF ADJECTIVES

Positive Form

Use the positive form of the adjective if the comparison contains one of the following expressions:

as … as

Example: Jane is as tall as John.

not as … as / not so … as

Example: John is not as tall as Arnie.

Comparative Form and Superlative Form (-er/-est)

* one-syllable adjectives (clean, new, cheap)
* two-syllable adjectives ending in -y or -er (easy, happy, pretty, dirty, clever)

Exceptions in spelling when adding -er / -est

* silent ‘e’ is dropped

Example: late-later-latest
* final ‘y’ after a consonant becomes i

Example: easy-easier-easiest
* final consonant after short, stressed vowel is doubled

Example: hot-hotter-hottest

Comparative Form and Superlative Form (more/most)

* adjectives of three or more syllables (and two-syllable adjectives not ending in -y/-er)
positive comparative superlative
intelligent more intelligent most intelligent

Comparative Form and Superlative Form (irregular comparisons):

bad / ill - worse - worst
little (amount) - less - least
little (size) - smaller - smallest
much / many - more - most
far (place + time) - further - furthest
far (place) - farther - farthest
late (time) - later - latest
late (order) - latter - last
near (place) - nearer - nearest
near (order), -, - next
old (people and things) - older - oldest
old (people) - elder - eldest

PRACTICE

http://www.ego4u.com/en/cram-up/grammar/adjectives-adverbs/adjectives/exercises?02
http://www.tolearnenglish.com/exercises/exercise-english-2/exercise-english-6657.php
http://esl.about.com/library/grammar/blgr_compsup.htm
http://web2.uvcs.uvic.ca/elc/studyzone/330/grammar/regcom1.htm
http://www.factmonster.com/quizzes/geosuperlatives/1.html
http://www.better-english.com/grammar/comp2.htm
http://a4esl.org/q/h/vm/compsup.html
http://www.english-zone.com/grammar/compare1.html

PRONUNCIATION: HOMOPHONES

We say that two words are homophones if they are pronounced the same way but differ in meaning or spelling or both (e.g. bare and bear)

You will find some more examples here:

http://www.englishclub.com/pronunciation/homophones.htm
http://www.bbc.co.uk/skillswise/words/spelling/recognising/homophones/game.shtml
http://www.teachnet.ie/mhickey/2003/homophones.html

LISTENING: IN THE SUPERMARKET

Exercise no.1: Listen to a conversation in the supermarket. You will also find here some exercises accompanying the listening:

http://www.esl-lab.com/supermarket/supermarketrd1.htm

VOCABULARY: SHOPPING

Exrercise no. 1: Write as many words as you can remember related to shopping. What types of shops/stores can you remember?

Exercise no. 2: Let's learn some vocabulary related to types of shops and shopping in general:

http://www.learnenglish.de/vocabulary/shopping.htm
http://esl.about.com/library/vocabulary/blwordgroups_places_shops_q.htm
http://www.english-at-home.com/real-life-english/shopping-vocabulary/
http://www.eclecticenglish.com/vocabulary/shoppingQuiz/shoppingQuiz.html

NOTE Many shops or stores such as 'butcher's', 'baker's' end in -'s. This is the possessive form coming from the original 'butcher's shop' or 'baker's shop', etc. 'shop' has been dropped but the possessive form has been retained.

Exercise no. 3: These links will help us to review what we have learned:
http://www.elcivics.com/grocery_store_crossword_puzzle.pdf
http://www.eslpartyland.com/quiz-center/grocery.htm