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Degrees of comparison

Leela jumped high. Steven jumped higher. Pearl jumped highest.

There are some spelling rules to remember when adding er and est to describing words:

When the describing word ends in e, add only r or st.Example: large larger largest

wise wiser wisest ripe riper ripest

Exercise 1

Add r and st to the following words and draw them on steps.Example:

a. pale b. tame c. safe d. brave

If the describing word ends in y, change the y to i, then add er or est.Example tidy tidier tidiest

silly sillier silliest happy happier happiest

Exercise 2

Add er and est to each of the following words:a. weary b. sorry c. steady d. healthye. pretty f. ugly g. lucky h. heavy

Sometimes it is necessary to double the last letter of a describing wordwhen adding er or est.Example: big bigger biggest

thin thinner thinnest hot hotter hottest

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Exercise 3

Add -er and -est to each of the following words:a. red b. sad c. fat d. dim

Exercise 4

Write the following sentences, adding er or est to the words in brackets.a. Diamonds are (hard) than glass.b. Lindi is the (pretty) girl in the class.c. George is (strong) than Alex.d. Yesterday was the (hot) day of the year.

f. George is (noisy) than Maurice.

Exercise 5

a. My bicycle is ... than yours.b. It was the ... ship in the world.c. That dress was the ... in the shop.d. His computer is ... than mine.e. Their garden is the ... in the road.

The following describing words do not follow the rules:good better bestbad worse worstmuch more mostlittle less least

Exercise 6

Use the correct describing word to complete each sentence.a. Lynne is a good swimmer but Thandi is ....b. I have more friends than Tom, but you have the ... friends of all.c. I had a little food when I left but now I have ....d. John’s writing is usually bad but today it was ... than ever.e. All her books are good but this is the ... she has ever written.

When we compare long describing words we do not add- er and -est. They would sound rather clumsy. Instead we use the words more and most.

most comfortable more comfortable

comfortable

Imagine having to say comfortabler or comfortablest! We say: this chair is comfortable. That one is more comfortable but the armchair is the most comfortable.The same with beautiful, more beautiful, most beautiful.

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Up and down the steps

largest larger large

rich

wide

easy

better good

Now climb down the steps again!

deepest deeper deep

narrowest

cheapest

ugliest

weakest

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Write your own story

The pictures below and on the next page tell what happened in two famous fairy stories. Write your own story following the pictures carefully as you go along. The words below the pictures will help you.

cowmarketbeanscross

threwwindowbeanstalkclimbed

giantgoldcoinsbag

ran awaychopped downdeadrich

happily ever after

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motherbaskettake

woodsowlwolf

hidingaskedran off

arrivedearsteeth

eat uphuntergun

safetyhome

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Reading

God is one God

If you went on and on and on, for days and days, you still would not see all the stars. There are so many! Millions and millions of them! God made all those stars. He made every one of them. And He made everything else that you see. There are some people who worship many gods. They think there is one god who made the stars, and another god who takes care of the moon. They think there is a god who lives in the hills, and there is another god who takes care of the oceans. They do not know that one God made everything and takes care of everything. Many years ago the Israelites were God’s people. There were many people on earth, but God chose the Israelites to be His very special people. He talked to them through Moses. He gave them a beautiful country to live in. He told them that He alone was God, that there are no other gods, and that they had to worship Him only. But even these people, His chosen people, who knew how wonderful and good God is, forgot about Him. They made idols of wood and stone. They prayed to these idols. One day God sent them a prophet named Jeremiah. Jeremiah told them how very foolish they were. Jeremiah said: “Listen, I will tell you how foolish you are. A man goes to the woods

Then he takes a piece of the same tree home. He cuts and carves it and makes it look

He kneels down to that piece of wood. He prays to that piece of wood, to that piece of a tree! What a foolish man he is! That piece of wood cannot hear. It cannot see. It cannot even move. It is an idol. It did not make the earth and the sky. It did not make the stars. It cannot send rain.” Jeremiah told the people that there is only one true God.He made all things. He alone is Lord over everything. We cannot see him, because He is in heaven. But He is the God who hears us when we pray.He is Almighty.

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How clever are you

1. Follow the example and write down the correct form of the word in brackets.Example: Joshua (live) with his mother.

Joshua lived with his mother.a. Joshua’s mother (go) shopping one afternoon.b. She (bring) home a new clock.c. Joshua (ask) for the box which his mother (give) to him.d. Then he (walk) around with the box in his hand all the next day.e. He (say) that there (be) a dragon in the box.

2. Ask Joshua the following questions.Example: You found the dragon. (where)

a. Your mother gave you the box. (who)b. The dragon was green. (what)

e. You are sad about losing your dragon. (are) (5)

3. Give the opposites of the following words.a. black e. sloppyb. enormous f. handsomec. remember g. olderd. noisy (7)

4. Fill in words ending in -ck.a. Peter wore a scarf round his ... .... ..b. Mother gave a loud ... before she opened the door of Maud’s room.... before she opened the door of Maud’s room.before she opened the door of Maud’s room.c. The hungry dog began to ... its lips.... its lips.its lips.d. The magicians last ... was to pull a rabbit out of a hat.... was to pull a rabbit out of a hat.was to pull a rabbit out of a hat.e. The ... began to crow loudly. (5)... began to crow loudly. (5)began to crow loudly. (5)

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