9/13/2016
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Guess the picture.
Activity 1
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Gradable & Ungradable Adjectives
Activity 2 A
Gradable adjectives are adjectives like ‘cold’ ‘hot’ and ‘frightened’. You can be very cold or a bit cold. Gradable adjectives show that something can have different degrees.
Non-gradable adjectives are adjectives like ‘married’ or ‘wooden’. You can’t be very married or a bit married. Non-gradable adjectives do not have different degrees.
Adjectives like ‘terrifying’, ‘freezing’ ‘amazing’ are also non-gradable adjectives. They already contain the idea of ‘very’ in their definitions – ‘freezing’ means ‘very cold’ etc.
When we use adverbs of degree to modify adjectives we usually have to use different adverbs for gradable and non-gradable adjectives.
The adverbs a bit, very, really, extremely, incredibly and quite can all be used with gradable adjectives.
The adverbs quite, absolutely, utterly, entirely, totally and completely can be used with non-gradable adjectives.
9/13/2016
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Gradable & Ungradable AdjectivesActivity 2 B
Classify the following adjectives using the grid below:
angry-busy-unhappy- big-impossible-superb-interesting-hard-excellent-correct-furious-terrified-enormous-vast-free-priceless-beautiful-tired-spotless-boiling
Gradable Ungradable
Activity 2 C Gradable & Ungradable Adjectives
Which intensifier would you use? Place each adjective in the corresponding box:
angry-busy-unhappy- big-impossible-superb-interesting-hard-excellent-correct-furious-terrified-enormous-vast-free-priceless-beautiful-tired-spotless-boiling
extremely absolutely
9/13/2016
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Someone wants to build a house but is short of space. S/he has a meeting with an architect.
Activity 3
Student A
Student B
You want to build a new house, but you are short of space. Meet the architect.
Suggest some ideas and express your opinion about the architect’s suggestions.
You like some of them, but you don’t agree with others.
Activity 3 Student A
Useful Language:
• I´d like a … where/which…
• What would … if …?
• I …unless …
• By the time …
• Very pleased
• Absolutely / totally …
• If I had …
• I simply can’t afford…
• Just so simple
• Very innovative
9/13/2016
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You are an architect. A new client comes to your office. S/he wants to build a new house, but is quite short of space. Suggest some ideas and express your opinion about your client’s.
Activity 3 Student B
Useful Language:• If I were you, I …• You may/ might/ could ….• How about …?• What if …?• As soon as I …, I …• Very / quite …• Just so simple• Extremely / simply / perfectly / wildly …
Two friends are discussing the recreation of old towns. They have different opinions on the topic.
Activity 4
Student A
Student B
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You and your friend are discussing the recreation of old towns. You consider the idea really interesting.
Activity 4 Student A
Useful Language:• What I like…• It’s… that strikes you.• Rarely do you see…• Never had I seen…• I do (like)• Absolutely perfect• Absolutely brilliant• They’ve entirely rethought…• I’m quite sure…• I agree with you completely about…• Very clever• Traditional / elegant
You and your friend are discussing the recreation of old towns. You don’t quite agree with the idea.
Activity 4 Student B
Useful Language:
• I’m quite sure…• I do like… but…• I simply can’t understand…• Incredibly old-fashioned• I agree with you completely about…• Characterless / modern• What I don’t like…
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Activity 5 Answer the questions.
1. What noise drives you up the wall?
2. Is the place where you get your groceries a hole in the wall?
3. Mention a firm that is up against the wall now.
4. When was the last time that you wished you were a fly on the wall?
5. Mention a time when you hit a wall.
But / HoweverBut is more informal than however. You can use however at the beginning of a sentence, but you can’t use but at the beginning of a sentence (in written English).Examples: I tried to lift the box, but it was too heavy for me.
I tried to lift the box. However, it was too heavy for me.
Although / Even thoughThese linking words are the same, and they are both followed by a subject + verb.Examples: Although I exercise every day, I can’t seem to lose any weight.
She still loves him, even though he treated her very badly.
Activity 6
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Therefore This word is formal, and is more commonly used in written English.Example: Our company’s profits have increased 150% in the past year. Therefore,
we’re going to invest in new equipment and training programs.
So“So” is more informal, and more commonly used in spoken English.Example: We were hungry, so we stopped at a cafe for a snack.
