The Superlative: The Nile River is the longest river in the...

Read the statements. Use the superlative.

Do not use the comparative.

1.  (long) The Amazon River is 4,000 miles long.  The Nile River is

      4,145 miles long. The Chang Jiang-Yangtze is 3,964 miles long.

      The Nile River is the longest river in the world.

2.  (expensive) Canon Powershot camera

      Online Prices:  Dell: $399   Gateway: $449   RitzCamera:  $400   

      Of the three stores, Gateway is the most expensive place to buy a Canon Powershot camera.

3.  (chilly*) *Chilly means cold.   

      AVERAGE HIGH TEMPERATURES IN JANUARY:

      Beijing, China: 34º F. Vancouver, Canada 42º F.  Moscow, Russia 21º F.

      Of the three cities, Moscow is the chilliest in January.

     

4.  (hard)  Number of students who got a final grade of “F” last semester:

      Mr. Trego: 4     Ms. Meanie: 9     Mr. Greene: 2

      Of the three classes, Ms. Meanie's class was the hardest last semester.

5.  (fattening) A serving of roast chicken has 160 calories. One portion of mashed potatoes has 200 calories. One serving of bacon on toast has 400 calories.

      Of the three dishes, a serving of bacon on toast is the most fattening.

6.  (dangerous) New Orleans had 401 murders last year. Detroit had 320.  Paris had 135.

      Of the three cities, New Orleans was the most dangerous last year.

      (wealthy*) *Wealthy means rich. 

      Warren Buffett is worth $36 billion. Bill Gates, the founder of Microsoft, is worth $46 billion. Alice Walton, of Wal-Mart, is worth $20.5 billion.

      Bill Gates is the wealthiest of the three people.          

8.  (crowded) Mr. Trego’s 10:00 class has 45 students in it. His 12:00 only has 22. His 3:30 class at SFSU has 18.  Mr. Trego’s 10:00 class is the most crowded.

                                                                     

9.  (far)  Sacramento   Chicago   Miami

      Of the three cities, Miami is the farthest from San Francisco.

10. (bad)  light rain   a thunderstorm¹    a hurricane²

      ¹tormenta eléctrica, 雷暴雨, гроза, العواصف الرعدية     

         ²huracán, ураган, 飓风, إِعْصار , حاصِب  

      Of the three weather conditions, a hurricane is the worst.

Used to, Did you use to...? Ask your classmates.

a.   Excuse me, could I ask you a question?

b,   Sure, what’s that?)  Did you use to…?

Ask your classmates until someone says yes. Write her name.

Then ask, "What about now?"

a.    Roland used to be a clarinetist in a symphony.                   

       Now he is an ESL instructor. He doesn't even have a clarinet anymore, but he would like to start playing again when he retires.              

b.   Mary used to live in the countryside.                                   

       Now she lives in San Bruno. She misses the peace and quiet of the countryside.                                                                            

c.    Jasmine used to have a dog.                                                

       Now she lives in an apartment building where pets aren't allowed.

d.   Ricky used to live in a dormitory. 宿舍, residencia de estudiantes

       Now he is no longer a student, and he lives in a regular apartment with his brother.     

e.    Maria used to weigh more than she does now. She used to weigh 145 lbs. (=pounds); now she weighs 130. To lose weight, she stopped eating bread and other foods with flour in them.                                     

f.    Wae used to have a higher-paying job. In China, he worked for a real estate office. Now he is an accounting assistant for an auto repair shop.                   

5.   Vicky used to have a car. It was a small Honda. Now she doesn't have a car because she can't afford to pay for gas and insurance here, and there is no parking in her neighborhood.                                               

6.   Wail used to have his own company. He had an import-export company in Morocco. Now he works as a waiter.                                   

7        Jenny used to be a teacher. She taught physics. Now she doesn’t have a job. She wants to learn more English before she goes back into the job market

Back Then and Now

Back Then and Now

When Mr. Trego was younger                                                             Now

ate red meat                                                                        only eats poultry and fish

was in shape                                                                        is flabby* and out of shape       

                                                                                                                            肌肉不结实的, fofo, flojo

was a symphony player                                                       is an ESL instructor                 

When he first came to San Francisco                                                  Now

rented an apartment                                                           owns a house

lived in Pacific Heights                                                        lives in Dolores Heights

walked to work                                                                    takes Metro Muni to work 

In his 20s                                                                                             Now

traveled a lot                                                                       only travels every four or five years

went out to the bars a lot                                                    stays home and corrects papers

                                                                                                                                                      

Read statements 1-7 below. Are they right or wrong? Write:

       Yes, that’s right. or

       No, he didn’t use to + (do something). + He used to + (do something).

a.    When Mr. Trego was younger, he used to live in Dolores Heights.

       No, he didn’t use to live in Dolores Heights. He used to live in Pacific Heights. 

(You write two sentences.)

b.    When Mr. Trego was younger, he used to play a musical instrument.

       Yes, that’s right.

1.    When Mr. Trego was younger, he used to only eat poultry* and fish. *bird meat

       >>

2.    When Mr. Trego was younger, he used to be flabby.                                                

       >>

3.    When Mr. Trego first came to San Francisco, he used to own a house.

       >>

4.    When he first came to San Francisco, he used to take public transportation to work.

       >>

5.    When he was in his 20s, he used to go out to the bars a lot.

       >>

6.    When he was in his 20s, he used to travel often.

       >>

7.    When Mr. Trego was in his 20s, he used to be an ESL instructor.

       >>      

a symphony:  管 弦 乐 队, أوركسترا   симфони́ческий орке́стр

Answers

1.     No, he didn’t use to only eat poultry and fish. He used to eat red meat, too.

2.     No, he didn’t use to be flabby. He used to be in shape.

3.     No, he didn’t use to own a house. He used to rent an apartment.

4.     No, he didn’t use to take public transportation to work. He used to walk (to work).

5.     Yes, that’s right.

6.     Yes, that’s right.

7.     No, he didn’t use to be an ESL instructor. He used to be a symphony player.