Amazing facts / Datos asombrosos

In this third learning activity, you will learn about describing people, objects and
places and how to make comparisons using superlative and comparative forms. /
En esta tercera actividad de aprendizaje, aprender sobre describir personas,
objetos y lugares y sobre cmo hacer comparaciones usando comparativos y
superlativos.

Introductory material / Material introductorio

Dear learner, / Estimado aprendiz:
This material will help you study the topics related to learning activity 3. / Este
material le permitir estudiar los temas relacionados con la actividad de
aprendizaje 3.
You will learn about: / Los temas a tratar son:
1. Describing people and places. / Descripcin de personas y lugares.
2. Comparative and superlative forms. / Formas de comparativos y
superlativos.
Lets begin! / Empecemos!

1. Describing people and places / Descripcin de personas y lugares

A. Johana wants to go on a date, so she decided to sign up for an online dating

website. Read her profile and physical description. / Johana quiere tener una
cita, para ello ha decidido inscribirse en una pgina web de citas, lea el perfil
de Johana y su descripcin fsica.

Fuente: SENA

The following is a list of adjectives to describe people / La siguiente es

una lista de adjetivos para describir personas
a. Age:
baby,
toddler,
teenager,
young
middle-aged, elderly.

child, a. Edad: beb, nio de 2 4 aos,

nio, adolescente, adulto joven,
adult,
edad mediana, adulto mayor.

b. Build:
slim/thin,
athletic, b. Contextura: delgado, atltico,
musculoso, gordo, obeso.
muscular, fat, overweight.
c. Height: tall, medium, average c. Estatura: alto, mediano, estatura
promedio, bajo.
height, short.
d. Eye color: black, brown, blue, d. Color de ojos: negro, caf, azul,
gris, verde, miel.
grey, green, hazel.

e. Hair type: long, short, shoulder

length, straight, curly, wavy, bald.

e. Tipo de cabello: largo, corto, a la

altura de los hombros, liso, crespo,
ondulado, calvo.

f. Hair color: red, black, dark f. Color de cabello: rojizo, negro,

caf oscuro, caf claro, rubio,
brown, light brown, blonde, white,
blanco, gris, iluminaciones, canoso.
grey, highlights, grey-haired.
g. Facial
hair:
full
beard, g. Vello facial: Barba completa,
bigote, cejas pobladas, sombra de
moustache,
thick
eyebrows,
barba.
unshaven.

h. Personality: fun, easygoing, shy,

talkative, smart, nice.

h. Personalidad: alegre, sociable,

tmido/a, hablador/a, inteligente,
agradable.

Read the following short conversations to see some useful expressions for
describing people. / Lea las siguientes conversaciones cortas para ver
algunas expresiones tiles acerca de descripcin de personas.

A: What do you look like?

A: Cmo es su aspecto fsico?

B: I am tall and thin. I

have short, red hair.

B: Soy alta y delgada. Tengo

cabello rojo corto.

To answer this question

remember the formulas:

Para responder a esta pregunta

recuerde las frmulas:

I am + adjective.

Soy + adjetivo.

I have + adjective +
body part.

Tengo + adjetivo + parte del

cuerpo.
Fuente: SENA

A: What does she look

like?

A: Cmo es el aspecto
fsico de ella?

B: She is short and fat.

She has dark brown
eyes and curly, blonde
hair.

B: Ella es baja y gorda. Ella

tiene ojos cafs oscuros y
cabello rubio y crespo.

To answer this question

remember the formulas:

Para responder a
pregunta
recuerde
frmulas:

She is / He is +
adjective.

Ella es / l es + adjetivo.
Fuente: SENA

Ella tiene / l tiene +

adjetivo + parte del cuerpo.

She has / He has +

adjective + body part.

A:

A: What are you like?

B: I am nice and shy.

Cmo
es
personalidad?

tu

B: Soy agradable y tmida.

To answer this question

remember the formula:
She is / He is +
adjective.

esta
las

Para responder a esta

pregunta
recuerde
la
frmula:
Fuente: SENA

Ella es / l es + adjetivo.

A:

A: What is she like?

B: She is fun and
easygoing.

su

B: Ella es divertida y
sociable.

To answer this
question remember
the formula:
She is / He is +
adjective.

Cmo es
personalidad?

Para responder a esta

pregunta recuerde la
frmula:
Fuente: SENA

Ella es / el es +
adjetivo.

B. Nicole wants to know about touristic places in Colombia. She is planning a trip
with some friends. Read the following article that will help you learn how to
describe places: / Nicole quiere saber acerca de sitios tursticos en
Colombia. Ella est planeado un viaje con sus amigos. Lea el siguiente
artculo para aprender a describir lugares:

Traveling across Colombia

This beautiful country has a wide variety of climates;
you can enjoy its lovely beaches or walk in the
mountains any time of the year.
Cartagena is a coastal city full of beaches and
comfortable hotels. You can practice water sports,
such as scuba diving, sailing or water skiing. Its
sunny hot weather invites visitors to sunbathe and
relax near the sea.
Also, Cartagena is an old city with colonial
architecture and excellent restaurants which offer
international and traditional food.
Another place is Nevado del Ruiz. The Nevado is a
high snowcapped mountain where you can find
small hotels. You can play with the snow, enjoy the
landscape and go climbing. Its a peaceful and
amazing natural place.
Dont miss the opportunity to see fantastic places and
have fun. Colombia is waiting for you!

Fuente de imgenes: SENA

Adjectives to describe objects and places / Adjetivos para describir

objetos y lugares
a. Opinion: interesting, peaceful, a. Opinin: interesante, tranquilo,
famoso,
importante,
til,
famous,
important,
useful,
excelente,
bonito,
barato,
excellent, nice, cheap, expensive,
costoso, hermoso, cmodo.
beautiful, comfortable.
b. Size: big, small, huge, heavy, b. Tamao / medida: grande,
pequeo,
enorme,
pesado,
light, wide, high.
liviano, ancho, alto.
c. Age: old, new, modern, ancient, c. Edad: viejo, nuevo, moderno,
antiguo, anticuado.
old fashioned.
cuadrado,
redondo,
d. Shape:
square,
round, d. Forma:
rectangular, triangular, angosto.
rectangular, triangular, narrow.
e. Color: blue, brown, gray, purple, e. Color: azul, caf, gris, morado,
blanco, verde, naranja, rojo,
white, green, orange, red, yellow,
amarillo, rosado.
pink.
f. Material: iron, rubber, paper, f. Material: de hierro, de goma, de
papel, de plstico, de piedra, de
plastic, stone, wooden, glass,
madera, de vidrio, de cuero, de
leather, cotton, woolen.
algodn, de lana.
Useful expressions to describe objects and places / Expresiones tiles
acerca de descripcin de objetos y lugares
A: What does
Cartagena look like?

A: Cmo es el aspecto de
Cartagena?

B: It is an old, coastal
city. It has beautiful
beaches.

B: Es una ciudad costera

antigua. Tiene hermosas
playas.

To
answer
this
question remember the
formulas:

Para responder a
pregunta
recuerde
frmulas:

It is + adjective +
noun.
It has + adjective +
noun.

Fuente: Fotolia
(s.f.)

esta
las

Esto es + adjetivo +
sustantivo.
Tiene + adjetivo +
sustantivo

A: What is Cartagena
like?

A: Cmo es Cartagena?
B: Es divertida y tranquila.

B: It is fun and relaxed.

Para responder a esta
pregunta
recuerde
la
frmula:

To answer this question

remember the formula:
It is + adjective.

Fuente: Fotolia (s.f.)

A: Cmo es el aspecto
del Nevado del Ruz?

A: What does Nevado del

Ruiz look like?
B: It is a high, snowcapped
mountain.
It
has
amazing landscapes.

B: Es un nevado alto.
Tiene
asombrosos
paisajes.
Fuente: Fotolia (s.f.)

Para responder a esta

pregunta recuerde las
frmulas:

Fuente: Fotolia (s.f.)

Esto es + adjetivo +
sustantivo.

To answer this question

remember the formulas:
It is + adjective + noun.
It has + adjective + noun

Esto es + adjetivo.

Tiene + adjetivo +
sustantivo.

A: What is Nevado
del Ruiz like?

A: Cmo es el Nevado del

Ruz?

B: It is peaceful and
amazing.
To
answer
this
question
remember
the formula:

B: Es tranquilo y asombroso.
Para responder a
pregunta
recuerde
frmula:

esta
la

Fuente: Fotolia (s.f.)

Esto es + adjetivo.

It is + adjective.

A: Cmo es el aspecto de
su carro?

A: What does your car

look like?

B: Es pequeo, viejo y azul.

Tiene llantas nuevas.

B: It is small, old and

blue. It has new
wheels.

A: Cmo es su carro?
A: What is your car like?
B: Es barato y cmodo.
B: It is nice and
comfortable.

Para responder a estas

preguntas recuerde
las
frmulas:

To answer this questions

remember the formulas:
Fuente: SENA

It is + adjective + noun.
It has + adjective +
noun.

Esto es + adjetivo +
sustantivo.
Tiene + adjetivo +
sustantivo.

2. Comparatives and superlatives / Comparativos y Superlativos

A. Nicole continues planning her trip. She is still looking for more information
about cities in Colombia. Lets show her some facts. / Nicole contina
planeando su viaje, por esta razn ella est buscando informacin sobre
ciudades en Colombia. Mostrmosle algunos datos.

Barranquilla

Medellin

Barranquilla is a big Medellin is bigger than

city. / Barranquilla es Barranquilla. / Medelln
es ms grande que
una ciudad grande.
Barranquilla.

Villavicencio

Cucuta

Villavicencio is a hot Cucuta is hotter than

city. / Villavicencio es Villavicencio. / Ccuta
es ms caliente que
una ciudad caliente.
Villavicencio.

Cartagena

Medellin

Bogota

Bogota is the biggest city

in Colombia. / Bogot es
la ciudad ms grande de
Colombia.

Barranquilla

Barranquilla
is
the
hottest city in Colombia. /
Barranquilla es la ciudad
ms
caliente
de
Colombia.
Bogota

is
more
Cartagena
is
a Medellin
than
populated
city.
/ populated
Cartagena
es
una Cartagena. / Medelln
es ms poblada que
ciudad poblada.
Cartagena.

Bogota is the most

populated
city
in
Colombia. / Bogot es la
ciudad ms poblada de
Colombia.

Fuente de imgenes: SENA

B. Making comparisons in English. / Haciendo comparaciones en ingls.

When you compare people, objects or places in English, you usually talk about
their similarities and differences. To do this you need to use comparative and
superlative forms. / Cuando usted compara personas, objetos o lugares en
ingls, usualmente habla sobre sus similitudes o diferencias. Para hacerlo
usted necesita usar comparativos y superlativos.
Lets see how these adjectives are formed. / Revisemos como se forman
estos adjetivos.
Comparative adjectives / Adjetivos comparativos
Adjective / Adjetivo

Add / Aadir

Example / Ejemplo

Cold / Fro

Cold +er / Ms frio

Bogota is colder than Medellin. /

Bogot es ms fra que Medelln.

Happy / Feliz

Happier / Ms feliz

Mr. Spencer feels happier in

Cartagena than in Bogota. / El
seor Spencer es ms feliz en
Cartagena que en Bogot.

Populated / Poblado

More + populated /
Ms poblado

Bogota is more populated than

Medellin. / Bogot es ms
poblada que Medelln.

a. Forming comparative and superlative adjectives. / Formar adjetivos

comparativos y superlativos.
Adjective form /
Adjetivo en forma
bsica

Comparative form /
Forma comparative

Superlative form /
Forma superlativa

Cold / Fro

Colder / Ms fro

The coldest / El ms fro

Example: Medellin is colder than Cartagena. Bogota is the coldest. /

Ejemplo: Medelln es ms fro que Cartagena. Bogot es la ms fra.

Only one syllable adjective, with

one vowel and one consonant
Comparative form /
at the end /
Forma comparativa
Adjetivo de una slaba con una
vocal y una consonante al final
Big /Grande

Bigger / Ms grande

Superlative
form / Forma
superlativa

The biggest /
El ms grande

Example: Medellin is bigger than Cartagena. Bogota is the biggest. /

Ejemplo: Medelln es ms grande que Cartagena. Bogot es la ms
grande.
Two syllables adjective,
ending in y / Adjetivo
de dos slabas
terminado en y

Comparative form /
Forma comparativa

Superlative form /
Forma superlativa

The windiest /
El ms ventoso
Example: Spring is windier than summer. Autumn is the windiest /
Ejemplo: la primavera es ms ventosa que el verano. El otoo es el ms
ventoso.
Windy / Ventoso

Windier / Ms ventoso

Two or more syllables

not ending in y / Dos o
ms slabas no
terminando en y

Comparative form /
Forma comparativa

Superlative form /
Forma superlativa

Interesting / Interesante

More interesting /
Ms interesante

The most interesting /

El ms interesante

Example: Daniel is more interesting than Julian. Daryl is the most

interesting. / Ejemplo: Daniel es ms interesante que Julian. Daryl es el
ms interesante.
Irregular adjectives /
Adjetivos irregulares

Comparative form /
Forma comparative

Superlative form /
Forma superlativa

Good / Bueno

Better / Mejor

The best / El mejor

Bad / Malo

Worse / Ms malo

The worst / El peor

Example: Eating vegetables is better than eating fast food. / Ejemplo:

comer verduras es mejor que comer comida rpida.
Example: Cooking at home is the best way to eat healthy. / Ejemplo:
cocinar en casa es la mejor forma de comer saludable.
Example: Sleeping four hours is worse than sleeping five hours. Sleeping
more than eight hours is the worst. / Ejemplo: dormir cuatro horas es ms
malo que dormir cinco horas. Dormir ms de ocho horas es lo peor.

Contextualization / Contextualizacin
Read the conversation between Johana and Nicole. / Lea la conversacin entre
Johana y Nicole.

Hi,
Johana.

Thats great!

Whats
up?

Im planning
a trip with
some friends
around
Colombia.

We can
check on my
computer to
choose the best
place to visit.

World Tour
travel agency has
a lot of
information on its
website.

I am so
excited about visiting
Colombia! But first, I
need to decide which
cities in Colombia I
want to go to.

Great idea!

Lets go for
a cup of coffee
and you can help
me plan my trip.

Sure.
Ok lets go into
the coffee shop
near my house.

In the coffee shop

It seems very
interesting. Lets
check whats on
the page.

Look Nicole,
this is the website.

Our travel agency World

Tour is pleased to
welcome you to a new
travel experience.
We offer the best tourist
packages to suit all
our customers budgets
and preferences.

Thanks Johana.
You helped me
to plan my trip.

It looks like
a fantastic city.
I hope you can visit
it soon and tell me
about your trip!

Youre
welcome. So,
where are you
going to travel?

Ok.
Ill talk to you
later. I have to
go talk to my
friends about
the trip.

I am not
sure yet. I have
to talk to my
friends, but
Medellin sounds
good.

Ok. Good
luck! Bye!

The end.
Fuente de imgenes: SENA

Comprehension / Comprensin
A. Read the conversation again. Select (X) true or false about the statements. /
Lea la conversacin nuevamente. Seleccione (X) verdadero o falso acerca de
las oraciones.
True

False

1. Johana is planning a trip.

2. Nicole is travelling soon.
3. Nicole is excited about visiting Colombia.
4. World Tour is an expensive hotel.
5. Nicole and Johana went for a cup of
coffee.
6. World Tour does not have information
about traveling.
7. Nicole and Johana read a tourist guide.
8. Johana is traveling with Nicole.
9. Johana didnt help Nicole.
10. Nicole liked the website.

B. Complete the sentences with comparative and superlative forms from the box.
/ Complete las oraciones con comparativos y superlativos de la caja.

colder / the best / bigger than / windier / the hottest / the biggest /
the most important / the second biggest
1. We offer _________ tourist packages.
2. Bogota is ________ than Medellin.
3. Cartagena is probably _________ city.
4. Bogota is __________ city in the country.
5. Bogota is_______ than Medellin.
6. Bogota is one of _______________ cities in the country.
7. Medellin is _________________ city.
8. Bogota is _______ than Medellin.

Practice 1 / Prctica 1
A. Read and complete the texts about Johana and her friends with the words
from the box. / Lea y complete los textos acerca de Johana y sus amigos con
las palabras de la caja.
short brown / long straight black / shoulder length brown / short blonde
/ slim / brown / blue / brown / dark brown

What does Johana look like? She has

_____________ hair. She is _____ and
she has __________eyes.

What does John look like? He has

_________ hair. He has _____ eyes.

What does Richard look like? He has

__________ hair. He has ______ eyes.

What does Nicole look like? She has

____________
hair.
She
has
_______eyes.

Fuente de imgenes: SENA

B. Match each description with the image. / Relacione cada descripcin con una
imagen.

It is a small blue car.

It is a white notebook.

It is a red pencil.

It is an old watch.

It is a large red car.

It is a modern watch.

It is a yellow pencil.

It is a short dress.

It is a red notebook.

It is a long dress.

Fuente de imgenes: SENA

C. Take a look at pictures A and B. Then complete the sentences using the
comparative forms of the adjectives in brackets. / Observe las fotos A y B.
Luego complete las oraciones usando las formas comparativas de los
adjetivos en parntesis.
Picture A

Picture B

Fuente de imgenes: SENA

Example: House B is in a more polluted (polluted) area than house A.

1. House B is ________ (noisy) than house A.
2. House A is _______ (quiet) than house B.
3. House A is ________ (good) for growing vegetables than house B.
4. House A is located in a ______________ (peaceful) location than house B.

5. House A is _____________ (convenient) than house B for having a pet.

D. Choose the correct option. / Escoja la opcin correcta.
Example: I am old / older / more old than my sister.
1. English is (easier / more easy / easy) than other languages.
2. Colombians are (happy / most happier / happier) than people from other
countries.
3. Cats are (more funny / funnier / the funnier) than dogs.
4. Mexican food is (spicier / spicy / spiciest) than Colombian food.
5. Riding bicycle is (the fast / the faster / faster) than walking.
6. Working out is (good / gooder / better) than smoking.
7. Eggs are (more cheapier / cheaper / the cheapest) than meat.
8. The country is (more quietest / quieter/ quiet) than the city.
9. Americans are (the tallest / the more tall / taller) than Colombians.
10. The traffic in Bogota is (worse / bad / worst) than in Medellin.

Practice 2 / Prctica 2
PACTICE 2 / PRCTICA 2
A. Study the following information about Johana, Nicole, John and Richard. Then,
complete the sentences using comparative and superlative forms of the
adjectives in brackets. / Estudie la informacin acerca de Johana, Nicole, John
y Richard. Luego complete las oraciones usando comparativos y superlativos
de los adjetivos en parntesis.

Fuente de imgenes: SENA

Example: Johana is older (old) than John.

1. Richard is _________ (young) than Nicole.
2. Johanas hair is ___________ (straight) than Nicoles.
3. Johana is ________ (old) than John, but Richard is ________ (old) than
Johana. Nicole is the _________ (old) of them all.
4. John is ________ (heavy) than Richard.
5. Nicole is ________ (light) than John.
6. Richard is ________ (light) than John. Nicole is ________ (light) than
Richard, but Johana is the __________ (light) of all.
7. Johana is ________ (tall) than John.
8. Nicole is _________ (short) than Richard.
9. Nicole is ________ (short) than
____________(tall) of the group.

Johana

and

John.

Richard

is

10. John looks _________ (happy) than the others.

B. Look at the following adjectives. Drag their comparative and superlative forms
in the correct box. / Observe los siguientes adjetivos. Arrastre su forma
comparativa y superlativa en el cuadro correspondiente.
More famous
than.
More popular
than.
The most
crowded.

The most
delicious.
The most
comfortable.

Noisier than.

Bigger than.

More beautiful
than.

The ugliest.

The fattest.

More expensive
than.
The most
modern.

Comparative form

Superlative form

C. Choose the correct option. / Escoja la opcin correcta.

Example: I am old / older / more old than my sister.
1. Bogota is the more big / bigger / biggest city in Colombia.
2. Reading is interesting / more interesting / interestinger than watching
T.V.
3. Cats are more good / gooder / better pets than dogs.
4. Taking a taxi is more expensive / the more expensive / expensive than
taking a bus.
5. Chocolate ice-cream is deliciouser / most delicious / more delicious that
vanilla ice-cream.

6. The importantest / most important /more important thing in life is selfesteem.

7. Chatting on line with a friend is more funny / funnier / the funnier than
meeting him/her personally.
8. Roses are the most beautiful / more beautiful / beautiful flowers.
9. Going to the cinema is the popularest / more popular / most popular free
time activity in my city.
10. A sofa is more comfortable / comfortablier / the more comfortable than
a chair.

Pronunciation practice / Prctica de pronunciacin

Note: This practice must be completed using the multimedia version of the study
material. There you will find the corresponding sound files. / Nota: esta prctica
debe ser completada usando la versin multimedia del material de estudio. All
encontrar los archivos de audio correspondientes.
A. Listen to the following words. Pay attention to the pronunciation of the vowel
in each word. / Escuche las siguientes palabras. Preste atencin a la vocal
de cada palabra.
Note: If there are more than two vowels in a word, pay attention to the vowel
in the underlined syllable. / Nota: si hay ms de dos vocales en una palabra,
preste atencin nicamente a la vocal en la slaba subrayada.

er

First

Paper

University

Leather

Where

Purple

Better

Important

Best

Square

Now, classify the words on the following list according to the vowel sound
you hear. / Ahora, clasifique las palabras en la lista de acuerdo con el sonido
que escuche.

Pepper

Best

Worse

Hair

Rubber

World

Elderly

Famous

Popular

Muscular

Dress

Weather

Cotton

Worst

Term

Modern

Bigger

Woolen

Leather

Comfortable

Paper

Elderly

Curly

Comfortable

Muscular

Better

er

B. Listen to the following words. Pay attention to the pronunciation of the

underlined consonant in each word. Then, say them aloud. Try to imitate the
consonants sounds you hear. / Escuche las siguientes palabras. Preste
atencin a la consonante subrayada en cada palabra. Luego, diga las

palabras en voz alta tratando de imitar los sonidos consonnticos

escuchados.

Thick

Fat

This

Bald

Athletic

Height

Another

Toddler

Now, classify the words on the following list according to the consonant
sound you hear. / Ahora, clasifique las palabras en la lista de acuerdo con el
sonido de consonante que escuche.
Ancient

The

Leather

Overweight

Elderly

Weather

Than

Child

Modern

Beard

Moustache

Length

Thin

Cotton

Old

Light

Straight

Blonde

C. Listen to the following words. Pay attention to the stressed syllable. /

Escuche las siguientes palabras. Preste atencin a la ubicacin de la slaba
acentuada.

Leather

Athletic

Beautiful

Plastic

Important

Overweight

Now, classify the words on the list according to their stress pattern. / Ahora,
clasifique las palabras en la lista de acuerdo con su patrn acentual.
Famous
Muscular
Iron
Talkative
Peaceful
Elderly
Comfortable
Hazel
Expensive
Middle age
Rubber
Shoulder length
Narrow
Unshaven
Interesting
Average

Useful
Medium
Woolen
Teenager

D. Listen to the pronunciation of the following sentences. Then, say them aloud.
Try to imitate the intonation pattern used. / Escuche la pronunciacin de las
siguientes oraciones. Luego, dgalas en voz alta tratando de imitar el patrn
de entonacin usado.
What does she look like?
Sleeping four hours is worse than sleeping five hours.
Barranquilla is the hottest city in Colombia.
What are you like?
Daryl is the most interesting.
Medellin is colder than Cartagena. Bogota is the
coldest.
Daniel is more interesting than Julian.
Eating vegetables is better than eating fast food.

References / Referencias
Fotolia. (s.f.). Chimborazo volcano at dawn on a sunny day. Consultado el 07
de septiembre de 2014, en http://co.fotolia.com/id/69064299
Fotolia. (s.f.). Girls sun bathing on the beach. Consultado el 07 de septiembre
de 2014, en http://co.fotolia.com/id/63508480
Fotolia. (s.f.). Osorno vulcan, Chile. Consultado el 07 de septiembre de 2014,
en http://co.fotolia.com/id/69700783
Fotolia. (s.f.). Walled town of Cartagena, Colombia. Consultado el 07 de
septiembre de 2014, en http://co.fotolia.com/id/68788091

Document control / Control del documento

Author

Name

Position

Dependence

Date

Johana
Mndez
Sarmiento

Theme expert
Asesor English
Dot Works Programa de
bilingismo

Direccin de
Formacin
Profesional.
Direccin General

August
2014

Copy editor
Lnea de
Produccin

Centro
Agroindustrial.
Regional Quindo

September
2014

Luz Clarena
Adaptation
Arias