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UNIVERSIDAD NICARAGÜENSE DE CIENCIA Y TECNOLOGÍA

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Material de Estudio

Asignatura: Ingles V

Unit V: Do you know where it is?

Autor: MSc. Guillermina Eduarda Múa Ibarra

Octubre 2023, Managua.

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Índice

Contenido
Introducción ...................................................................................................................................2
1 Contenidos de la Unidad ............................................................................................................3
1.1 Formas comparativas y superlativas con adjetivos regulares e irregulares ........................3
1.1.1 The last thing we need to do is use the words than to form the sentences ...............4
1.1.2 Resumen .....................................................................................................................8
1.1.3 Superlative Sentences: Irregular Adjectives ...............................................................9
1.1.4 Superlative Sentences: Common Mistakes .................................................................9
1.2 2. Preguntas indirectas con (¿Do you know? / Can you tell me?). ....................................10
1.2.1 These are some indirect questions with Can You tell me..? .....................................11
1.3 3. Formas de dar y preguntar direcciones en Nicaragua. How are addresses given in
Nicaragua? ...................................................................................................................................12
1.3.1 Addresses .................................................................................................................12
1.3.2 How it works .............................................................................................................12
1.3.3 Complicating factors .................................................................................................12
1.3.4 Deciphering Nicaraguan addresses ...........................................................................13
2 Practice.....................................................................................................................................15
2.1.1 Write the adjective in parenthesis to the comparative form ....................................15
2.1.2 Write the second part of the indirect question as in the example: ..........................16
3 Homework: ...............................................................................................................................17
3.1.1 Ejercicio de Speaking usando los adjetivos comparativos en inglés .........................17
4 Bibliografía: ..............................................................................................................................17

Introducción
Apreciados estudiantes, sean bienvenidos al curso Ingles V. En el presente material tienen
contenidos que amplían el conocimiento del idioma ingles así como ejercicios prácticos que
les permitirá desarrollar sus competencias lingüísticas y habilidades de expresión en el
idioma inglés. En esta oportunidad analizaremos la Unit V: Do you know where it is?
Contents
1. Formas comparativas y superlativas con adjetivos regulares e irregulares
2. Preguntas indirectas con (¿Do you know? / Can you tell me?).

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3. Formas de dar y preguntar direcciones en Nicaragua.

Con esta unidad podremos dotarnos de competencias básicas enfocadas en los siguientes
Objetivos:
Conceptuales:
1. Know what is meant by where it is? in English as an essential basis of learning.
Procedimentales:
2. Comment on the phrase by where it is? In English, in readings and other instruments.
Actitudinales:
3. To apply knowledge about the particle where is it? In English as a form of foreign
language development.
Estructura:
En el material de estudio encontraran la siguiente información:
1- Contenidos explicados de la unidad.
2- Actividades prácticas con sus respectivas orientaciones.
3- Asignación de trabajos en equipos e individuales.

1 Contenidos de la Unidad
1.1 Formas comparativas y superlativas con adjetivos regulares
e irregulares
Comparative sentences are used to highlight the differences and similarities between two
people or things.
Comparative sentences in English look like this:
She is smarter than me
You are cooler than me
There are more important subjects to cover.
They have better cars
They play better than all of us.
What You Should Know: Comparative Sentences
Making comparative sentences in English requires us to know:
1. Adjectives in English
2. Verb Tenses in English
We must know adjectives in English to be able to create the comparative form in English:
Long Adjectives Short Adjectives
Better More important
Smarter More expensive
We must also know different tenses in English to be able to create sentences.
I am better than you are
This is more important
This will be more accurate
How to Make Comparative Sentences in English

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Comparative sentences in English can take different forms because they can be made with
different verb tenses, but this is the way we should treat adjectives.
The treatment or changes that we must give to adjectives are summarized in
determining if they are:
1. Adjetivos Largos en Inglés
2. Adjetivos Cortos en Inglés
Short adjectives in English are adjectives that are made up of one syllable in most
cases.
Smart
Old
Late
Big
Long adjectives are made up of two or more syllables with some exceptions.
Interesting
Important
Sensible
Handsome
Beautiful
The exceptions to the aforementioned occur with certain adjectives and these are some of
them:
Short Adjectives Comparative
Happy Happier
Easy Easier
Late Later
Big Bigger
Old Older

What should we do with long adjectives?

Long Adjectives Comparative

Interesting More interesting
Important More important
Sensible More sensible
Handsome More handsome
Beautiful More beautiful

1.1.1 The last thing we need to do is use the words than to form the
sentences
She is more important than me. (important)
She is more beautiful than me, (beautiful)
She is smarter than me. (smart)
That book is more interesting than yours. (interesting)

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Indirect Comparative Sentences

We do not always have to make a direct comparison since many of the comparisons refer to
versions of ourselves or are understood by the context in which they are used.
Dave is more fun when he's drunk.
She looks happier today.

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She looks better now

These exercises are much more difficult.
This city is more beautiful now.
The channels are much better now.
The house looks messier
These guys are smarter
Older people are wiser
Jack's English is more fluent.
Comparative Questions

Here are some comparison questions you can use in different contexts
Cristiano Ronaldo is better than Messi?
Is Jon Jones better than Daniel Cormier?
Are iPhone devices better than Android phones?
Is Leonardo Dicaprio more handsome than Brad Pitt?
Is Game of Thrones better than Breaking Bad?
What is tastier, Coke or Pepsi?
Which animal is a better pet, a cat or a dog?
Who is stronger, superman or batman?
Which sport is more fun to play, basketball or baseball?
What is more entertaining, watching TV or playing computer games?
Answers to Comparative Questions in English

These are some questions and answers with the comparatives in English
Which telephone is better?
I think Samsung is way better
Do you think she is more successful than you?
Of course, she has Netflix stuff
Are you taller than your brother?
No, he is a bit taller than me
Is this car more expensive than a Tesla?
Are you more intelligent than him?
I don't know but I beat him at chess all the time
Is Logan Paul's car more expensive than yours?
Of course, he has a lot of money
Superlative sentences are sentences that establish a comparison between two or
more elements.

These are examples of superlative sentences in English.

She is the most beautiful girl in the group
We are the smartest kids
They are the nicest guys I ever met

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I am the fastest runner

She reads only the most important things
He is the worst MMA fighter that I know
He is the most effective shooter on the squad.
He is the most successful basketball player in history
Short Adjectives in English

To be able to make superlative sentences in English, you must handle a simple aspect of
adjectives.
There are short adjectives and long adjectives, short adjectives usually have one syllable.
Smart
Old
big
It is easy to determine that the above are short adjectives since it has only one vowel or
diphthong.
However, there are exceptions such as the case of:
Happy
easy
Silly (tonto)
Long Adjectives in English
Long adjectives in English have two or more syllables so they are very easy to recognize.
These are some examples of long adjectives in English:
interesting Interesante
Comfortable Comfortable
Beautiful Hermosa
Captivating Cautivante
Dangerous Peligroso
Careful Cuidadoso
How to Make Superlative Sentences in English
Now that you know the difference between short and long adjectives in English, you can
make superlative sentences with them.
To do this we are going to add the ending -est to the short adjectives:
Smart Smartest
Cold Coldest
Old Oldest
Hot Hottest
Young Youngest
Crazy Craziest
With long adjectives, you must add “the most” before the adjective:
Beautiful The most beautiful
Comfortable The most comfortable chair
Interesting The most interesting
Expensive The most expensive car.

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1.1.2 Resumen

The sentences you can make with superlatives in English will depend on your knowledge of
grammar.
These are some sentences with the future simple in English

I will find the best man to do the job in the area

I will marry the most beautiful woman in this town
I will buy the most expensive car
These are some sentences with the verb to be
The most intelligent person here is Maria
The most interesting city is Las Vegas
The most luxurious city is Tokyo
These are some superlative sentences with the present perfect
She has been the best athlete three years in a row
I have had the worst results in history.
Superlative Questions in English

These are examples of superlative questions in English

What subject are you the worst at?
What subject are you the best at?
What sport are you the worst at?
What sport are you the best at?

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What's the most boring place that you have ever been in?
What was your worst day in school?
What was your best day in school?
What's the most stupid thing that you have ever done?
Questions and Answers with Superlatives

These are examples of questions and answers with superlatives in English

What's the best anime that you have ever seen?
I think the best anime is Death Note
What's the most memorable music video that you remember?
One of the most memorable music videos is Perfecta by Miranda
What's the best song ever?
One of the best songs is the Scientist by Coldplay
What's the most romantic movie I have ever seen?
The most romantic movie to be ‘Before Sunrise’

1.1.3 Superlative Sentences: Irregular Adjectives

These are the superlative forms of some irregular adjectives

Good The best

Bad The worst
Far The furthest

1.1.4 Superlative
Sentences: Common Mistakes
These are some common mistakes that people make when making superlative sentences in
English.
She is more intelligent than me
We are more comfortable now
They are the oldest
We are richer than before

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1.2 2. Preguntas indirectas con (¿Do you know? / Can you tell
me?).
Do you know how to ask indirect questions in English?
Indirect questions in English start with an auxiliary verb or a modal verb.

Do you know where the supermarket is?

Can you tell me where Maria is?
Can you tell me where the keys are?
Could you tell me who the new boss is?
Do you remember where I left my wallet?
Indirect Questions in the Past
To ask indirect questions in English in the past simple, the auxiliary di d is used and
we conjugate the verb

Where did she go?

Can you tell me where she went?
Who did they shoot
Can you tell who they shot?
To ask indirect questions in English in the past continuous, we must add the
introductory phrase and write the rest of the question as if it were a statement.

What was he doing?

Do you know what she was doing?
What were they watching?
Can you remember what they were watching?
Indirect Questions in Present

If the question is asked with the verb to be, the verb to be changes pos ition.

Where is the car?

Do you know where the car is?
Where are the car keys?
Can you tell me where the car keys are?
If the questions are with the present simple in English, the auxiliary is removed and
the verb is conjugated.

Where does she live?

Do you know where she lives?
What does she do for a living?
Can you tell me what she does for a living?
If the questions are asked with the present continuous in English, what you should
do is place the sentence after the wh -question as if it were an affirmation .

What are we doing?

Do you know what we are doing?

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Who is she dating?

Do you know who she is dating?
Indirect questions in English with Do you know…?
One of the ways to ask direct questions in English is Do you know…?
These are some examples of indirect questions in English with do you know…?

Do you know where the gas station is?

Do you know what the movie is about?
Do you know where my brothers are?
Do you know where the party will be?
Do you know who will pick me up at the airport tomorrow?

1.2.1 These are some indirect questions with Can You tell me..?
Can you tell me what the name of the song is?
Can you tell me who the impostor is?
Can you tell me where we have to go next?
Can you tell me why we have to give rides to strangers?
Can you tell me how we are going to get there on time?
These are indirect questions in English with Do you Remember?

Do you remember where I left the car keys?

Do you remember what I had to do?
Do you remember what I was supposed to buy?
Do you remember who took my money?
Do you remember what button we are supposed to press?
Do you remember what the song they played was?
Indirect questions with Could you Tell me?

Could you tell me? is a question in English very similar to Can You Tell me?
Could you tell me means
These are some indirect questions in English with Could You tell me?

Could you tell me what the movie is about?

Could you tell me what your favorite song is'
Could you tell me when the first person landed on the moon?
Could you tell me where the university is?
Could you tell me what your beliefs are?
Could you tell me what your religion is?
Indirect questions with I was Wondering

Another popular option to ask questions in English is I was wondering

I was wondering means I was wondering. The idea after the sentence I was wondering is
written in the past simple
I was wondering if you have any money
I was wondering why you moved to Europe

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I was wondering why you didn't take the offer

I was wondering why you decided to quit your job
I was wondering why she abandoned her children.
(englishpost.org, s.f.)

1.3 3. Formas de dar y preguntar direcciones en Nicaragua.

How are addresses given in Nicaragua?
1.3.1 Addresses
Nicaragua has a unique address system. In this system, there are no street names used! This
system has caused many people to get lost and especially for people not familiar with the
area it might be hard to locate a certain address. Nicaraguans, however, are in general proud
on having their own system and have no problems using it.

1.3.2 How it works

Instead of street names or numbers Nicaraguans use reference points from where they start
describing a certain address. There are many known buildings, companies, churches, or other
reference points, which are used to get a general idea where something is located. The next
step is to state how many blocks away the particular address lies from the reference point.
An example: could be From the Calvario Church, 1 block south, half a block east
This is an example of a very simple (translated) address. The reference point in this case is
the Calvario Church, a well known church in León. By simply going one block (a block is
used to refer to a series of houses or lots separated from other buildings by a road) south and
half a block east you will be at the desired address.

1.3.3 Complicating factors

This sounds kind of easy. There are some more complicating factors, though. First of all, east
and west are not always used. Instead, the words arriba and abajo function as substitutes.
Arriba, which means up or above signifies the direction from which the sun comes up: east.
Abajo, on the contrary, means down or below and it is used instead of west. The words oriente
(east) and poniente (west) are other substitutes that are sometimes used.

In addition to these words, another interesting word is used in certain places: al lago. This
means to the lake, and it is used in cities like Managua and Granada which border a lake.
Although it can be helpful to know that you have to go towards the lake, it can be hard to
figure out in what direction the lake is situated when you are standing in an unknown street
somewhere in the middle of Managua!
Another complicating factor is the fact that not all reference points are easy to find. In general
Nicaraguans have no problem finding them, but for foreigners it might be another case.
Churches, statues, squares, buildings, or other present points are relatively easy to find. There
are instances, however, in which the reference points do not exist anymore! Before, they were
well known points and were therefore used as reference points. Somewhere in the past the
building or object was removed or destroyed. The addresses using this reference point now
changed slightly but they kept the original object.

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Let's take Lacmiel, a company that was used as a reference point in the past. An address
could be:
Lacmiel, 2 cuadras arriba, 1/2 cuadra al sur (translated: from Lacmiel 2 blocks east, 1/2 block
south).
Nowadays the address would be:
Donde fue Lacmiel, 2 cuadras arriba, 1/2 cuadra al sur (translated: where previously was
located Lacmiel 2 blocks east, 1/2 block south).
As you can probably understand, finding out where some building was located can be tough!
Roads and neighborhoods
You might have absolutely no idea where some reference point is located. Fortunately, some
other references can be used to track down an address. All of the major roads in Nicaragua
have small signs that tell the distance from the start of the road. Every now and then you will
see signs next to the road (in Managua they are small green signs with white letters, in other
places they might look different) stating a number. Those numbers are also used in addresses.
So an address could start with Carretera Masaya Km 4... which means: Kilometer 4 of the
highway to Masaya...
The great thing about the kilometer references is that they are exact. Furthermore, they are
easy to find as they are situated somewhere on the road. The next step is to find out how
many blocks or meters you will have to go next...
Another help can be found in the neighborhoods that also function as rough references. Often
this is the first element stated in an address. For instance, Bolonia is a neighborhood in
Managua which will is also to be found on maps. If this is used in the address, you will right
away know where (more or less) to go.
You should also be aware of the fact that gas station and traffic lights also function as
reference points.
Odd measurements
Not every address is at the corner of a block. Therefore, more specific distances are used to
locate an address. Instead of meters, Nicaraguans use the old Spanish unit of length, the vara,
in everyday use. The length of a vara varied at various times and places, but it was officially
set at around 83.59 centimeters in 1801. This is roughly 20% less than a meter, so in
calculating the distance, keep this in mind.
Another special measurement used is the manzana. This word, which also means apple in
Spanish, is the equivalent 10,000 square varas. This is practically equal to 70% of the surface
of a hectare, and it is a measurement often used in real estate.

1.3.4 Deciphering Nicaraguan addresses

Many other words are used in Nicaraguan addresses, especially at the end of the address
when the location has to be specified precisely. Words like next to or in front of are often
used. Sporadically, buildings have a number which can also be used in the address. Below is
a list of the many words used in the addresses, which can help you decipher the Nicaraguan
addresses!
Word Meaning Example
cuadra block Rotonda El Güegüense, 2 cuadras arriba
vara vara (84 cm.) Clínica Santa María, 1 cuadra al Sur, 20 varas abajo

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Norte north Semáforos de Enitel Villa Fontana, 30 mts al Norte

Este east De la catedral, 1 cuadra al Este, 1/2 cuadra al Sur
Sur south De la Parroquia, 3 1/2 cuadras al Sur
Oeste west Plaza Inter, 1 cuadra al Sur, 1 cuadra al Oeste
al lago toward the lake Casa de los Mejia Godoy, 1 cuadra al lago
arriba east Parque Darío, 1/2 cuadra arriba
abajo west Del Reloj, 1 cuadra abajo
esquina corner Esquina Sureste del Parque Central
carretera highway Km 19 Carretera a Ticuantepe
parque park Parque Sandino, 500 varas al Este
puente bridge Puente León 2 cuadras abajo
semáforos traffic lights Semáforos del Zumen, 50 varas al Sur
contiguo a next to Pista Juan Pablo II, contiguo a Union Fenosa
frente a in front of De la Subasta 10 vrs al lago, frente a Café Soluble
entrada entrance Entrada a reparto Cailagua, 20 varas al Sur
de donde there where De donde fue el cine Cabrera 1 cuadra al Norte
fue... was...
iglesia church Frente a Iglesie Santa Ana
calle street Calle Principal de San Juan del Sur
costado side Costado oeste del parque central
barrio (often poor) Barrio San Judas, Los Cocos, 3 cuadras arriba
district
escuela school Contiguo a Escuela Salvador Mendieta
Abbreviations
Finally, there are some abbreviations that are useful to know. The following abbreviations
are often used in writing:
Abbreviation Word Meaning Abbreviation Word Meaning
c cuadra block Esq esquina corner
vrs / vs varas varas (84 cm.) Igl iglesia church
N Norte north Fte frente a in front of
E Este east Esc escuela school

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S Sur south Bo barrio (often poor) district

Oe Oeste west
Do you feel comfortable already? Try translating the following:
Bo San Antonio, Igl La Batería, 1c al S 1c al Oe 30vs al S Fte Esc Castillo
If that's no problem then you're ready to hit the Nicaraguan roads!
(vianica.com, s.f.)

2 Practice
Exercise

2.1.1 Write the adjective in parenthesis to the comparative form

1. My house is ______________ than yours. (big)
2. Your grade is _________ than mine. (worse)
3. You are more _____________ than Joey. (polite)
4. Russian grammar is _____________________ than English grammar. (difficulte)
5. My brother is __________________ than I am. (tall)
6. My sister is much ________________ than me. (tall)
7. It’s ____________ today than it was yesterday. (cold)
8. This grammar topic is _________ than the last one. (easy)
9. Your desk is _________________ than mine. (big)
10. Japan is ______________ than China. (expensive)
11. These chairs are ______________ than those, (cheap)
12. This book is _______________ than that one. (interesting)
Escribe la forma comparativa de los adjetivos dados.
1. Handsome: __________
2. Gorgeous: __________
3. Cold: __________
4. Amazing: __________
5. Obedient: __________
6. Tiny: __________
7. Patient: __________
8. Intelligent: __________
9. Wise: __________
10. Cheap: __________
11. Clever: __________
12. Precious: __________
13. Gentle: __________
14. Expensive: __________
Completa las oraciones usando adjetivos comparativos.
1. John’s room is (small)___________ than my room.
2. Liza looks (healthy) ___________ than her sister.

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3. The children are (happy) ___________ than their parents.

4. The people in the park look (peaceful) ___________ than those in their offices.
5. How do you look (beautiful) ___________ in person than in the picture?
6. My result in the state exam is (good) ___________ than May’s.
7. Gold is (precious) ___________ than silver.
8. Basketball is (popular) ___________ than football in our country.
9. The painting looks (simple) ___________ than I imagined.
10. My hair is (long) ___________ than your hair.
11. The students are (tired) ___________ than the teachers.
12. The building is (fabulous) ___________ than the hotel.
Escribe las oraciones usando otra forma de comparar dos nombres/pronombres.
1. Mary is beautiful. Hailey is beautiful. They are both beautiful. (as + adjective + as)
____________________________
2. Larry is more handsome than Ted. (not as + adjective + as)
____________________________
3. The weather is cold in the morning. It is cold in the afternoon. It is even cold in the
evening.
____________________________
4. George is a year older now. He is more handsome now. (the … + the …)
____________________________
5. These children are happy to see you. Their parents are also happy to see you. (as +
adjective + as)
____________________________
6. Josh is more intelligent than Mark. (not as + adjective + as)
____________________________

2.1.2 Write the second part of the indirect question as in the example:
Example: Where have they spent the weekend?
Can you tell me where they have spent the weekend ?
1. Where has she been to?
Could you tell me _____________________ ?
2. How often had they done this?
Would you let me know _____________________________?
3. What did it look like?
Do you know __________________________ ?
4. Who spoke to him?
Would you tell me _____________________________?
5. Who did he speak to?
Would you tell me ___________________________?
6. What were they doing there?
Can you explain _______________________________ ?
7. What could have happened?

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Can you let me know __________________________ ?

8. Did it happen last night?
I wonder if you could tell me if ____________________________ .
9. Which car is yours?
Do you have any idea ________________________ ?
10. Which car did you rent?
I'd be grateful if you would tell me ___________________________.

3 Homework:
5. Make a dialogue using the indirect questions to ask for information when giving
an address, as well as the use of comparatives and superlatives.

3.1.1 Ejercicio de Speaking usando los adjetivos comparativos en

inglés
1. Compare your hometown five years ago and today. Tell at least three good things
and three bad things in making a comparison.
2. How do you compare yourself physically today and when you’re in high school?
3. Have you visited a park when you were younger? Have you visited it again lately?
Make comparison.
4. Compare the prices of commodities today than when you were younger.
5. How is your life different now compared to five years ago?
6. Homework: Solve the exercise. In the next class they will present the dialogue in
pairs based on a situation: visit of a group of tourists visiting Nicaragua who ask
how to get to a Nicaraguan tourist site: Salvador Allende port, Mirador de
Catarina, to a popular restaurant, to a shopping center etc. They must give the
information in an understandable way using the material from the last point of:
Ways of giving and asking for directions in Nicaragua.

4 Bibliografía:
englishpost.org. (s.f.). englishpost.org. Obtenido de https://englishpost.org/preguntas-indirectas-
en-
ingles/#:~:text=Las%20preguntas%20indirectas%20en%20Ingl%C3%A9s%20empiezan%20
con%20verbo%20auxiliar%20o,me%20where%20the%20keys%20are%3F

vianica.com. (s.f.). vianica.com. Obtenido de https://vianica.com/nicaragua/practical-info/14-

addresses.html

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