Comparatives and superlatives from last week. -- 先週の比較級・最上級

Five fundamental comparative/superlative sets:
比較級及び最上級の基本単語の五セット

• some, more, most
• some, less, least
• good, better, best
• well, better, best
• bad, worse, worst

Examples 例文 :

• China is the biggest country in population.
• I don't remember what is harder than diamond.

(I checked, and the hardest materials are still all types of diamond.)

（調べてから分かったことですが、物理的に一番硬いものは皆ダイアモンドの種類です。）

We read "Why not move to ... Santiago, Chile?" and found comparatives and superlatives.

Note: "fed up": 「まずい餌を食わしてもらって、いっぱい！」つまり、「もう、たくさん！」というようなうんざりした気持ちと表現です。

The exercise in element 12:

1. Russia is the biggest country in the world, in land area.
2. Some people think Russia is one of the most interesting countries in the world.
3. Big seats on and airplane are more comfortable than small seats.
4. Which airline do you think has better service -- JAL Japan Airlines, or LOT Polish Airlines?
5. Are people now more friendly than before?
6. Is Hokkaido as cold as Moscow?
7. Is Bigos the most delicious food in Poland?
8. Which half of Warsaw is older? And where is the oldest part?

About question 8, we often talk about the newer part of a city versus the older part. Because there are implicitly two parts, we use the comparative rather than the superlative. This is not an absolute rule, however, so "the oldest part of the city" is not wrong.

問８に関しては、ある街を新町と古町の二つに別けて考えています。その場合は二つを比べるので最上級ではなく、比較級を使います。ただし、これは絶対的なルールではないのでここで "the oldest part of the city" を使っては間違いではない。

Note: "speciality" is the British form, "specialty" the American form. 得意、自慢の品 

Examples from class for element 13a:

You won't find anywhere hotter than Houston, Texas.

The streets [there] are not as clean as [the streets] in  some cities.

New York has a reputation for being more expensive than other cities.

You won't find anywhere taller than the Sky Tree.

The Vatican is not as big as some cities.

You won't find anywhere smaller than The Vatican city state.

Singapore has a reputation for being cleaner than other cities.

Osaka City is not as hot as  some cities.

Reviewing comparatives -- 比較級を復習 (updated)

Comparative grammar has two parts, the "more" part and the "than" part.
比較級の文法に二つの部分があります。つまり、 "more" の文と "than" の文です。

"More" means a greater number or measure.
"More" とは多い方の数や量を示している。「もっと」と訳して良い。

"Than" indicates the object of comparison, the lesser part.
"Than" とは比べられた方です。つまり、数や量の少ない方です。「より」と訳して良いけど、置く位置が日本語と逆です。

• more cheese もっとチーズ
• more cheese than sausage ソーセージより、もっとチーズ

Let's put those in sentences:

• Please put more cheese on my pizza. 私のピザにチーズをもっと多くつけてください。
• I want more cheese than sausage. チーズをソーセージよりも多くつけてほしい。

"More" can be used with adjectives:

• more tall もっと（背の）高い
• more short もっと（背の）短い
• more heavy もっと重たい
• more light もっと軽い
• more interesting もっと興味を起こす（興味有る）
• more fun もっと面白くて楽しい
• more funny もっと可笑しくて面白い
• more disgusting もっと嫌でむかつく

And also with adverbs:

• more quickly もっと素早く
• more slowly もっとゆっくりと
• more carefully もっと念を入れて

Many relatively short adjectives can be combined with "more":

• taller
• shorter
• heavier
• lighter
• interestinger (too long and clumsy)（長くて言いにくい）
• funner (*Preferred form is "more fun".) （普段の形は "more fun" です。）
• funnier
• disgustinger (too long and clumsy)（長くて言いにくい）
• quicklier (adverbs don't) （副詞はできません。）
• quicker もっと素早い
• slowlier (adverbs don't) （副詞はできません。）
• slower もっとゆっくりした
• carefullier (adverbs don't) （副詞はできません。）
• carefuller (too long and clumsy)（長くて言いにくい）
• more careful もっと注意深い

The shorter form is usually preferred. In the case of "fun", there can be confusion with "funny", so "more fun" is usually preferred.

大抵は短い方が優先されるけど、"fun" の場合は "funny" との矛盾が生じるので "more fun" の方を普段に使っています。

When we need to compare things, we add "than (something)".

比べるときは "than (何とか)" を取り付けます。

• taller than Mount Fuji 富士山よりも高い
• shorter than my thumb ボクの親指よりも短い
• heavier than water 水よりも重たい
• lighter than air 空気よりも軽い
• more interesting than Wikipedia ウィキペディアよりも面白い
• more fun than a barrel of monkeys バレルに入れたお猿さん一族よりも楽しく面白い
• funnier than Joel's jokes ジョエルの冗談よりも可笑しくて面白い
• more disgusting than natto 納豆よりも嫌でむかつく
• more quickly than a gnat jumps ブトが跳ぶよりも素早く
• quicker than a bolt of lightening 落雷が落ちるよりも早い
• more slowly than a glacier flows 氷山が流れるよりも遅く
• slower than a snail カタツムリよりも遅い
• more carefully than a surgeon works 外科が手術を行うよりも念を入れて
• more careful than Doctor Jack ジャック先生よりも注意深く

Comparative phrases may or may not be used as a unit.

比較文は一塊として使うこともあるけどバラバラになる場合もあります。

• Joel is not taller than Mount Fuji.
• Your pencil is shorter than my thumb.
• How can a ship that is heavier than water float?
• Balloons filled with helium are lighter than air.
• I can think of something more interesting to do than read Wikipedia .
• This new video game is more fun than a barrel of monkeys.
• Joel's website is no funnier than his jokes.
• Junko says there are many things more disgusting to eat than natto.
• When the teacher came in, Jiro jumped up more quickly than a gnat.
• Bolt is quicker than a bolt of lightening.
• Joel's English classes flow more slowly than a glacier.
• My new car is slower than a snail.
• He cut into the circuit board more carefully than a surgeon.
• It may be hard to find a more careful doctor than Doctor Jack.

"Less" uses similar grammar to "more".

"Less" は "more" にちなんだ利用法です。

• less tall
• less short
• less heavy
• less light
• less interesting
• less fun
• less funny
• less disgusting
• less quickly
• less quick
• less slowly
• less slow
• less carefully
• less careful

Again, finally, the comparative forms of "good", "well", and "bad" are irregular. "Good" and "well" become "better", and "bad" becomes "worse":
また、最後に、"good"、 "well"、 及び "worse" の比較級が不規則です。"Good" も "well" も "better" に、 "bad" は "worse" に変わります。

• I did well on the test. But my friend John did better than I. My friend Henry did worse.
• The tuna sushi is good. The squid sushi is even better. 
• Which did she think was worse, the natto donuts or the natto cheesecake?
• She said she thought the natto cheesecake tasted worse than the natto donuts.

That makes a pretty complete list of examples.
これで例文を充分に並べたと思います。

Reviewing superlatives -- 最上級を復習 (updated)

The key for superlatives is "most". "Most" by itself means the greatest number or measure:

最上級の秘訣は "most" です。単独にしては "most" は一番多い、最上の数及び量を示している。

• most people 人のもっとも多い（数）
• most money お金のもっとも多い（量）
• most ideas 発想のもっとも多い（量）

It can also be used with adjectives:
形容詞に合わせることも可能です。

• most tall もっとも（背の）高い
• most short もっとも（背の）短い
• most heavy もっとも重たい
• most light もっとも軽い
• most interesting もっとも興味を起こす（興味有る）
• most fun もっとも面白くて楽しい
• most funny もっとも可笑しい
• most disgusting もっとも嫌がらせる（嫌な）

And it can be used with adverbs:

また、副詞に合わせることもできます。

• most quickly もっとも素早く
• most slowly もっともゆっくりと
• most carefully もっとも注意深く

Many relatively short adjectives combine with most:

まあまあ短い形容詞の多くは "most" と組み合わせることができます。

• tallest
• shortest
• heaviest
• lightest
• interestingest (too long and clumsy)（長くて言いにくい）
• funnest (*Preferred form is "most fun".) （普段の形は "most fun" です。）
• funniest
• disgustingest (too long and clumsy)（長くて言いにくい）
• quickliest (adverbs don't) （副詞はできません。）
• quickest もっとも素早い
• slowliest (adverbs don't) （副詞はできません。）
• slowest もっともゆっくりした
• carefulliest (adverbs don't) （副詞はできません。）
• carefullest (too long and clumsy)（長くて言いにくい）
• most careful もっとも注意深い

The shorter form is usually preferred. In the case of "fun", there can be confusion with "funny", so "most fun" is usually preferred.

大抵は短い方が優先されるけど、"fun" の場合は "funny" との矛盾が生じるので "most fun" の方を普段に使っています。

To make the superlative truly unique, we indicate it with "the":

唯一の最上空であると指定したい時は "the" を使って指摘します。

• the tallest tower in the world
• the shortest river in Japan
• the heaviest airplane in the air
• the lightest car on the road
• the most interesting subject at school
• the most fun way to spend a Saturday
• the funniest comedienne in the school
• the most disgusting food that she had ever eaten
• run the most quickly (or, run the quickest)
• walk the most slowly (or, walk the slowest )
• set the table the most carefully

The superlative phrase is generally used as a unit:

最上級の文は一般的に一塊として使えます。

• Is Sky Tree the tallest tower in the world?
• What is the name of the shortest river in Japan?
• I read a magazine article about the heaviest airplane in the air today.
• Three automobile manufactures announced a competition to design the lightest car on the road.
• English is not the most interesting subject at school for me.
• But English class is the most fun way to spend a Saturday.
• Junko is the funniest comedienne in the school.
• She said that natto was the most disgusting food that she had ever eaten.
• Harumi ran the most quickly to the goal line.
• Joel walked the slowest of all.
• Chieko set her table the most carefully.

There is an inverse superlative, but the grammar for it is simpler. "Less" never combines:
最低級と言える形もあります。最上級よりも簡単です。組み合わせても別々の単語です。

• least tall
• least short
• least heavy
• least light
• least interesting
• least fun
• least funny
• least disgusting
• least quickly
• least slowly
• least carefully

And, finally, "good" and "well" are irregular in their combined form, the superlative of both is "best".

最後に、 "good" も "well" も組み合わせた形には不規則なのに、双方の最上級は "best" になります。

Mark is my most interesting friend. He is also my best friend.

I guess I should also mention "bad" which is also irregular in the superlative form -- "worst".
ところで、 "bad" も最上級が不規則にして "worst" となります。

 I had the worst nightmare last night. （"nightmare" == 「悪夢」）

I think these are the basics of superlatives.
これが最上級の基本とボクは思っています。

A model debate -- ディベートの見本

A1: Kato-city, Hyogo, in Japan, is a nice rural city.

With mountains and valleys and rivers, it has plenty of access to nature.

Even though the population is small, there are a full service hospital, four libraries, a large indoor shopping mall, and an amusement park, Tojoko Toyland.

Kato is a great place to live.

B1: Odessa, Texas, in the USA, is a mid-sized city with cowboy roots and American football traditions.

Odessa is home to the Permian High School Panthers, one of the strongest high school football teams in the world.

With about a hundred thousand people and a strong oil industry, there are plenty of opportunities for work and education, and plenty of social opportunities.

Odessa is a great place to live and work.

A2: Kato has its own high school, but it is also close enough to Ono and Nishiwaki that high school students have their choice of schools to attend. Many students attend Nishiwaki Kougyou High School, a perennial track and field powerhouse. Track and field are better than football for all-around health.

Kato also has Hyogo Education University, so there are many options for local education.

Kato has a strong agricultural base. It is nearly self-sufficient, with local vegetable and rice farms, and local dairy and meat production. Food is more important than oil.

B2: Odessa has many parks and swimming pools. Outside the city limits are many ranches and vegetable gardens. There are many camping and picnic areas close enough for day trips and overnighters. Sand surfing is available at the Monahans Sandhills. The climate is semi-arid, but there is as much access to nature in Odessa as there is in Kato.

Odessa also has a full service hospital, larger than the hospital in Kato. It has fewer libraries, but it has more colleges.

A3: In Kato, you can live a relaxed and natural lifestyle. You do not have to worry about food or education. Kato is a better place to live and work than Odessa.

B3: Odessans like to work hard and play hard. There are many opportunities for education, work and recreation. Odessa is the best place to live, work, and play.

Preparing for the debate! （討論会の用意）

Debate -- 討論

The topic we chose was:
皆で選んだ主題は

The best place to live -- city versus country

住むに最高〜都会か田舎か

We ended up with five students on each side, with one student still to pick a side.
各立場は５人ずつとなりました。一人の生徒はまだ立場をペらんでいません。

We'll have four teams and do the debate twice.
四チームにわけて二回討論を行うことにします。

There will be a few minutes to prepare and practice, and finalize sides and order, before we start. The rules will be as follows:
当日ははディベートを開始する前に用意と練習の時間、また立場と順番を最終的に決める時間をもうけるつもりです。やり方は以下の通りと考えています。

• A coin toss or a game of rocks-scissors-paper will determine the starting side -- city or country. コイントスまたはジャンケンでどちらの立場（都会か田舎か）から始めるのを決めます。
• The first speaker on each side will present two points in favor of his or her side. それぞれの立場の最初の話者は自分の立場の二点を発表します。
• The second speaker on each side will rebut the points made by the other side's first speakers. 二番目の話者最初の話者の点に対して反論を発表します。
• The third speaker on each side will summarize, and make the final argument. 最後の話者は議論をまとめて討論を終わります。
• I'll lead the evaluation and we will all decide the winner together. 私が評価を指導しますが皆で優勝者を決めましょう。

After we determined the rules, we spent some time discussing procedure, then I had each side get together to prepare arguments.
ルールを決めてからやり方を話し合いました。そして立場によってグループにわけて議論を用意しました。

At the end, I had each student practice presentation using two simple sentences, which I demonstrated as follows:
最後に、一人一人に発表の姿勢を練習してもらったのです。見本として、私が次の通り告げた。

Odessa is the best city! オデッサは最高の街です。

and そして

Odessa High School is the best high school! オデッサ高校が最高の高校です。

And everyone substituted their favorite city and high school names appropriately.
皆めいめい適切に自分の好きな街や高校の名前を入れ替え、練習しました。

Speak from the diaphragm, project your voice to the back of the room!
角膜から声を出して、言葉の音を部屋の向こうまで飛ばすのよ！

I've posted a model debate. ディベートの見本を投稿しました。