1. Unit 4B Labolengua Comparatives and superlatives, tener and soler

2. Unit 4B: Labolengua © Oxford University Press 2012 A Comparatives and superlatives When you’re talking about one thing, it’s ‘easy’ – fácil (adjective): La tarea es fácil – The task is easy. When you’re comparing it to something else, it’s ‘easier than’ – más fácil que (comparative): La tarea 2 es más fácil que la 3 – Task 2 is easier than 3.

3. Unit 4B: Labolengua © Oxford University Press 2012 Or you can also say ‘it’s less complicated than’ – menos complicado que (comparative): El ejercicio 3 es menos complicado que el ejercicio 2 – Exercise 3 is less complicated than exercise 2. At times you want to say that something is ‘the most/the least’ (superlative): the easiest = el/la más fácil. La tarea 4 es la más fácil – Task 4 is the easiest.

4. Unit 4B: Labolengua © Oxford University Press 2012 B Idiomatic uses of tener Besides when expressing your age, e.g. tengo catorce años, there are many occasions where in English we use the verb ‘to be’ + adjective and in Spanish we use the verb tener + noun. Here are some common examples: tener hambre/sed – to be hungry/thirsty tener éxito – to be successful tener razón – to be right tener calor/frío – to be hot/cold tener miedo – to be scared tener suerte – to be lucky

5. Unit 4B: Labolengua © Oxford University Press 2012 C Soler + infinitive The structure soler + infinitive is used to refer to what is usually done or, when used in the imperfect, what one used to do in the past. Suelo ir a Argentina en verano – I usually go to Argentina in summer. Imperfect: Solía ir a Argentina en verano – I used to go to Argentina in summer. solíasolíamos solíassolíais solíasolían