Learning English in your spare time is really helping you, but what happens when you need to use it at work? We’ve been studying for ages and yet do not speak fluently. Time to speak more English if we want to speak better English.
Here are some easy ways to practice your English at work:
Try to use English at work every day: you can start slowly but steadily, do something in English as part of your work, send a mail, make a phone call, book an appointment, etc. Start with easy tasks and increase difficulty gradually. Have some of your colleagues help you when preparing and/or to check your message.
Interact on social networks in English, especially in professional ones, where you get to practice vocabulary related to your field. Interacting means to get actively involved, not just read and share, so follow specialised/professional blogs, news, media and write comments, participate in groups, report news, express your point of view, etc.
Do you have a foreign co-worker? Make friends with him/her. Take advantage and try to have casual conversations first, before moving into more professional ones.
Or just do it the other way around, some people feel more confident when they know the subject they are talking about. Do whatever feels right for you.
You don’t have a multicultural work environment where you get the chance to practice your English skills? Create one!! agree on a day/time and try to get your team involved in communicating in English for that time span. Or do a regular progress meeting in English, to get used to speaking it in a “safe” environment at the work place. Certainly, you don’t want to start on it with that very important meeting at the client, but you’ll be better prepared and more confident if you’ve already had some practice.
Probably some days you just won’t feel like it, or you’ll have too much workload to focus on English but keep it mind and create a habit. The most important thing is that it becomes a regular practice and not something that feels awkward.
Easy, peasy!
Los comparativos y superlativos en inglés. Repasamos paso a paso las formas comparativas y superlativas de los adjetivos en inglés. Aunque este tema es sencillo, a veces nos hacemos un lío con cuáles son los comparativos y superlativos en inglés. No te preocupes que lo vemos paso a paso para que tengas claras todas las diferentes formas.
A la hora de construir los comparativos y superlativos en inglés, hay que tener en cuenta el número de sílabas del adjetivo.
Adjetivos de una sílaba
para formar el comparativo añadimos -er (than)
para formar el superlativo añadimos the -est
Algunos adjetivos de una sílaba son por ejemplo: big, tall, short, fast, slow, nice, young…
Mira éstos ejemplos de los comparativos y superlativos en inglés de este tipo de adjetivos
e.g.
I want a bigger house.
The train is slower than the plane.
I think the cheapest option is to go by car.
This is the oldest building in town.
Observa que al usar el comparativo podemos añadir than, si es necesario pero según la frase, a veces no lo necesitaremos. Al usar el superlativo sí es necesario usar siempre the.
Adjetivos de dos sílabas acabados en -y
para formar el comparativo añadimos -ier (than)
para formar el superlativo añadimos the -iest
Algunos ejemplos de adjetivos de este tipo: easy, happy, heavy, funny, crazy…
e.g.
I hope it will be easier this time.
She’s funnier than me.
These boxes are the heaviest.
That’s the craziest idea.
Adjetivos de más de dos sílabas
para formar el comparativo añadimos more … (than)
para formar el superlativo añadimos the most …
Algunos adjetivos de ese tipo: important, expensive, beautiful, comfortable…
e.g.
This hotel is more expensive.
Trainers are more comfortable than high heel shoes.
Money is not the most important thing in life.
She’s the most beautiful woman.
Adjetivos irregulares
aunque no son muchos, sí son bastante importantes estos adjetivos que son irregulares o excepciones al construir las formas comparativas y superlativas
comparativo de good > better
superlativo de good > the best
comparativo de bad > worse
superlativo de bad > the worst
comparativo de far > farther, further
superlativo de far > the farthest, the furthest
e.g.
Do you feel better today?
That was the best day of my life.
He’s the worst player in the team.
I can’t be worse than this.
Además de todos los comparativos y superlativos en inglés que ya hemos visto, hay también otras estructuras como por ejemplo, el opuesto de more sería less, igualmente, el opuesto de the most sería the least y para decir “tan…como” usaríamos as…as.
more than > less than
the most > the least
(not) as … as
e.g.
Tickets are less expensive than I thought.
This is the least expensive supermarket.
He’s not as tall as his brother.
Our car is as fast as their car.
Are you the best? Seguro que con este repaso general de los comparativos y superlativos en inglés ya puedes ponerte a practicar, por ejemplo con estos 100 adjetivos comunes y ampliar aún más tu vocabulario con las versiones de su comparativo y superlativo correspondiente.