Click here to review Adjectives first!!

Click here for adjective conjugation chart.

Assignment 1-5 A:
Click here to get a adjective lists (Must-remember list) and fill them out and turn in.  This is the format for the adjectives conjugation quiz.

Click the following links for:
average temperature in Japanese cities,  

average precipitation in Japanese cities,   

average temperature of international comparison,   

average precipitation for international comparison.
 

 Click here (8.37 MB, 1 page) for handout on weather and climate in Japan.  The PDF file is from "Your Guide to Japan" by Japan National Tourist Organization, 1999

For an Interesting Almanac on Japan "Japan Almanac 2002" published by The Asahi Shinbun. . 

Click here  (PDF format)
Click here. (HTM format)

We will use the above statistics for the following assignments
 

Comparatives and Superlatives

 

1.X は Y より + Adjective 　　        X is more Adjective than Y 2.X は Y より + Adverb + Verb　　     X does...more Adverb than Y     (or you can think よりthis way:  Concerning X, comparing with Y, is more …)  (Refer to DBJG Yori 1 pp.564 – 567 for more sample sentences.) Practice this structure Click here.

 気候は、北海道は、九州より、寒いです。　　（北海道は、九州より、寒いです。　） In terms of climate, Hokkaido is colder than Kyushu.

Assignment 1-5 B: Look at the first page,“Japanese and Foreign Prices,” of the handouts from the "Japan Almanac 2002" (See above for the link) and write three sentences about the price comparison of different items among 東京、ニューヨーク、ロンドン、パリ、andベルリン.
E.g. 米の値段は、東京はパリより安いです。As for the rice price, Tokyo is cheaper than Paris.

                     

Adverbs can be made from many adjectives: い-Adj.:  Change い intoく+ verb   E.g. おおきく　します。 (Make/do big) な-Adj. :  な-Adj.+ に + verb. 　E.g. きれいに　たべました。(ate cleanly = ate up everything)

 

3.X と Y と（では）、    どちらのほうが + Adjective ですか   X と Y と（では）、    どちらのほうが+ Adverb + Verb  か   X or Y, which (of the two alternatives) is more  Adjective      X or Y, which (of the two alternatives) does more Adverb + Verb   Practice this structure Click here.

A: 北海道と九州と（では）、どちらの方が寒いですか。　B: 北海道の方が、寒いです。 A: Hokkaido or Kyushu, which one (of the two) is colder? B: Hokkaido is colder.

A: 北海道と九州と（では）、どちらの方が暑いですか。　B: 九州の方が、暑いです。A: Hokkaido or Kyushu, which one (of the two) is warmer? B: Kyushu is warmer.

 

Assignment 1-5 C: Again, look at the first page,“Japanese and Foreign Prices,” of the handouts from the "Japan Almanac 2002"(See above for the link) and write three sentences about the price comparison of different items among 東京、ニューヨーク、ロンドン、パリ、andベルリン. Make three conversational exchanges between A and B as you see the samples below.
E.g. A:　東京とパリとでは、米の値段は、どちらの方が、高いですか。B:　パリの方が高いです。Tokyo or Paris, as for the rice price, which is more expensive?

4.X のほうが + Y より+ Adjective           X のほうが + Y より+ Adverb + Verb     X is more  Adjective than Y               X does more Adverb + Verb than Y   Note: This structure is very similar to the first one above. The only difference is  that  is は replaced by のほうが .   (Refer to DBJG Ho ga pp.140 – 144 for more sample sentences.)   Practice this structure Click here. More Practice this structure.  Click here. More Practice this structure.  Click here.

 気候は、北海道の方が、九州より、寒いです。　　（北海道は、九州より、寒いです。　）In terms of climate, Hokkaido is colder than Kyushu (or Hokkaido is colder, comparing with Kyushu.)

Assignment 1-5 D: Look at the second page “Spending on Leisure”of the handouts (See above for the link). Write three sentences using this structure #4.
E.g. 海外旅行の方がゴルフよりたくさんお金がかかります。Oversea Traveling costs more money than golf.
海外旅行の方がゴルフより高いです。Oversea Traveling is more expensive than golf.

5.X は Y ほど negative + Adjective   X は Y ほど negative + Adverb + Verb    X  is  not  as much Adjective as Y     X does not + Verb as much Adverb as Y    ほど is used only in the negative sentences. You can say that ほどis the negative version of より.        Practice this structure Click here. More Practice this structure.  Click here. More Practice this structure.  Click here.

北海道は、九州ほど、暑くないです。　Hokkaido is not as hot as Kyushu.　　

九州は、北海道ほど、寒くないです。　Kyushu is not as cold as Hokkaido.

Assignment 1-5 E: Look at the third page of the handout “Participants in Leisure Activities” from the "Japan Almanac 2002"(See above for the link). Write three sentences using this structure #5.
E.g. 宝くじの参加人口は、外食ほど多くないです。The participating population (number of participants) of lottery is not as many as dining out.
 

6.X と Y と Z のなかで（or のうちで）、                     X が一番 + Adjective. 　X と Y と Z のなかで（or のうちで）、                     X が一番+ Adverb + Verb   Among X,Y,Z, X is the most Adjective   Among X,Y,Z, X does the most Adverb + Verb      (Refer to DBJG Ichiban pp.148 – 149 for more sample sentences.)

 A:九州と北海道と四国の中で、どこが一番寒いですか。　B:北海道が一番寒いです。A: Among Kyushu, Hokkaido, and Shikoku, where is the coldest?  B: Hokkaido is the coldest.

Assignment 1-5 F: Look at the handouts from the "Japan Almanac 2002"(See above for the link).  Write three sentences (one from each page) about your observation, using this #6 structure.

 

7.X は Y と おなじくらい + Adjective               X は Y と おなじくらい + Adverb + Verb     X is about the same as Y with regard to Adjective     X is about the same as Y with regard to Adverb + Verb

九州は四国と、同じぐらいあたたかいです。
Kyushu is as warm as Shikoku.
本州の北は北海道と同じぐらい寒いです。　
Noth of Honshu is as cold as Hokkaido.
本州の南は九州と同じぐらいあたたかいです。
South of Honshu is as warm as Kyushu.

Assignment 1-5 G: Again, look at the handouts from the "Japan Almanac 2002"(See above for the link).  Write three sentences (one from each page) about your observation, using this #7 structure.

 

Click here (PDF format) for handouts to practice comparative and superlative structure.  This is from a book for Japanese children preparing for entrance exams of private elementary schools.

 

Assignment 1-5 H :  Create/write your own key sentences of each above grammar and memorize them.