english 9 mr. rinka - lesson #37 modifiers the call of the wild

English 9Mr. Rinka - Lesson #37

ModifiersThe Call of the Wild

Modifiers

We have studied the two parts of speech that are modifiers:Adjectives I bought a new, red bicycle.AdverbsPlayers ran up the field very quickly.

What is an Adjective?

An Adjective is a word that describes (modifies) a noun or a pronoun.

That was a great book!

What is an Adjective?

Jaguars are very fast animals.

It is a warm, sunny day.

You look beautiful!

How do Adjectives Function?

What kind?

Which one? How many? How much?

blue sky that boy two books enough food

new shoes next question

few people more facts

old dog neither man many stories

less trouble

Adverbs

An Adverb is an word that describes a verb, an adjective, or another adverb.

The sky was very cloudy.(very describes adjective cloudy)

AdverbsThe deer ran quickly through the forest.(quickly describes the verb ran)

The man walked rather slowly.(rather describes the adverb slowly which describes the verb walked)

Adverbs Answer These Questions to Verbs

Where? When?

He stopped there. He’ll see you tomorrow.

She fell down. I want to eat now.

I’ll wait here. The show is later.

Adverbs Answer These Questions to Verbs

How? To What Extent?

He quickly left. I do not trust you completely.

She spoke softly. She hardly spoke.

We walked carefully. He turned slightly.

Comparison of Modifiers

Adjectives change form when comparing one noun/pronoun to another with the same quality.

Both my car and your car are fast.Your car is faster than mine is.However, Dad’s car is the fastest car.


When making comparison between verbs, we use adverbs.

I work quickly.My friend, Sam, works more quickly.Marie works most quickly of all.


3 degrees of comparison: positive, comparative, and superlative.Positive Comparative Superlative

warm warmer warmest

old older oldest

fast faster fastest

good better best

quickly more quickly most quickly

slowly more slowly most slowly


1 syllable modifiers regularly form their comparative and superlative degrees by adding –er and –est.Positive Comparative Superlativeweak weaker weakest

big bigger biggest

small smaller smallest


Some 2 syllable words use the regular form of comparison and others use “more” and “most.”Positive Comparati

veSuperlative

pretty prettier prettiest

slow slower slowest

useful more useful

most useful

slowly more slowly

most slowly


Words with more than 3 syllables use “more” and “most” in creating comparisons. Positive Comparative Superlative

powerful more powerful

most powerful

carefully more carefully

most carefully


When showing a decrease in a quality, the words “less” and “least” are used.

Positive Comparative

Superlative

careful less careful least careful

carefully less carefully

least carefully


Some modifiers create comparisons in an irregular form.

Positive Comparative

Superlative

bad worse worst

many/much

more most

good/well better best

little less least


We use the comparative form when comparing 2 things, and we use the superlative form when comparing more than 2.For me, math is harder than chemistry.However, physics is hardest of all subjects.


Use the word “other” or “else” when comparing 1 thing to another in the same group.

Beth is more talented than any player on the field. (Wrong)Beth is more talented than any other player on the field. (Correct)


Sam can run faster than anyone. (Wrong)Sam can run faster than anyone else. (Correct)


Do not use double comparisons.

I feel more better today. (Wrong)I feel better today. (Correct)

She is the most fastest runner. (Wrong)She is the fastest runner. (Correct)


Be clear in using comparisons.UnclearJoe sees Paul more than Steve. ClearJoe sees Paul more than he sees Steve.Joe sees Paul more than Steve does.

Comparison Exercises

http://www.ego4u.com/en/cram-up/grammar/adjectives-adverbs/adjectives/exercises

http://www.ego4u.com/en/cram-up/grammar/adjectives-adverbs/adverbs/exercises?02








http://www.ego4u.com/en/cram-up/grammar/adjectives-adverbs/three-pigs

The Call of the Wildby Jack London

Summaryhttp://www.sparknotes.com/lit/call/

http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/call/

http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/call/

I. “Into the Primitive”http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/call/section1.rhtml

Buck is a domestic dog living in Santa Clara Valley California.

Judge Miller and his family love and treat Buck very well.

The Miller’s gardener plays the lottery and loses. He needs money.

http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/call/section1.rhtml


The gardener, Manuel, takes the dog and sells him to a man as a sled dog.

Buck fights when he is sold to a stranger, but is beaten and placed in a baggage car of a train.

When Buck awakens, he realizes where he is and tries to fight. He’s beaten again.




Buck is locked in a crate and does not eat or drink for two days and two nights.

Buck grows angry and vows to never let anyone put a rope around his neck again.

Buck ends up in Seattle, WA and when a man tries to open his crate he attacks him. The man hits him with a club.




Buck continues to fight and is beaten into submission.

Then the man brings him water and meat and pats him on the head.

Buck realizes he does not stand a chance against a man with a club. “Might makes right” is the primitive law he learns.




A French Canadian named Perrault buys Buck and another dog named Curly.

They are taken to a ship, the Narwhal, and is turned over to another man, Francois.

The two dogs join another two, Spitz and Dave, and they begin the journey north.


As they travel north, the weather turns colder and colder.

When they finally arrive in the North, the weather is very cold, and Buck sees snow for the first time.

II. “The Law of Club and Fang”http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/call/section2.rhtml

Buck realizes he has left civilization and is in the wild and primitive North.

There are violent and cruel dogs and men all around.

Curly, a female dog, approaches another husky but is attacked and several dogs end up killing her.


Buck realizes that he needs to never go down in a fight if he wants to stay alive.

He realizes he hates Spitz, a dog who seems to laugh at Curly’s fate.

Francois harnesses Buck to a sled, and Buck is humiliated by the forced labor.


However, buck does his best, and he nips at Spitz and growls at Dave while paying respect to the more experienced dogs.

Buck is a quick learner. He learns to top on “ho,” and to move on “mush.” He learns how to move and turn downhill.

Later that day, Billee and Joe join the team. They are brothers but very different.


Billie is friendly; Joe is not. Spitz picks on them both, and while Billie is intimidated, Joe snaps back and is left alone by Spitz.

Sol-leks, an old husky with one eye, joins the team. Buck accidentally approaches him from behind and Sol-lek slashes him.

The two eventually become friends.


At night, Buck can not find a place to sleep. He tries to enter the men’s tent and is thrown out. He is freezing cold.

When he walks over Billie sleeping in a snow hole, he digs one himself and sleeps comfortably. He is learning fast.

Three dogs are added to make a nine.


Buck does not mind pulling the sled, but realizes the other dogs love it.

He is placed with Dave and Sol-lek who serve as his teachers.

Francois and Perrault are mail carriers, and they leave the coast to the town of Dawson.


The team covers 40 miles a day, but is slowed when they leave the packed trails.

The days and the trip are long, and Buck is always hungry. He learns to eat fast to get more food than others.

He learns to steal and his old morals are leaving him. Animal instincts are growing.

III. “The Dominant Primordial Beast”http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/call/section3.rhtml

Buck learns to use his primitive instincts to survive in the North. He stays out of fights, but Spitz becomes an intimidating rival.

One night, Spitz takes his place for food, and Buck challenges him.

As they are about to fight, a pack of 100 wild hungry dogs attack the camp.


Buck is attacked by 3 wild dogs and is slashed on his head and shoulders. During the attack, Spitz goes after Buck.

Eventually, the sled dogs have to retreat onto the frozen lake and regroup in the woods.

When they return to camp, there is no food left.


Francois worries the wild dogs have infected the sled dogs, but Perrault does no think so.

The sled dogs must continue since 400 miles still remain ahead.

They face serious risks because the frozen lakes and rivers are partially melted.


Dogs break through the ice and almost freeze to death. The going is very hard.

Dolly goes crazy and chases Buck. She is killed by Francois, and Buck is exhausted.

Spitz takes advantage of Buck’s condition and attacks. Francois stops him by whipping Spitz. There is undeclared war.


The men recognize the inevitable fight these two dogs will have, and Francois thinks Buck will win; Perrault does not.

Before reaching Dawson, Buck challenges Spitz’s leadership by siding with the weaker dogs that Spitz is trying to control.

Nothing is settled as they arrive in Dawson.


From Dawson, the sled team heads for Skaguay, and Buck’s challenges grow.

During a chase after a rabbit, Buck leads the pack. When Spitz breaks away, he gets to the rabbit first.

Buck then runs into Spitz and the two lock into a fight to the death.


Spitz is a more experienced fighter, and he bloodies Buck badly.

When Spitz resumes an attack, Buck tricks him when he fakes rushing Spitz’s shoulder and then dives at his leg.

Buck breaks Spitz’s leg and kills him.


http://www.ego4u.com/en/cram-up/grammar/adjectives-adverbs/three-pigs

english 9 mr. rinka - lesson #37 modifiers the call of the wild

Documents

comparison of modifiers

wild slide

adjective cloudy slide

syllable modifiers

degrees of comparison

regular form of comparison

comparative form

adverbs players