7.

ADJECTIVES:
Read these two comments about two restaurant experiences and underline all the
adjectives you find while reading:
FERRY DISGUSTING!
You might think a five-hour sea-crossing isn't the best place to have a gastronomic feast, and you
would be right - but not because of the rough seas. Innominate 'Jerry's Ferries' for the prize for the
worst meal sever cooked at sea! I needed a two-week tour of French restaurants to get over it.

We boarded the ferry at breakfast time and headed straight for the restaurant. Our charming waitress
brought us a cup of good strong tea, but things deteriorated quickly after that – with toast which was cold
and leathery. We ordered sausages, grilled tomatoes and scrambled eggs; the sausages were greasy and
tasteless and the scrambled eggs were rubbery and very unpleasant. So full marks only for the tea!
By lunchtime we were starving as we'd only eaten a tiny amount at breakfast, so we decided to give the
more expensive restaurant a try. A mistake. We both thought fish would be a wise choice at sea, but how
wrong we were.
The spicy grilled trout tasted like shoe leather and was accompanied by lumpy mashed potato and a tiny
green salad with no dressing. The desserts included an apple pie with surprisingly good pastry but the
apple was a soggy green mess.
Next time, I’ll take my sandwiches.

A hum of quiet enjoyment

by John Wells

We got there early, and the restaurant was still empty but from the moment the next party foIlowed us in I
knew we were in the right place. No one raised their voices, but the place hummed with quiet enjoyment,
and the food matched the atmosphere.
There was a choice of nine starters, all of which sounded highly appetising. Among them were marinated
squid with French beans, and potato pancakes with Parma ham and celery. I started with leek and potato
soup which was smooth, creamy and served at exactly the right temperature. My wife had steamed
mussels with curry, cream and herbs and described it as very herby and absolutely delicious.
There were seven main courses. I had roast pheasant which was a huge tender meaty leg, and it came on a
bed of crisp potatoes with broccoli. My wife's fish stew, made from cod and red mullet, was equally good,
and we both finished off with a lemon soufflé which was light as a feather and very lemony.
The service throughout was quick, charming and unobtrusive and an added bonus was the bill, which was
very reasonable for such high-quality food. Dinner for two with wine and coffee came to 57.50 pounds,
service not included. We left a very generous tip.

7.1. Language Focus: Forming Adjectives from Nouns

Many adjectives are formed by adding -y to the noun, and the meaning is often- having or
containing the quality of the noun. For example:
Salty food contains a lot of salt.
Curly hair has a lot of curls.
From all the adjectives ending in -y in the two texts, how many of them have the meaning
above? Make two lists (adjectives ending in -y with the meaning above, and adjectives ending in
-y which are different), and then make sure you understand the meaning of all of them.

Adjectives like salty and curly Other adjectives ending in -y

GREASY TINY
RUBBERY SOGGY
SPICY EMPTY
LUMPY HIGH-QUALITY
HIGHLY
CREAMY
HERBY
MEATY
LEMONY

7.2. Adjectives formed by adding –y to a noun are very frequent in English. Look, for
example, at the following weather forecast, taken from The Daily Telegraph. Underline
the adjectives you find which are like salty and curly above. What nouns do they come
from?

Forecast for Today:

South-east England, Wessex, the Tames Valley, the Midlands, west Scotland and
Northern Ireland are expected to dawn fine and frosty , with some sunshine this morning, but
rain is expected this afternoon, preceded by snow over high ground. It will become much milder by
this evening.
Eastern, central and northern Scotland will be cold with sunny spells and scattered wintry
showers after a severe morning frost.
Tonight, England, Wales, southern Scotland and Northern Ireland will probably stay cold
with some snow.
The Week Ahead:
Milder south-westerly winds will return for a few days, but a brief northerly outbreak is expected
after mid-week. A windy day is likely tomorrow, with early rain followed by sunny spells and
blustery showers, and it should be quite mild except in Scotland.
On Tuesday cloudy weather will return to southern districts with some rain, but the northern half
of the country will be cold with sunny spells and wintry showers.
By Wednesday it should turn brighter but cooler in all parts of Britain. Developments after mid-
week are uncertain, but wintry showers are possible in northern Britain on Thursday, perhaps
spreading to the South on Friday.

How are adjectives formed from the nouns North, South, East, and West?
NORTHERLY, SOUTH-WESTERLY.
Can you think of any other ways in which we can form adjectives from nouns?
WITH SUFFIX LIKE -ABLE, -EN, -ISH…

FROSTY- FROST-HELADO
SUNNY-SUN-SOLEADO
WINTRY-WINTER.INVERNAL
SOUTH-WESTERLY-SOUTH WEST- DESDE EL SUDOESTE
NORTHERLY-NORTH-DESDE EL NORTE
WINDY-WIND- CON VIENTO
BLUSTERY-BLUSTER-TEMPESTUOSO
CLOUDY-CLOUD-NUBLADO
6. Grammar: Contrasting Ideas
This is a list of the connectors you can use to express contrast:

✓ But
✓ However

✓ Although / even though

✓ Despite / despite the fact that

✓ In spite of / in spite of the fact that

✓ Nevertheless

✓ Nonetheless
✓ While
✓ Whereas

✓ Unlike
✓ In theory… in practice…

a) But is more informal than however. It is not normally used at the beginning of a
sentence, whereas however often is.
"He works hard, but he doesn't earn much."
"He works hard. However, he doesn't earn much."

b) Although, despite and in spite of introduce an idea of contrast. With these words, you
must have two halves of a sentence.
"Although it was cold, she went out in shorts."
"In spite of the cold, she went out in shorts."

c) Despite and in spite of are used in the same way as due to and owing to. They must
be followed by a noun. If you want to follow them with a noun and a verb, you must
use the fact that.
"Despite the fact that the company was doing badly, they took on extra employees."

d) Nevertheless and nonetheless mean in spite of that or anyway.

"The sea was cold, but he went swimming nevertheless." (In spite of the fact that it was cold.)
"The company is doing well. Nonetheless (in spite of this), they aren't going to expand this year."

How to use "Nevertheless" or “Nonetheless” (IMPORTANT)

English learners are often confused by "nevertheless" and "however," and for good reason! You
can always replace "nevertheless" with "however," but you cannot always replace "however" with
"nevertheless." What gives?
"Nevertheless" is a transition. Like all transitions, "nevertheless" links two clauses, showing a
logical relationship between them. "Nevertheless" indicates concession. What is concession? Put
simply, a concession is something that is unexpected or surprising. Consider this statement:
Jane lived in Tokyo for ten years.
So, given that Jane lived in Japan for a long time, what would be unexpected or surprising?
Jane has never been to Peru.
Jane can't speak any Japanese.
The first statement is not a surprise. Japan and Peru are not close together. These are simply
contrasting ideas. However, the second statement is a surprise. We would expect Jane to speak
at least some Japanese since she lived in Japan for so long. Thus, we can use "nevertheless" to
connect the two ideas:
Jane lived in Tokyo for ten years; nevertheless, she can't speak any Japanese.

"However" can indicate both concession AND contrast, so you can use "however" anywhere you
can use "nevertheless."

“Nonetheless” is the same as “nevertheless”, but it is more formal.

PRACTICE: Where in these sentences would you use “nevertheless”? And where would it
be better to use “however”?

1. John is terrified of flying; nevertheless he flies to London at least once each

month because of his work

2. Elaine is allergic to dogs. however she has four.

3. Hiro lives in Japan. His girlfriend, however, lives in Taiwan.

4. Frank is very shy. However, his sister is very outgoing.

5. My husband enjoys watching baseball. Nevertheless, he doesn't like watching

football.

6. Gina said that she didn't have time for dating. Nevertheless, she went on four
dates with Daniel just last week.

7. Candace doesn't drink much tea. She drinks at least a pot of coffee each day,
however

8. Everyone was sure that the company would offer John a promotion.
Nevertheless John decided to go work for a new company.

9. The coffee shop down the street is closed for remodelling. However, the one
around the corner is open.

10. That new nightclub downtown, Carpe Diem, was always full of people.
Nevertheless, it shut down last week because it kept losing money.

e) While, whereas and unlike are used to show how two things are different from each
other.
"While my sister has blue eyes, mine are brown."
"Taxes have gone up, whereas social security contributions have gone down."
"Unlike in the UK, the USA has cheap petrol."

f) In theory… in practice… show an unexpected result.

"In theory, teachers should prepare for lessons, but in practice, they often don't have enough
time."
PRATICE: although, however, though, in spite of, whereas
Rewrite the sentences using the words given. You may need to change some words (and be careful
with the punctuation). Where two answers are possible, choose the more likely one:

1. He seemed a friendly person - but I didn't like him. (although)

Although he seemed a friendly person, I didn't like him.
2. My car wouldn't start. Jenny's started immediately. (whereas)
My car wouldn't start, whereas Jenny's started immediately.
3. Jo never helped with the housework. Pat did. (whereas)
Jo never helped with the housework, whereas Pat did.
4. He lived in Germany for ten years - but he never learned German. (in spite of)
In spite of living in Germany for ten years, he never learned German.
5. We sometimes stayed out late. We always got home before twelve. (though)
We sometimes stayed out late, we always got home before twelve though.
6. He didn't like sport: he didn't mind watching the football. (however)
He didn´t like sport, however he didn´t mind watching the football.
7. I was very hungry. I had eaten an hour earlier. (in spite of)
In spite of having eaten an hour earlier, I was very hungry.
8. The flat was comfortable. It was very expensive. (although)
Although it was very expensive, the flat was comfortable.
9. My parents were angry. They soon forgave me. (though)
My parents were angry, they soon forgave me though.
10. The old house was near the sea. The new one is in the middle of the town. (whereas)
The old house was near the sea, whereas the new one is in the middle of the town.
4. Styles of Eating
Reading: Apart from the fact that the vocabulary for food and cooking is often different, the style
of eating differs vastly between British and American people. Read the following texts. Then and
fill in the table under the texts summarising what you have understood.

Eating and Drinking in Britain

Manners are arguably the cornerstone of The rule about eating with a knife and fork
British society and table manners are no is true even at barbecues, which British
exception. Most Brits strictly follow table people like to prepare whenever they can. On
manners, particularly when eating out and these occasions steak, ribs, chicken, fish,
at social events. If you are travelling to lamb, sausages or kebabs are grilled,
Britain, it pays to be aware of and follow normally over charcoal or wood fires. Now
British table manners or you could risk that the British are more in contact with
appearing rude and vulgar to the natives. other European countries, coffee is
sometimes served after a meal, but instant
Nearly everything (even chips and very often
coffee, regarded as quite acceptable, is more
hamburgers) is eaten with a knife and fork
common than its filtered version, and would
and these utensils must be held properly.
not raise eyebrows even when served to
guests. Tea, served hot with sugar and milk,
however, still continues to be very popular,
and is normally drunk several times a day,
including at breakfast. The traditional
English breakfast of eggs, sausages, baked
beans, etc. has now largely been supplanted
by “continental breakfast”, consisting of
fruits, cheeses, a variety of pastries and cold
meats, such as sliced ham, for example,
The fork goes in the left hand and is held
apart from buttered toast and jam.
upside down, and the knife goes in the right
hand. Food is pushed onto the bottom side Lunch is normally eaten at around one p.m.
of the fork – which is now curving and dinner is had at about 7.00 to 9.00 p.m.
downwards (strange, but that’s the way it When you are invited to someone’s home for
is!!). If you have soup, you hold the soup dinner, it is normal to stay until about 2 or
spoon in your right hand and scoop the soup 3 a.m.; leaving before midnight would be
away from you. You can also tip the bowl considered as rude (implying that the hosts
away from you. !! Eating food with one's were perhaps boring). Friends going to a
hands in the Commonwealth is just not restaurant for dinner will invariably stay
correct decorum, and one NEVER uses bread there the whole evening. A stay of 4 - 6 hours
either to push one’s food onto one’s fork or in the restaurant would not be considered
to clean one’s plate after one has eaten. In unusual. Main courses can be held back
fact, bread is not frequently served with until the party calls for them and once the
meals at all, but kept only for breakfast and meal is complete the bill is seldom brought
tea-time. And dunking bread into one’s until the guests ask for it. So people sit,
coffee or tea is also a no-no. drink and socialise at the table, sometimes
until the small hours.
In Britain you are legally allowed to drink bosses use this as an opportunity to get to
when you are 18. Most people like to have a know their staff better.
“local”, a pub close to home or work that they
The British frequently mix drinks, for
visit on a regular basis. They know everyone
example, beer with spirits or with sweet
there and everyone knows them; it’s a home
drinks like Sprite or 7Up (called “lemonade”).
away from home they visit to see friends or
Beer is normally not drunk cold, and even
just to sit and read a book while having a
cold drinks are mostly served without ice or
quiet drink. Drinking alcohol on a regular
at the very most perhaps with a cube or two.
basis is common. More often than not the
Whisky is seldom served with ice and never
average person will consume some form of
with a mixer, except soda or ginger ale.
alcohol every single day of their life – even if
Liquor is sold in supermarkets and special
it’s just a quick beer at their local pub on the
shops called “off-licences” and the legal
way home or a glass of wine while watching
driving limit is 0.08.
TV. Also, going to the pub for lunch and a
few beers is not only common practice, but

Eating and Drinking in the USA

Table manners in the USA are generally p.m. USA restaurants all close by 10 p.m.
quite relaxed. Normally one eats just with a When visiting friends in their home, they feel
fork; the knife is used to cut up the meat, obliged to leave by 9 p.m. Lunchtime is 12
and after that it is returned to the table, the noon.
fork is placed in the right hand and the rest
of the meal consumed with the fork only. In
fact, many meals such as salad are served
only with a fork. French fries are eaten with
one’s fingers, even in upmarket restaurants,
and hamburgers, of course, are eaten with
one’s hands. (In the USA chips are always
called “fries” unless they are served with
battered fish; then and then only, are they
called “fish and chips”).When it comes to a
barbecue, many Americans prefer to cook
hamburger patties and hot dogs rather than
more complicated things like steaks, chicken
and other meats, though that doesn’t mean
that they are never served. American
barbecues are generally gas-powered, so the
grilling can be done even in small back
yards. At home, Americans only sit down to
have a fully organised family meal on
celebrations like Christmas or Thanksgiving
day. And when they go out socialising, they
like to eat early in the evening and will often
be found in restaurants having dinner at 5
Americans take their coffee VERY seriously, about drinking, and consuming alcohol on a
and the thought of drinking instant coffee is daily basis, even if it is not in large quantities
about as appetising as drinking toxic waste! is regarded as alcoholism. The legal age to
Few US homes have kettles, while no home drink is 21, while in Canada in some
is without a coffee filter machine; coffee is provinces it is 19 and in others18.
always drunk at breakfast, the typical Liquor laws in America differ from state to
“continental breakfast” being coffee and state. In California you can buy liquor 7 days
donuts. Tea is not very popular, and when a week, right up to 2 a.m. In Nevada, booze
drunk, it is had cold with ice and sugar. The is on sale 24 hours a day, seven days a week,
only warm tea Americans drink is herbal tea while in Texas, Kentucky and other southern
(which, incidentally, they pronounce ‘erbal). states there are many counties where you
Americans truly have a “throw –away” can’t buy liquor at all, not even beer on ANY
day. Some states will only allow beer that is
3.2% alcohol, while others (like Utah)
prohibit the sale of hard liquor completely
unless you belong to a club. Many states
have “open container” laws – that is, no open
containers of alcohol are allowed in a vehicle
– not even if a passenger is drinking it! The
legal driving limit of alcohol in blood is
0.08%.

society. Even the best hotels will serve coffee

in disposable cups and the teaspoons are no
more than plastic straws. Certainly saucers
are NEVER provided. American restaurants
are almost without exception “eat, pay and
get outta here” establishments. A table will
typically be turned over 5 or 6 times in an
evening. Starters (appetizers) are rushed out
within 5 – 10 minutes of arrival and the main
course is served immediately. The check is
brought as soon as the plates are cleared. An
average visit to an American restaurant is
between 45 minutes and an hour. In
America, beers are mostly served in the
bottle (even in 5-star hotels). They will be
chilled almost to freezing point, and wrapped
in a paper napkin to soak condensation.
Americans like their drinks cold, and soft
drinks are poured only after the glass has
been filled at least half to three quarters with
ice. American people are quite Puritanical
 UK UK UK UK UK
Table Manners Socialising and Tea and Coffee Other Drinks Liquor Laws
Eating Out
To British people When they eat out, British people Beer is normally In Britain you
table manners they spend a lot of consume more not drunk cold, can´t drink
are very time in the tea than coffee. and even cold alcohol until you
important. They restaurant. The Coffee is usually drinks are are 18. People
always use a main course is not instant coffee mostly served can buy alcohol
knife (on the left served until asked and it´s served without ice or at in special shops
hand) and fork and the bill is not sometimes after the very most called off-
(on the right brought to the meals. Tea is perhaps with a licenses and
hand). When they guests until they served with cube or two. supermarkets.
need a spoon, asked for it. sugar and milk Also the British The legal driving
they scoop When they are and they drink it frequently mix limit is 0.08.
whatever they are invited to several times a drinks, for
eating away from someone’s house day. example, beer
them. Unlike us, for dinner, they with spirits or
British people usually have to be with sweet
don´t use bread to there at the usual drinks like
push one’s food dinner time (7:00 Sprite or 7Up
onto one’s fork , pm-9:00pm) and
to clean one’s they have to stay
plate after one past midnight
has eaten or to otherwise the guest
dunk it on their think they are
coffee or tea. rude.
 USA USA USA USA USA
Table Manners Socialising and Tea and Coffee Other Drinks Liquor Laws
Eating Out
In the USA, table When they visit a For American Americans like Liquor laws in
manners are restaurant, they people, coffee is their drinks America differ
more relaxed only stay there for very important. cold. Usually from state to
than in the UK. 45 minutes to an Unlike British soft drinks are state.
They cut the food hour. They get the people, they served with a lot The hours to
and then, they food, they eat it don´t drink of ice. They serve buy it change
only use the fork, and they leave. instant coffee, beers in bottles, and the degrees
not the knife. They like to eat they considered even in 5 star of the alcohol
Some foods, like early in the evening it waste. Coffee hotels. They that they can
French fries are and will often be is always drunk consume alcohol buy also change.
eaten with one’s found in at breakfast and daily. Alcohol in blood
hands. They restaurants having during the day. is the same than
don´t have a place dinner at 5 p.m. Americans truly in the UK, 0,08.
to eat, they USA restaurants have a “throw – Normally, the
normally eat all close by 10 p.m. away” society. legal age to
where they can. When visiting Even the best drink is 21.
They only sit friends in their hotels will serve
down to have a home, they feel coffee in
fully organised obliged to leave by disposable cups
family meal on 9 p.m. Lunchtime and the
celebrations like is 12 noon. teaspoons are
Christmas or no more than
Thanksgiving day plastic straws.
Another
difference with
British people is
that tea is not
very popular,
and if they drink
tea, they drink it
with sugar and
cold.