Intermediate, Task 27

Simplified and native speakers:

• Simplified example
• Leonardo G.
• Claudia J.
• Mariana M.
• Jorge C.

Click red links to download .m4v files for use in iPod:

• Simplified example
• Leonardo G.
• Claudia J.
• Mariana M.
• Jorge C.

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Key vocabulary for this task

Example phrases for this task

Grammar points for this task



		Simplified Example "Aquí en Oaxaca, México, el uso de la medicina es interesante..."



		Leonardo G. México, D.F. "Creo que falta aún todavía bastante avance..."

		Claudia J. Perú, Lima "Bueno, aquí en Perú tenemos el Instituto Peruano de Seguridad Social..."

		Mariana M. Colombia, Bogotá "Bueno en general en este país, en Estados Unidos..."

		Jorge C. México, Nuevo León, Monterrey "..."

cortarse		to cut oneself
enfermarse		to get sick
enfermera (f)		nurse
estar enfermo		to be sick
estar resfriado		to have a head cold
gripe (f)		flu
hacer una cita		to make an appointment
medicina (f)		medicine

muletas (f)		crutches
píldora (f) / pastilla (f)		pill
presión de sangre (f)		blood pressure
receta (f)		prescription, recipe (depending on context)
sanarse / curarse		to get better / to cure
torcer		to sprain, to twist
ungüento (m)		ointment
yeso (m)		cast

Me torcí el tobillo jugando fútbol.	I sprained my ankle playing soccer.
El doctor me dio muletas para ayudarme caminar.	The doctor gave me crutches to help me walk.
La enfermera revisó la presión de mi sangre.	The nurse checked my blood pressure.
Has tenido un resfriado desde la semana pasada, ¿por qué no vas al doctor?	You've had a cold since last week, why don't you go to the doctor?
Si, buenos días, quisiera hacer una cita para ver al doctor.	Yes, goodmorning, I would like to make an appointment to see the doctor.
Aplíquese este ungüento al área afectada dos veces al día.	Apply this ointment to the affected area twice daily.
Mi hermano se cortó mientras arreglaba su bicicleta.	My brother cut himself while he was fixing his bike.
A mi no me gusta tomar medicina a menos que sea totalmente necesario.	I don't like to take medicine unless it is totally necessary.
Mi prima es muy enfermiza, simplemente no se cuida.	My cousin is unhealthy, she simply doesn't take care of herself.
Doctor, dígamelo en palabras claras.	Give it to me straight doctor.

Relative superlative

When you want to compare more than two people or things you will need to use what is called the relative superlative. For example, you might want to say that Rodrigo is the most intelligent student in his class or, on the contrary, that he is the least intelligent student in his class. Use the following formula as a guide:

DEFINITE ARTICLE + (NOUN) + más/menos + ADJECTIVE + de + GROUP

For example:

Rodrigo es el estudiante más inteligente de su clase. Rodrigo is the most intelligent student in his class.

Rodrigo es el estudiante menos inteligente de su clase. Rodrigo is the least intelligent student in his class.

In the formula written above the word noun is placed in parenthesis because it is optional. It is also common to hear the last part of the formula (de + GROUP) omitted. In such cases the group is implied, though not stated. For example:

Juan es el más alto. Juan is the tallest.

The suffix -ísimo can be added to the end of adjectives to express an absolute superlative:

El béisbol me parece aburridísimo. Baseball seems very boring to me.

Estoy cansadísimo, ya no aguanto más. I'm extremely tired, I can't take anymore.