Lesson length: 60 mins
Aim:
1. to review the form and general use of comparative and superlative adjectives (comparing two, or two
or more people, things or places)
2. to review and extend vocabulary for talking about your home
Preparation:
n
Find two pictures of computers to use as flashcards. They should be different enough from each other to
encourage the use of comparative adjectives.
n
You will need a copy of the following for each student/pair of students:
Handout 1: Comparative adjectives
Activity worksheet: True or false? (cut in half)
Handout 2: Superlative adjectives
Handout 3: Oxford Word Skills Unit 38 - I can talk about my home
1. Grammar Review:
n
Show the class the pictures of the two computers and write the prices on the board.
n
Ask the students to call out some different adjectives to describe the two computers, and write them on
the board. [Try to elicit: expensive, cheap, big, small, old, modern]
n
Say aloud:
Let’s compare the price, size and age of the two computers.
n
Write on the board:
Price: Computer A is ……………….. computer B.
Size: Computer A is ……………….. computer B.
Age: Computer A is ……………….. computer B.
n
Ask the students to complete the sentences correctly.
[Price: cheaper than; Size: bigger than; Age: older than]
Unit 26:
Comparative and superlative adjectives
Oxford Living Grammar explains how grammar works and when to use it. The
exercises use real-life situations to practise grammar in context. This lesson
consolidates your students’ knowledge of comparative and superlative adjectives in the
context of comparing things we buy, services we use, and places we live.
Lesson Link
Grammar
to go!
PHoTocoPiAble
© Oxford University Press 2010
page 1
A £100
b £350
Grammar
to go!
Lesson Link
PHoTocoPiAble
© Oxford University Press 2010
page 2
n
Referring to the sentences on the board, ask students
How many things are we comparing in these
sentences? [Two.] Focus on the form of the comparative structure:
Direct students to the form and spelling of comparative adjectives on Handout 1.
1. Review Activity
n
Ask students to form three more sentences about the two computers, starting with computer B. [more
expensive; smaller; more modern].
n
Students complete exercise A in pairs.
2. Review Activity
n
Divide the class into Student As and Student Bs. Give a copy of the Student A True or false? worksheet to
each Student A and a Student B worksheet to each Student B.
n
Students complete their worksheet in pairs (two Student As or two Student Bs), with the comparative
form of the adjective given.
n
Then divide the class into AB pairs. Tell students they are going to give each other a quiz and they have
to decide whether the sentences are true or false. The winner is the student in each pair who guesses
the most true/false answers correctly.
n
A reads their first sentence to B. B says if it’s true or false, then reads their first sentence to A.
n
Check the answers as a class.
GRAmmAR Review 2
n
Write on the board:
The pizzas at Paolo’s are bigger than the ones at Mario’s.
But the pizzas at Luigi’s are the biggest in town.
n
Ask students to identify the comparative adjective [bigger]. Focus on the second sentence and elicit the
meaning of
the biggest. [bigger than all the others]. You could ask Are Luigi’s pizzas bigger than Paolo’s
and bigger than Mario’s? [Yes.]
n
Check that students are clear about the difference between comparatives and superlatives; ask
How
many things are we comparing in the first sentence? [Two = comparative.] How many things are we
comparing in the second sentence? [All the pizzas in town i.e. more than two = superlative.]
n
Direct students to the form and spelling of superlative adjectives on Handout 2.
3. Review Activity
n
Using the following adjectives, drill students on superlative forms:
small > the smallest; good > the best; beautiful > the most beautiful; warm > the warmest;
sunny > the sunniest; expensive > the most expensive; peaceful > the most peaceful;
nice > the nicest; famous > the most famous.
noun +
is/are + comparative adjective + than + noun
Grammar
to go!
Lesson Link
PHoTocoPiAble
© Oxford University Press 2010
page 3
CONTeXTUALiZeD ACTiviTY (from ‘review’ to ‘free use’)
Explain to the class that you are going to compare different places to live. Ask students what things they
might consider. Aim to elicit:
How big it is / size
How many rooms there are
How expensive it is
Where it is / location
How clean it is
A garden
Task Instructions:
A.
Ask each pair to do exercise E ‘choosing a flat in london’ together, completing the sentences.
Correct this together.
THeN:-
B.
Ask one pair to read out the dialogue in full.
C.
Distribute
Oxford Word Skills handout. Ask students to work in different pairs to identify the adjectives in
the Bathford description: modern, large, good-sized, further, lovely
D.
Ask students to write a similar dialogue by changing the adjectives: e.g. The first one was bigger more
modern, but it was dirtier smaller too. (using words from
Oxford Wordskills Unit 38: I can talk about my
home)
E.
Ask for volunteers to read out their dialogues.
HOMEWORK/EXPANSION
1 If you want your students to revise comparative adjectives, ask the class to do
over to you task 1.
2 If you want your students to revise superlative adjectives, ask the class to do
over to you task 2.
3 Ask students to write an email telling a friend about the places to live from the task. The note must start
with:
i’ve been to see lots of flats today. The first one was …
EXTRA HELP
Did your students remember the topic:
form and usage of comparative and superlative adjectives?
(if not, revisit the presentation sections of
Oxford Living Grammar Elementary Unit 26)
Do your students need more practise
?:
Try the exercises B, C and E
to teach typical contexts; try the
exercise F to go further and focus on a specific situation where grammar points are mixed.
Have you got the right books to develop and extend vocabulary?:
use units from
Oxford Word Skills for
‘I can…’ confidence.
PHoTocoPiAble
© Oxford University Press 2010
Lesson Link
Grammar
to go!
Handout 1:
Comparative adjectives
page 4
Comparative adjectives
102 | Adjectives and adverbs
3
We often use than with comparative adjectives:
Scotland is wetter than England.
but it’s not necessary:
It’s colder today, isn’t it? (= it’s colder than yesterday)
4
We use comparatives to compare two things:
England is bigger than Scotland.
We sometimes use a lot/much or a bit/a little:
You can lift it. You’re a lot stronger than me!
The exam today was a bit easier, wasn’t it?
TIP
Grammar in action
1
We use comparative adjectives to
compare things that we buy, and
services that we use:
I like this jumper better, but it’s
more expensive.
Don’t drive. It’s faster by train.
2
We use comparative adjectives to compare places:
Her new flat is nicer than her old one. It’s much bigger.
Spain will be sunnier than France at Easter.
3
We use comparative adjectives to compare people.
We might talk about how a friend
has changed:
Tom is much friendlier than he
was when we were at school. He
looks different too: he’s taller than
me now, his hair is longer and he
seems happier.
26
Comparative and superlative adjectives
1
Look at this conversation:
Where do you want to eat tonight? At the hotel or
in town? ~ It’ll be cheaper and more interesting in
town. Have you been to Paulo’s? ~ No. Is it good? ~
Well, it’s noisier than the hotel, but it’s better fun.
2
The words cheaper, more interesting, noisier and
better are comparative adjectives. To form them:
t 'PSTIPSUBEKFDUJWFT POFTZMMBCMF
BEEer:
small smaller short shorter
tall taller old older
new newer slow slower
or, if the adjective ends in -e, add -r:
nice nicer wide wider late later
t 'PSTIPSUBEKFDUJWFT
FOEJOHJOPOFWPXFMBOE
one consonant, we double the consonant before
adding -er:
big bigger sad sadder
hot hotter fat fatter
thin thinner wet wetter
t 5IFTFTIPSUBEKFDUJWFTBSFJSSFHVMBS
good better bad worse far farther
t 'PSNPTUMPOHBEKFDUJWFT UXPTZMMBCMFTPSNPSF
XF
put more first:
important more important
expensive more expensive
t 'PSMPOHBEKFDUJWFTFOEJOHJO-y, we use -ier:
happy happier early earlier
A Comparing things we buy and services we use
Fareed is buying a new laptop. Change the underlined words into comparative
adjectives.
WOMAN
These two, the Helix 400 and the VKC 28, are very popular at the moment,
sir. The VKC 28 is a little new
newer
0
, but the Helix is cheap
1
.
FAREED
Can I touch them? Which one is heavy
2
?
WOMAN
The VKC is light
3
than the Helix, but it’s also wide
4
.
FAREED
Yes, you’re right. The VKC is big
5
, but much thin
6
. And I suppose it’s powerful
7
too,
if it’s newer.
LivGram Elem SB.indb 102
11/12/08 15:38:05
A Comparing things we buy and services we use
Fareed is buying a new laptop. change the underlined words into comparative adjectives.
WOMAN These two, the Helix 400 and the VKC 28, are very popular at the moment, sir. The VKC 28 is a
little new
newer
0
, but the Helix is cheap
1
FAREED Can I touch them? Which one is heavy
2
?
WOMAN The VKC is light
3
than the Helix, but it’s also wide
4
FAREED Yes, you’re right. The VKC is big
5
, but much thin
6
. And I
suppose it’s powerful
7
too, if it’s newer.
WOMAN It’s fast
8
, yes. But the Helix is still a good computer. We sell hundreds every week.
FAREED You said the VKC was expensive
9
. What’s the difference in price?
WOMAN The Helix is £400 and the VKC is £600.
FAREED Thanks. I think the VKC is a little good
10
, but I’ll take the Helix!
PHoTocoPiAble
© Oxford University Press 2010
Grammar
to go!
Lesson Link
page 5
Activity Worksheet:
True or false?
Student A
1 China is ……………….. than Russia. (big)
False.
2 Gold is ……………….. than silver. (expensive)
True.
3 Buckingham Palace is ……………….. than Windsor Castle. (old) False.
4 Black coffee is ……………….. for you than white coffee. (bad)
False.
5 Tokyo is a ……………….. capital city than Rome. (noisy)
True.
6 Sunset is ……………….. than sunrise. (late)
True.
Student B
1 Scotland is ……………….. than England. (wet)
True.
2 Tennis is ……………….. than football. (popular)
False.
3 Germany ……………….. than France. (small)
True.
4 Red wine is ……………….. for you than white wine. (good)
True.
5 1kg of feathers is ……………….. than 1kg of wood. (heavy)
False.
6 Oslo is a ……………….. capital city than Copenhagen. (safe)
True.
!
PHoTocoPiAble
© Oxford University Press 2010
Grammar
to go!
Handout 2:
Superlative adjectives
Lesson Link
page 6
5
Look at this example:
‘Paulo’s’ is the best restaurant in town. Their pizzas
are the biggest and the most delicious!
6
The best, the biggest and the most delicious are
superlative forms. To make superlative adjectives:
t 'PSTIPSUBEKFDUJWFTBOEMPOHBEKFDUJWFTFOEJOHJO-y,
take away the final r of the comparative form, and
add -st:
small smaller the smallest
nice nicer the nicest
big bigger the biggest
happy happier the happiest
t 'PSMPOHBEKFDUJWFT
DIBOHFmore to most:
important more important
the most important
t *SSFHVMBSGPSNT
good better the best
bad worse the worst
far farther the farthest
7
Before superlative adjectives, we usually use the:
Picasso is the most famous Spanish painter.
104 | Adjectives and adverbs
Superlative adjectives
26
Comparatives and superlatives
After superlative adjectives, we sometimes use of:
Sunday is the best day of the week!
It’s the smallest of the three hotels.
but we use in for places and groups of people:
She’s the richest woman in Britain. (
NOT
of Britain)
Dave is the funniest student in the class.
8
We use superlatives when we’re comparing more
than two things:
There are four countries in the UK. England is the
biggest.
We sometimes use the present perfect with
ever after the superlative form:
What is the worst meal you’ve ever eaten?
This is the most beautiful park I’ve ever seen!
TIP
Grammar in action
4
We use superlative adjectives to talk about the best,
worst or most interesting places, people and things:
Heathrow is the busiest airport in Europe.
This is the most comfortable room in the house.
It’s the fastest family car in the UK.
It’s the saddest film we’ve ever seen.
D Talking about the best things about the Seychelles
Look at the home page of the website for ‘Seychelles Holidays’. Change the underlined
words into superlative adjectives.
t
The Republic of Seychelles is the small
smallest
0
African country, and it’s the
good
1
place in the world for your holiday!
t
The big
2
of the hundred and fifty five islands is Mahé, with an
international airport.
t
The Seychelles Islands have the beautiful
3
beaches you’ve ever seen,
and the warm
4
seas.
t
The sunny
5
times of year are December and January (but they’re
also the expensive
6
times to visit).
t
The peaceful
7
island is La Digue - it’s like a journey into the past!
t
The nice
8
restaurant in the Seychelles is ‘André’s’ in Anse Lazio.
(Another free meal, please, André!)
t
The best Creole music is by the famous
9
Seychelles musician, the
wonderful Jean-Marc Volcy!
Seychelles Facts (and Opinions!):
LivGram Elem SB.indb 104
11/12/08 15:38:06
Adjectives and adverbs | 105
E Choosing a flat in London
We use comparatives to compare things we buy; services we use; places; and people.
We use superlatives to talk about the best, worst or most interesting places, people
and things. Sean and Thierry want to share a flat in London. They’ve looked at three
flats, and now they’re in a café. Add these words to the conversation:
ever in most of the than dirtier expensive friendlier nearer
SEAN
What did you think about the two flats in Camden?
THIERRY
The first one was bigger, but it was
dirtier
0
too.
SEAN
You can clean a flat though, can’t you?
THIERRY
Sure, but the second one was nicer, and the landlord was
1
.
SEAN
Perhaps, but it was also noisier
2
the first one, because it
was
3
to the road.
SEAN
They weren’t the best flats we’ve
4
seen, were they? What
about the one in Crouch End?
THIERRY
It was the
5
comfortable
6
the three flats.
SEAN
I agree. But it was also the most
7
. We haven’t got enough
money, have we?
THIERRY
Shall we have another coffee? They make
8
best cappuccino
9
north London here. We can look at some more flats this
afternoon.
F Choosing a singer for a musical
Desmond and Jilly are trying to find a singer for a new musical. They saw three singers
this morning. Change the underlined adjectives into comparatives or superlatives.
OVER TO YOU
Now go to page 125.
If you rent a flat, your
landlord or landlady
is the person you pay
every month.
W
ORD
FOCUS
Hi Jilly,
It was difficult
5
today with the guys than yesterday with the girls. Luke is the young
6
, isn’t he? He was also the good
7
dancer this morning, but I don’t
think he’s ready. It’s hard to sing every night for six weeks, isn’t it? Matt is old
8
than
Luke, and he’s got the right face, but he’s also got the bad
9
voice of the three, I’m
afraid. In my view, Charlie is the good
10
of the guys. We can teach him to dance later!
Desmond
Hi Desmond,
What did you think about the guys this morning? Charlie was the loud
loudest
0
singer I’ve
ever heard! My ears are still hurting. He’s probably got the strong
1
voice in London.
I liked him, but Luke was a good
2
dancer than him, and his voice was good too. But
Luke hasn’t sung in a big show before. Matt, the tall
3
guy today, looked great, but his
voice was weak
4
than Charlie’s. We’ve got to decide soon, but we could see them again
tomorrow. What do you think?
Jilly
LivGram Elem SB.indb 105
11/12/08 15:38:07
PHoTocoPiAble
© Oxford University Press 2010
Grammar
to go!
Lesson Link
page 7
98
PLACES
38
I can talk about my home
A
Flats
True or false? Write T or F.
0
Helen lives on the second floor.
J
5 Simon lives in the basement.
1 John and Lucy live on the ground floor.
6 Ferdy’s flat has got a balcony.
2 Miki lives on the top floor.
7 Rob’s flat has got a garden.
3 Anna lives on the first floor.
8 The steps are at the front door.
4 They put their rubbish in the lift.
9 Ferdy needs to use the stairs or lift.
Complete the words.
0
l
_
\
t
6 g
n
1 b
t
7 s
s
2 b
k of f
s
8 n
r
3 g
d f
r
9 b
y
4 f
t d
r
10 t
n c
e
5 s
s
Test yourself. Cover the words and name the things in the picture.
11
22
33
I live in a block of
fl ats near the town
centre, in an area
called Montpellier.
I really like the fl at,
and my neighbour,
Simon, is very friendly.
1 (on) the top
fl oor
2 (on) the
second fl oor
3 (on) the fi rst
fl oor
4 (on) the
ground fl oor
5 garden
6 steps
7 (in) the
basement
8 rubbish
U
9 front door
10 stairs
11 lift
12 fl at
13 balcony
Miki
Ferdy
Helen
Simon
John
Lucy
Anna
Rob
1
2
3
4
5
13
12
11
10
9
6
7
8
13 OWS(B) U34-41 FP.indd 98
29/11/07 15:04:21
99
PLACES
B
Houses
Find the end of each word.
Complete the text.
I live in a
0
ceZ[hd
house – it’s only four years old. It’s got a (1)
room, dining
room, kitchen, two bedrooms and a (2)
. It’s in the town centre, and from the living
room I’ve only got a (3)
of the railway station, which isn’t very nice. I leave my car on
the street because I don’t have a (4)
, but it’s got a small (5)
, so I can eat
(6)
when it’s warm.
My brother’s got a house in a village near me, and from the house he’s got fantastic
(7)
of the countryside. Downstairs there’s a living room, dining room, large
(8)
and a (9)
where my brother works. (10)
there are four
(11)
and two (12)
, so there’s lots of space when I visit with friends.
There’s also (13)
for two cars, and a large garden. In the summer they eat
(14)
all the time.
ABOUT YOU
Write your answers or ask another student.
1 Do you live in a house or a flat?
2 If it’s a flat, which floor are you on?
3 Have you got a garden? If so, how big is it?
4 What’s the view? Is it nice?
5 Have you got parking?
6 What rooms have you got in your home?
44
55
66
Glossary
modern
of the present time
OPP
old
view
what you see from the house
utility room
a room where you do the
washing, ironing, etc.
upstairs
OPP
downstairs
outside
not in a house or other
building
OPP
inside
garage
a building where you park
your car
parking
U
a place where you can park
(leave) your car
spotlight
flat, house and home
A flat is a number of rooms on one
floor of a building.
A house is a building with rooms on
two or more floors.
Home is where you live (in a flat or a
house).
studyviewmodernlivingroomtoiletkitchenhomeparking
-
diningroomupstairsbedroomutilityroombathroom
Modern family house in this quiet village with lovely views
of the countryside. Large living room
1
, dining room
2
, study
3
,
modern kitchen
4
and utility room. Upstairs there are four
good-sized bedrooms
5
and a family bathroom
6
. Outside there
is a large garden, a garage, and further parking for two cars.
1
2
3
4
5
5
6
5
5
BATHFORD
13 OWS(B) U34-41 FP.indd 99
29/11/07 15:04:33
99
PLACES
B
Houses
Find the end of each word.
Complete the text.
I live in a
0
ceZ[hd
house – it’s only four years old. It’s got a (1)
room, dining
room, kitchen, two bedrooms and a (2)
. It’s in the town centre, and from the living
room I’ve only got a (3)
of the railway station, which isn’t very nice. I leave my car on
the street because I don’t have a (4)
, but it’s got a small (5)
, so I can eat
(6)
when it’s warm.
My brother’s got a house in a village near me, and from the house he’s got fantastic
(7)
of the countryside. Downstairs there’s a living room, dining room, large
(8)
and a (9)
where my brother works. (10)
there are four
(11)
and two (12)
, so there’s lots of space when I visit with friends.
There’s also (13)
for two cars, and a large garden. In the summer they eat
(14)
all the time.
ABOUT YOU
Write your answers or ask another student.
1 Do you live in a house or a flat?
2 If it’s a flat, which floor are you on?
3 Have you got a garden? If so, how big is it?
4 What’s the view? Is it nice?
5 Have you got parking?
6 What rooms have you got in your home?
44
55
66
Glossary
modern
of the present time
OPP
old
view
what you see from the house
utility room
a room where you do the
washing, ironing, etc.
upstairs
OPP
downstairs
outside
not in a house or other
building
OPP
inside
garage
a building where you park
your car
parking
U
a place where you can park
(leave) your car
spotlight
flat, house and home
A flat is a number of rooms on one
floor of a building.
A house is a building with rooms on
two or more floors.
Home is where you live (in a flat or a
house).
studyviewmodernlivingroomtoiletkitchenhomeparking
-
diningroomupstairsbedroomutilityroombathroom
Modern family house in this quiet village with lovely views
of the countryside. Large living room
1
, dining room
2
, study
3
,
modern kitchen
4
and utility room. Upstairs there are four
good-sized bedrooms
5
and a family bathroom
6
. Outside there
is a large garden, a garage, and further parking for two cars.
1
2
3
4
5
5
6
5
5
BATHFORD
13 OWS(B) U34-41 FP.indd 99
29/11/07 15:04:33
1 Write a very short text (two or three sentences),
comparing two towns/cities in your country. Use
three or four comparative adjectives. Exercise B*
may be helpful.
* Exercises available in downloadable lesson
2 Write a second very short text about a great
holiday place in your country. Use two or three
superlative adjectives. Exercise D* may be
helpful.
Over to you:
Comparative and superlative adjectives