logounam logo-avi
logouapa

Comparative:

adjectives + er + than; more / less + adjective +than.

Presentation / Objective

For better or for worse…?

better or worse

“Comparisons are odious,” says the old proverb.

However, one way of describing a person or thing is by saying that they are better than someone or something else.
To do this, we use comparative adjectives.
It is also possible to describe someone or something by saying that they are better at something than any other of their kind.

In this topic:

  • You will use comparative adjectives (regular and irregular) to express ideas and write sentences comparing objects, places, people, etc., in real situations.
  • You will also practice the four skills by reading about two critical cities: London and New York. You will listen to an interview and write ideas comparing your favourite topics, as well as saying why your country is better than others.
  • Finally, you will find a self-assessment to practice everything you have learned about this topic.

Objective:

By the end of this topic you will:
• Use regular and irregular comparative adjectives (adjective + er + than; More /Less + adjective + than) to make comparisons between different people, objects and places in English-speaking countries.

Content

Use of Comparative adjectives

For example:

  • My sister is taller than me.
  • Turtle is slower than rabbit.
Rabbit and turtle running.

We use “than”, after the comparative adjective to say what we are comparing something with. However, some changes are necessary, depending on the number of syllables the adjective has.

Rules for comparative adjectives

Instructions: Click on each topic to see the contents. Click on another concept to go back to the initial position.

One- syllable

For most of One- syllable adjectives we have to add -er to the adjective: fast faster, hard harder.

    Examples:

  • I can run faster than you.
  • She works harder than me.

If the one-syllable adjective ends with a single consonant with a vowel before it, double the consonant and add –er for the comparative form: big bigger, fat fatter, hot hotter.

    Examples:

  • The London Eye is bigger than the Statue of Liberty.
  • London Eye

    Retrieved on 130417 from https://pixabay.com/photo-356865/

    Statue of Liberty

    Retrieved on 130417 from https://pixabay.com/photo-1075752/

As general rule the most adjectives with Two or more syllables: use more with the unchanged adjective.

Examples

  • Russian grammar is more difficult than English grammar.
  • I find maths lessons more enjoyable than science lessons.

Two-syllable adjectives ending in -y: change the -y to –i and add er: happy happier , easy easier

    Examples:

  • She's looking happier today.
  • This grammar topic is easier than the last one.

Some comparative adjectives are Irregular, they don’t follow any rule.

Irregular Adjective
good better
bad worse
far farther

Examples:

  • Italian food is better than American food.
  • My mother's cooking is worse than your mother's cooking.
 child

Retrieved on 040617 Taken from https://pixabay.com/photo-1566470/

Reading

Activity 1

London or New York?

You can find comparatives in any text you read.

Now you are going to read about some facts comparing London and New York and their lifestyles.. Which place is better? You will learn how to use the comparatives when you talk of two places. After that answer the questions.

Listening

Activity 2

Which is better?

You can use adjectives to compare countries around the world. In this activity, you are going to listen to an interview with Chris who has lived in Australia and USA. Then, answer the questions.

interview

Listen to the conversation by clicking here:


Instruction. Decide if the following statements are true or false by choosing the appropriate option. You can know your score at the end of the exercise.

Writing

Activity 3

Compare… moreover, choose better.

We use comparative adjectives every day in many things. We use them when we make decisions such as comparing.

For this reason you will choose a topic from the list, and you are going to write 150 words comparing two important or famous elements using comparatives with different kinds of adjectives and their rules.

    The topics are:
  • Music
  • Sports
  • Weather
  • Attractions
  • School
  • Man / men

Check the following example

Once you have finished writing your comparison, evaluate it using the following checklist. After that, look for your score on the “Results chart” and see how good you are at using comparisons.

Speaking

Activity 4

Mexico is better than…

Many times the foreigners tell us that Mexico is a great country because we are happier, more colourful, etc. Comparatives can help us to describe why Mexico is better than other countries.

Now is to live here in Mexico.

Instructions. You have to record yourself giving at least ten reasons why Mexico is a better country than others according (topics: weather, traditions, places, people, music, sports, among others) to your experience.
It is essential to keep in mind the use of comparatives in each idea.
Listen to the following example

Please, before you send your description, make sure it has the characteristics contained in the checklist.

Self-Assessment


I believe for better or worse?


We are always comparing everything, persons or places; but what about famous people, or essential teams in sports. It is your turn to unscramble these sentences, do not forget to use the rules reviewed in this topic.


References

Basic references:

Soarz, J. y Soarz, L. American Headway 1. Oxford Univerity Press. 2001.
Larsen-Freeman, Diane. (2007). Grammar Dimensions 1-4: Form, Meaning, and Use. USA.
Marco Común Europeo de Referencia para las lenguas:http://cvc.cervantes.es/ensenanza/biblioteca_ele/marco/cvc_mer.pdf
McCarthy, M., McCarten, J., & Sandiford, H. (n.d.). Touchstone level 1.