TEACHER’S NOTES

ESL / EFL RESOURCES Comparative Cards

Activity Type Introduction

Matching, speaking and In this engaging pairwork activity, students play a card game
writing activity, pairwork where they link nouns together by making comparative sentences
with 'than'.

Language Focus Procedure

Comparative adjectives
Comparative sentences
with 'than'
Divide the class into pairs.
Give each pair of students a set of noun cards. Tell the students
to shuffle the cards and deal them out evenly.

Aim
To link nouns together
by making comparative
sentences with 'than'.
Preparation
Make one copy of the
cards for each pair of
students and cut as
indicated.
One student goes first and puts one of their noun cards face up
on the table.
The students then take it in turns to put down a noun card and
make a comparative sentence with 'than', linking the two nouns
together, e.g. 'A car is faster than a bus'. 'A bus is bigger than an
elephant', etc.
Students can put a card down either before or after the card or
card chain on the table, similar to dominoes.
Each time a student puts down a card they must use a different
comparative adjective.

Level If a student makes a grammar mistake or can't think of a way to

link two noun cards together, they miss a turn.
Elementary
This continues back and forth with students linking nouns together
with different comparative adjectives.
Time
35 minutes The first student to get rid of all their cards wins the game.

When the students have finished, have the pairs write out the
comparative sentences they made.

Students then read out their sentences to the class and feedback
is given.

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 COMPARATIVES

ESL / EFL RESOURCES Comparative Cards

an elephant a girl a car a bus

an old man a beach a city a baby

a glass of water a tiger a cup of coffee a pizza

a mouse a sandwich a cat a skier

a jacket a bird a T-shirt an airplane

Teach-This.com © 2017 Permission granted to reproduce for classroom use.

COMPARATIVES
 How do we form comparative statements? Study the grammar reference chart below.

 Adjectives with one syllable: add ‘-er’ or ‘-r’ + ‘than’

cold colder than “In Canada, winter is colder than summer.”

nice nicer than “Chocolate ice-cream is nicer than strawberry
ice-cream.”

 Adjectives with two or more syllables: add ‘more’ + ‘than’

boring more boring than “I think golf is more boring than baseball.”
expensive more expensive “This restaurant is more expensive than that
than restaurant.”

 Adjectives with two syllables that end in ‘-y’: change ‘-y’ to ‘-i’ and
add ‘-er’ + ‘than’

early earlier than “He arrived at school earlier than I did.”

happy happier than “John looks happier than David.”

 Adjectives that end with a single vowel and a consonant: double the
final letter before adding ‘than’

big bigger than “Russia is bigger than Canada.”

hot hotter than “In my country, August is hotter than January.”

NOTE: When a comparative statement is used to answer a question, it is not necessary to use ‘than’ if only one
person, place or thing is mentioned.

Example: Irregular Comparative Adjectives:

(A) Which month is hotter, January or August?
(B) August is hotter. good – better than
bad – worse than
far – farther than / further than

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 COMPARING
 Find your question by rolling your
die twice. The 1st roll determines the
number on the top. The 2nd roll
determines the number on the left.
Talk for one / two minute(s)
about that topic. Your classmates
will ask you follow-up questions. Your
classmates can ask you anything if
you land on “Ask Any Question”.

1 2 3 4 5 6

Compare Compare Compare Compare Compare

your city cats summer men weekdays
1 Ask any
question! and
another
city.
and
dogs.
and
winter.
and
women.
and
weekends.

Compare Compare Compare Compare Compare

the sun math class yourself Ask any children now and

2 and the
moon.
and English
class.
and a
classmate.
question! and
adults.
100 years
ago.

Compare Compare Compare Compare Compare

birds televisions your apples spiders
3 and
fish.
and
computers.
country and
another
country.
and
bananas.
and
horses.
Ask any
question!

Compare Compare Compare Compare Compare

two morning studying two people cats
4 restaurants
in your
city.
Ask any
question!
and
evening.
and
watching
TV.
in your
family.
and
dinosaurs.

Compare Compare Compare Compare Compare

rock music football Batman rain flowers

5 and
classical
music.
and
tennis.
and
Superman.
and
snow.
Ask any
question!
and
trees.

Compare Compare Compare Compare Compare

cars salads and eating any two libraries

6 and
buses.
ham-
burgers.
Ask any
question!
and
drinking.
movies
stars.
and super-
markets.

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NAME: ________________________ DATE: ________________________
GRAMMAR CROSSWORD
COMPARATIVE ADJECTIVES
 Write the comparative forms of the adjectives in the spaces below.

1 2 3 4

B I G G E R ACROSS
5
1. big
5. mean
6 6. easy
8. hot
7
9. funny
13. unusual
15. good
8
16. cold

9
DOWN
10
1. busy
11 12 2. greasy
13 14 3. brave
4. difficult
5. interesting
7. strong
10. cheap
15 11. bad
12. far
16
14. short
R
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GRAMMAR SENTENCE RACE Page 1 of 2

COMPARATIVES
Fun Team Competition


cats McDonald’s
dogs KFC
go ACTIVITY NOTES
1. Divide the class into two
the moon television teams.

2. Have one student from

the sun YouTube each team come to the
front of the class and
randomly choose one card
each.

3. The first student to

Asia coffee write a grammatically
correct sentence (using a
comparative adjective) –
Europe milk without spelling mistakes –
is awarded one point for
their team.

4. The game continues as

the remaining students
August sharks take turns to come to the
board.
January tigers
CONSIDER
Consider allowing the seated
classmates shouting aloud help
to their teammates at the board.
math bicycles Consider setting a minimum
number of words per sentence
English cars (at least five; more words for a
more challenging game)

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GRAMMAR SENTENCE RACE Page 2 of 2

COMPARATIVES
Fun Team Competition


rain taxis
snow buses
go go
CONSIDER cont’d
trains Spain Consider allowing only
question sentences.
For example:
airplanes Thailand “Is Spain bigger than Thailand?”

Consider leading into the activity

go go by writing some examples on the
board – noting the difference
between singular noun
comparisons and plural noun
baseball weekdays comparisons.
For example:
“Dogs are smarter than cats.”
golf weekends vs
“The sun is bigger than the
moon.”
go go Consider NOT allowing any
repeat use of adjectives.
For example:
teachers breakfast “The sun is hotter than the
moon.”
and
students dinner “August is hotter than January.”

go go
flowers books
trees iPads
go go
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NAME: ________________________ DATE: ________________________

GRAMMAR QUIZ
COMPARATIVES
 Complete these sixteen sentences to score your knowledge of COMPARATIVE grammar.
1. Australia is big, but Canada is … 9. Patrick thinks that chocolate cake
Australia. … banana cake.
a) big a) is more delicious than
b) biggest b) delicious than
c) bigger than c) more delicious
2. David is 185 cm tall. He is … 10. Asian elephants are heavy, but
Andrew African elephants are even ….
a) taller than a) heavy
b) tall b) heavier
c) taller c) heavier than
3. I think that summer is … than 11. My uncle is taller than my father,
winter. but my father ….
a) good a) older
b) better b) is older than
c) the best c) is older
4. My brother thinks this restaurant is 12. Reading a book with a nice, hot cup
… than that restaurant. of tea … than doing exercise.
a) more worse a) is the most relaxing
b) badder b) is more relaxing
c) worse c) more relaxing
5. Do you think math and science 13. Comedy movies are okay, but I think
… history and English? that action movies are ….
a) is more difficult than a) better
b) are more difficult than b) gooder
c) difficulter c) good than
6. In my opinion, this pink dress is 14. Taking a taxi to work … than taking a
… that green dress. bus to work.
a) prettyer than a) expensive
b) prettier than b) more expensive
c) more pretty c) is more expensive
7. This summer was much … last 15. Saturdays … Mondays because I
summer. don’t have to go to school.
a) hotter than a) are nicer than
b) the hottest b) is nicer than
c) hoter than c) are the nicest
8. Did you know that crossing a busy 16. Question number 15 was … Question
street is … flying in an airplane? number 14. Right?
a) most dangerous than a) the easyer
b) the more dangerous b) easier than
c) more dangerous than c) easyer than

15 – 16 = Excellent 13 – 14 = Good 12 or Less = Study More!

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GRAMMAR
M O R E I S U B E S B E T T E R A M
O F G H E A X C H O T G O N L I F E
R O D A N G R I E R T A H W Q U M R
E N I O X A R E M O R E L I D Y O O
W Y A W U H A P P I E R Y L E F R E
O H P E C A E R E R
L M O R A Comparatives M O R B E
Below are 14 adjectives. Can
S O C E B you find their matching B U H E H
comparative forms?
M F O R I E R M A A
O C A T G 14 words …10 minutes! T T E U P
R D R Q G Q U K T E
angry fast
T E A D E bad famous
B N K I I
beautiful good
E T A L R E C E F R
big happy
R I M L E busy slow X E T U W
comfortable tall
B C A F M excited terrible T L D L E
L X S U O D B M R E
E E B E T E I L O K
R E F E T D R S H U
H R A R E A R N V E
O O S T R M E R G R
R M E W R O T A N E
W O R G D A X C S U O M A F E R O M
B O R M E E F I T E D T A L R E R A
U S R J C F A S T E R A X L O T T Y
S G E S H A C H M O R E R G M A L L
T M O R E C O M F O R T A B L E R E

 Use three of the above words to compare two people or places.

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 -ER… THAN MORE… THAN LESS… THAN AS.. AS..

MUCH –ER THAN (GOOD)… THAN (BAD)… THAN NOT AS… AS

(GOOD)… THAN (FAR) THAN MORE… THAN (BAD)… THAN

NOT AS… AS MUCH MORE… MUCH –ER… AS… AS

THAN THAN
 NOT –ER THAN NOT MORE.. THAN NOT AS… AS.. (GOOD) THAN…

NOT (BAD) THAN… MUCH MORE… THAN… MUCH –ER… THAN… -ER… THAN
 TEACHER’S NOTES

ESL / EFL RESOURCES Comparative Cards

Activity Type Introduction

Matching, speaking and In this engaging pairwork activity, students play a card game
writing activity, pairwork where they link nouns together by making comparative sentences
with 'than'.

Language Focus Procedure

Comparative adjectives
Comparative sentences
with 'than'
Divide the class into pairs.
Give each pair of students a set of noun cards. Tell the students
to shuffle the cards and deal them out evenly.

Aim
To link nouns together
by making comparative
sentences with 'than'.
Preparation
Make one copy of the
cards for each pair of
students and cut as
indicated.
One student goes first and puts one of their noun cards face up
on the table.
The students then take it in turns to put down a noun card and
make a comparative sentence with 'than', linking the two nouns
together, e.g. 'A car is faster than a bus'. 'A bus is bigger than an
elephant', etc.
Students can put a card down either before or after the card or
card chain on the table, similar to dominoes.
Each time a student puts down a card they must use a different
comparative adjective.

Level If a student makes a grammar mistake or can't think of a way to

link two noun cards together, they miss a turn.
Elementary
This continues back and forth with students linking nouns together
with different comparative adjectives.
Time
35 minutes The first student to get rid of all their cards wins the game.

When the students have finished, have the pairs write out the
comparative sentences they made.

Students then read out their sentences to the class and feedback
is given.

Teach-This.com © 2017 Permission granted to reproduce for classroom use.

 COMPARATIVES

ESL / EFL RESOURCES Comparative Cards

an elephant a girl a car a bus

an old man a beach a city a baby

a glass of water a tiger a cup of coffee a pizza

a mouse a sandwich a cat a skier

a jacket a bird a T-shirt an airplane

Teach-This.com © 2017 Permission granted to reproduce for classroom use.

SUPERLATIVES
 How do we form superlative statements? Study the grammar reference
chart below.

 Adjectives with one syllable: add ‘the’ + ‘-est’ or ‘-st’

cold the coldest “January is often the coldest winter month.”

nice the nicest “She is the nicest person I know.”

 Adjectives with two or more syllables: add ‘the’ + ‘most’

boring the most boring “It’s the most boring movie at the cinema.”
expensive the most “We ate at the most expensive restaurant in town.”
expensive

 Adjectives with two syllables that end in ‘-y’: change ‘-y’ to ‘-i’ and
add ‘the’

early the earliest “He was the earliest person to arrive”

happy the happiest “It was the happiest time of my life.”

 Adjectives that end with a vowel and a consonant: double the final
letter before adding ‘the’ + ‘-est’

big the biggest “Russia is the biggest country in the world.”

hot the hottest “August is usually the hottest summer month.”

 Adjectives that are irregular:

good the best “She is the best student in our class.”
bad the worst “It was the worst storm in many years.”
far the farthest “He lives the farthest/furthest from my home.”
the furthest

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GRAMMAR SENTENCE RACE Page 1 of 2

SUPERLATIVES
Fun Team Competition


cats McDonald’s
dogs KFC
rabbits Starbucks
ACTIVITY NOTES
1. Divide the class into two
the moon television teams.

the sun YouTube 2. Have one student from

each team come to the
the stars video games front of the class and
randomly choose one card
each.

3. The first student to

Africa coffee write a grammatically
correct sentence (using a
Asia milk superlative adjective) –
Europe water without spelling mistakes –
is awarded one point for
their team.

4. The game continues as

the remaining students
January bears take turns to come to the
August sharks board.

November tigers
CONSIDER
Consider allowing the seated
classmates shouting aloud help
to their teammates at the board.
math bicycles Consider setting a minimum
English cars number of words per sentence
(at least five; more words for a
history trains more challenging game).

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GRAMMAR SENTENCE RACE Page 2 of 2

SUPERLATIVES
Fun Team Competition


ants taxis
bees buses
spiders planes

CONSIDER cont’d
airplanes India Consider allowing only

boats Spain question sentences.

For example:
trains Thailand “Is India the biggest country?”

Consider leading into the activity

by writing some examples on the
board – noting the difference
between singular and plural
sentences.
baseball Mondays For example:
golf Wednesdays “Dogs are the smartest.”
vs
football Saturdays “Football is the most exciting.”

Consider NOT allowing any

repeat use of adjectives.
For example:
“Airplanes are the fastest.”
and
parents breakfast “Dogs are the fastest.”

students lunch
teachers dinner

grass books
flowers iPads
trees magazines

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 Superlatives
 Find your square by rolling your
die twice. The 1st roll determines the
number on the top. The 2nd roll
determines the number on the left.
Take one minute to make a
superlative statement about EACH of
the three things; eg. “Cats are the
cutest. Dogs are the smartest. Fish
are the wettest.” Your classmates will
ask you follow-up questions. You can
choose any three things if you land on
“Choose any 3”.

1 2 3 4 5 6

Choose cats Australia pizzas shoes teachers

1 any 3 dogs
fish
France
Iceland
carrots
cookies
hats
sunglasses
doctors
pilots

sleep cars television bananas spiders

2 exercise
work
airplanes
trains
radio
magazines
Choose
any 3
apples
oranges
bees
ants

monkeys Starbucks the sun tables trees

3 birds
horses
McDonald’s
KFC
the moon
the stars
beds
chairs
flowers
grass
Choose
any 3

children Choose schools football sharks cars

4 men
women
any 3 hospitals
restaurants
baseball
tennis
lions
bears
bicycles
trucks

summer history pens water mountains

5 winter
spring
science
math
pencils
markers
ice
fire
Choose
any 3
lakes
trees

ice-cream guns mornings laptops New York

6 pies
cakes
bombs
knives
Choose
any 3 afternoons
evenings
iPads
cell phones
Cairo
Tokyo

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GRAMMAR
T O S T H E M H T S E L L A T E H T
T E T H E F A S T E S T E S O R T H
H T E E M T H E A N G R I E S T E E
E C X M O S T J D M T S E M S T O M
B H J O D A Q U K L M S O T E S T O
U D E S V T H E M T
S S E T U Superlatives H E T O S
Below are 14 adjectives. Can you
I B I C O find their matching superlative E T H S H
forms?
E C X O P M S E T O
S T O M Z 14 words …10 minutes! O R S G D
T I G F T S E L K E
angry fast
A H L O W bad famous
T S O H T
beautiful good
M A O R O B U W F I
big happy
T P W T R busy slow E C E H C
comfortable tall
H I S A T excited terrible A K S L X
E E T B S U Z T I E
B S S L C T H E M T
E P E E I I M T O S
S T I F R F A L L O
T O P D C U M X C M
M K P J V L I T D E
T H A C O M O F T A B I L E M O S H
O E H T Y S U O M A F T S O M E H T
T H E W O R S T B G G E S T I T H A
U D H T H E M O S T T E R R I B L E
E H T A L E T S T S E G G I B E H T

 Use the superlative forms of the above words to describe some people and places.
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NAME: ________________________ DATE: ________________________
GRAMMAR WORKSHEET
SUPERLATIVES
Adjectives with cold Adjectives with ex-pen-sive
one syllable, two or more
add: “January is often syllables, add: “This book is the
‘the’ + ‘-est’ the coldest ‘the’ + ‘most’ most expensive Irregular
(or ‘-st’) winter month.” book in the store.” Superlative
Adjectives
good – the best

bad – the worst

Adjectives that
Adjectives with
hap-py end in a single big far – the farthest
two syllables that
vowel and far – the furthest
end in ‘-y’,
“John is the consonant: double “Brazil is the
change ‘-y’ to ‘i’ the final letter
happiest person biggest country in
and add: ‘the’ + I know.” before adding South America.”
‘-est’ (or ‘-st’) ‘the’ + ‘-est’
(or ‘-st’)

 Fill in the blanks below to complete the sentences. Study the boxes above.

1. I (tall) __________________________________ person in my family.

2. Jupiter (big) __________________________________ planet in our solar system.
3. Elephants (large) __________________________________ land animals on earth.
4. We bought (expensive) __________________________________ TV in the store.
5. Which sports do you think (dangerous) __________________________________?
6. My cat (lazy) __________________________________ animal I know.
7. This restaurant serves (good) __________________________________ food in town.
8. I think math (difficult) __________________________________ subject.
9. What (long) __________________________________ word in English that you know?
10. He (strange) __________________________________ man in the story.
11. Last week, I had (bad) __________________________________ time of my life!
12. Which place (hot) __________________________________ place on earth?
13. I think it (funny) __________________________________ show on television.
14. My friend (interesting) __________________________________ person I know.
15. Who (famous) __________________________________ person in your country?

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NAME: ________________________ DATE: ________________________

GRAMMAR QUIZ
SUPERLATIVES
 Complete these sixteen sentences to score your knowledge of SUPERLATIVE grammar.
1. Russia is … country in the 9. Elephants are … land animals in
world. the world.
a) big a) heaviest
b) the biggest b) the heavyest
c) the bigest c) the heaviest
2. David … person in our English 10. We never watch that TV program. It’s
class. … program on TV!
a) is the tallest a) more boring
b) the most tall b) the most boring
c) the tallest c) the boringest
3. I think that shopping mall … mall 11. Yuck! That was … cake I ever ate
in our city. in my life!
a) best a) the worst
b) the best b) worse
c) is the best c) bad
4. That restaurant … restaurant in 12. I saw … paintings in the world at
our town. that museum.
a) is the worst a) the most beautiful
b) is bad b) the beautiful
c) worst c) more beautiful than
5. Noel and David … people that I 13. My home is located … our
know. school.
a) is the most interesting a) the furthest from
b) is interested b) far
c) are the most interesting c) further
6. In my opinion, that … comedy show 14. His grandfather is … in his
on television. family.
a) is the funniest a) older than
b) the funny b) the most old
c) the funnier c) the oldest
7. Yesterday was the … day this 15. I had … time of my life when we
summer. went to Disneyland last year!
a) hotest a) the goodest
b) hottest b) best
c) hotter c) the best
8. That … road in the entire 16. Question number 15 was the …
country! question on the test.
a) most danger a) easyest
b) is the most dangerous b) easiest
c) most dangerous c) most easy

15 – 16 = Excellent 13 – 14 = Good 12 or Less = Study More!

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