A. Starting activities
1. A look at the system
Comparative and superlative adjectives
a . Work as a class. Put these comparative and superlative adjectives into two
groups. In what way are the two groups different? Add one or two examples of
your own to each group.
A comparative degree:
A superlative degree:
cheaper
the cheapest
more reliable
the most reliable
newer
the newest
more valuable
the most valuable
more tired
the most tired
easier
the easiest
b
Which words are missing?
This dictionary is bigger than yours.
This suitcase is just as big as the one I have at home.
Having no money is the biggest problem he has at the moment.
B. Accuracy practice
1. What can we call these people and things?
a concert which lasts for two hours a man who is fifty years old
a delay which lasts for twenty minutes
a letter which has ten pages
a meeting which lasts for two hours
a child who is four years old
a journey which lasts for two hours
2. Which of these words are adjectives?
It’s a very long book, but it’s not at all boring. (This adjective describes the book)
Were you late for work today? (To be verb)
You seem sad. Is something wrong? (seem verb)
The boss sounded angry when I spoke to him on the phone. (This adjective
describes his feelings)
He’s quite a shy person. He often feels embarrassed when he meets people. (shy
– put before a noun; embarrassed – an adjective describing his feelings)
3. Put the words in the right order.
Are the children asleep?
Sydney is a very modern city.
That building is over 500 years old.
You don’t sound very happy.
He looks a very healthy man.
The bridge is 1.55 kilometres long.
4. Compare these things.
Steel is stronger and harder than wood, but wood is lighter than steel
A train is more comfortable than a bus, but a bus is slower, than a train
Milk is healthier than cream, but cream is more fattening.
Windsurfing is more exciting than swimming, bur swimming is cheaper than
windsurfing.
5. Maria is a foreign student in London. She is speaking about the problems of
learning English.
Complete what Maria says using comparatives of the adjectives in brackets; add
than where necessary.
“Oh, why English such a difficult language! I think it’s much more difficult than
French. Sometimes I feel that my English is getting worse, not better. When you first start
English, it seems easier than other languages and the grammar books are much simpler.
However, when you become less advanced, it gets lots more complicated. There are also
so many words in English! The dictionary I bought when I first came to Britain is far too
small. I am already looking for something rather bigger and more comprehensive.
-
6. Complete the sentences about the world today using the structure:
comparative + and + comparative.
The world’s population is getting bigger and bigger.
The problem of feeding all the people in the world is getting worse and worse.
Many of the world’s seas, rivers and lakes are becoming more and more
polluted.
Life is becoming more and more automated.
7. Make sentences using the structure:
the + comparative clause, the + comparative clause.
The bigger a car is the more expensive it is to run.
The worse the weather is the more dangerous it is to drive on the roads.
The older he gets the more thoughtful he becomes.
The more complicated the problem the harder it is to find a solution.
8. Complete the sentences using the and superlatives of the adjectives in brackets.
Who’s best footballer in Europe?
This was cheaper watch that they had in the shop.
I bought the most reliable washing machine I could find.
This is one of the most expensive restaurants in Milan.
The blue whale is the largest of all the animals.
He’s one of the most stupid person I know.
The oldest university in the world is in Morocco.
I think that was one of the worse days of my life.
Sydney Opera House is one of the most famous modern buildings in the world.
9. Complete the sentences using a comparative form.
This coffee is very weak. I like it a bit more.
The hotel was surprisingly big. I expected it to be smaller.
The hotel was surprisingly cheap. I expected it to be more expensive.
The weather is too cold in this country. I’d like to live somewhere where the
weather is warmer.
My job is a bit boring sometimes. I’d like to do something more interesting.
I was surprised how easy it was to use the computer. I thought it would be more
difficult.
Your work isn’t very good. I’m sure you can do it better.
10. Complete the sentences. Each time use the comparative form of one of the
words in the list.
Use than where necessary.
big
crowded
important
interested
serious
simple
thin
Unfortunately her illness was more serious that we thought at first.
You look thinner. Have you lost weight?
I want a biggest flat. We don’t have enough space here.
He doesn’t study very hard. He’s more interested in having a good time.
Health and happiness are more important than money.
The instruction was very complicated. They could have been more
simple/simpler.
There were a lot of people on the bus. It was more crowded usual.
11.Read the situations and complete the sentences. Use a comparative form.
 It takes longer by train than by car.
 I ran further than Dave did.
 Joe did worse than Chris did.
 My friends arrived earlier than I expected.
 The buses run more often than the trains. The buses run more frequently than the
trains. The buses are more frequent than the trains.
12. Use the words in brackets to complete the sentences.
Use much / a bit etc. + a comparative form.
The journey takes four hours by car and five hours by train.
It takes a bit longer by train than by car.
Dave and I went for a run. I ran ten kilometers. Dave stopped after eight
kilometres.
I ran further than Dave did.
Chris and Joe both did badly in the exams. Chris got 20% but Joe only got
15%.
Joe did worse than Chris.
I expected my friends to arrive at about 4 o’clock. In fact they arrived at
2.30.
My friends arrived more early than I expected.
You can go by bus or by train. The buses run every 30 minutes. The trains
run every hour.
The buses run more often than the trains.
13. Use the words in brackets to complete the sentences.
Use much / a bit etc. + a comparative form.
Use than where necessary.
This bag is too small. I need something much bigger.
I’m afraid the problem is much more complicated than it seems.
You looked depressed this morning but you look a bit happier now.
I enjoyed our visit to the museum. It was much more far interesting than I
expected.
You’re driving too fast. Could you drive it a bit slowly?
It’s much easier to learn a foreign language in the country where it is spoken.
I thought she was younger than me but in fact she’s slightly older.
(slightly / old)
14.Complete the sentences using any/no + a comparative. Use than where necessary.
I’m sorry I’m a bit late but I couldn’t get here any earlier.
This shop isn’t expensive. The prices are no more expensive than anywhere else
is.
I must stop for a rest. I can’t walk any more.
The traffic isn’t particularly bad today. It’s more worse than usual.
15.Complete the sentences using the structure e.g. more and more etc.
That hole in your pullover is getting bigger and bigger.
My bags seemed to get heavier and heavier as I carried them. (heavy)
As I waited for my interview, I became more and more nervous.
As the day went on, the weather got worse and worse.
Travelling is becoming , more and more expensive.
Since she has been in Britain, her English has got better and better.
As the conversation went on, he became more and more talkative.
Татьяна Николаевна, остальное я писать не стало, потому что была на этих
занятиях. Хотя, если нужно, добавлю последние упражнения.
С уважением, Маша.