Comparatives ESL Games, Activities & Worksheets

Understanding Comparatives

Comparatives are adjective and adverb forms used to show that one person, thing, or idea has more or less of a quality than another, most commonly formed by adding -er to short adjectives or placing 'more' before longer ones, for example 'faster' and 'more intelligent.' When students confuse the -er form with the 'more' form, or omit 'than' after the comparative, their sentences sound unnatural and listeners struggle to understand the comparison being made.

This page offers nineteen comparatives games, activities, and worksheets across four proficiency levels from Elementary A1-A2 to Upper-intermediate B2, covering structures from basic -er and -ier adjective forms and 'as ... as' to correlative comparisons and degree modifiers, with three free PDF downloads and over nine hours of classroom material.

3-Step Framework for Teaching Comparatives

Step 1: Build the Foundation with a Structured Worksheet. Start with a form-focused worksheet that takes students through four stages in sequence. First, they write the comparative forms of adjectives ending in -er and -ier, including the irregular forms of good and bad. They then complete sentences by inserting the comparative form of a bracketed adjective followed by 'than'. Next, they build original comparative sentences from provided words, and they finish by choosing the correct comparative form to complete each final sentence. Moving through these four stages in order locks in form accuracy before any speaking begins.

Step 2: Develop Accuracy and Range with a Clue-Giving Game. Once students can form comparatives reliably in writing, move them to a structured speaking game that demands both accuracy and range. Students take turns giving a partner exactly three comparative clues with 'than' and (not) 'as ... as' to help identify a person or thing shown in bold, for example 'It's scarier than a cat. It's not as intelligent as a wolf.' After all three clues, the partner has one attempt to guess the answer and earns one point for a correct guess. The rule that each clue must use a different comparative structure pushes students to draw on a wider range of forms than they would naturally choose.

Step 3: Push Fluency with a High-Stakes Opinion Game. Close with a domino game that links comparative accuracy to fluency under mild pressure. Each player places a domino by matching a sentence beginning with a suitable ending, then uses the adjective in brackets to build a comparative sentence with 'as ... as' or 'more/less ... than' that honestly expresses their own opinion, for example 'Learning in a classroom is not as difficult as learning online.' The player then has 30 seconds to give three reasons supporting that opinion. A grammatically incorrect comparative sentence means the player takes the domino back, so accuracy remains a requirement even at this fluency stage.

Common Questions About Teaching Comparatives

How do I teach comparatives to Elementary students using a game?

The free Comparative Cards game suits Elementary students well. In pairs, one student places a noun card on the table. Students take turns adding a card at either end of a growing chain and making a comparative sentence with 'than' to link the two nouns, for example 'A car is faster than a bus.' A grammar mistake or an inability to link two cards costs that student a turn.

How can I use a running dictation to practice comparatives?

The free Run Faster activity combines movement with grammar practice. One student runs to sentences posted on the wall, reads the first fact, returns and dictates it to their partner, who writes it down. After all ten facts are dictated and checked, students use them to write true or false comparative sentences, then challenge a partner from another group to guess which are true.

What is a good comparatives board game for Intermediate students?

The free Comparatives Board Game is well suited to Intermediate students. Players take turns rolling the dice, moving their counter, and landing on a square. They then change the adjective in the conversation question on that square into its comparative form and ask the question to their partner. Their partner answers in full sentences and explains their reasons before the next player takes their turn.