Comparative and Superlative ESL Activities, Worksheets and Games
ESL Comparatives and Superlatives Lesson - Elementary (A1-A2) - 60 minutes
This free lesson is ideal for teaching or reviewing comparative and superlative adjectives and sentence structure. The lesson contains a grammar review and exercise based on comparative and superlative adjective forms as well as an exercise about using comparatives and superlatives in questions. The students then go on to do a comparison activity. Afterwards, students create a dialogue using the language from the lesson, which they then present to the class.
ESL Comparatives and Superlatives Activity - Writing and Speaking - Elementary (A1-A2) - 25 minutes
In this free comparatives and superlatives worksheet activity, students complete a survey and then write comparative and superlative sentences about the results. Each student is given a copy of the worksheet. The students answer six questions on the worksheet and write their answers in the second column of the table. Working in groups, students then interview the other members of the group using the same questions and complete the table with their answers. When the students have all the answers, they use the results to write three comparative and three superlative sentences about the students in their group. Finally, students compare their sentences and give feedback to the class on what they found out.
ESL Comparatives and Superlatives Worksheet - Writing Activity - Elementary (A1-A2) - 25 minutes
This comparatives and superlatives worksheet helps students practice writing sentences using the two structures. Each student is given a copy of the worksheet. Students complete the worksheet by putting words in order, according to an adjective in brackets. Students then write sentences using the words and adjective in its comparative and superlative form. When everyone has finished, the answers are checked with the class.
ESL Comparatives and Superlatives Worksheet - Reading and Drawing Activity - Elementary (A1-A2) - 20 minutes
In this enjoyable comparatives and superlatives activity, students draw pictures of three people from comparative and superlative descriptions of their appearance. Each student is given a copy of the worksheet and some coloured pencils. The students read the sentences on their worksheet. The sentences describe three classmates using comparative and superlative forms. After reading the sentences, the students draw pictures of the three classmates from the descriptions. When the students have finished, they compare their pictures in pairs. As an extension, students can write a description of three of their classmates using comparative and superlative forms and then dictate the description to a partner for them to draw.
ESL Comparative and Superlative Board Game - Listening and Speaking Activity - Pre-intermediate (A2) - 30 minutes
This intriguing board game helps students practice making comparative and superlative sentences by giving opinions and stating facts. The students are divided into groups of three or four. Each group is given a copy of the game board, a dice and counters. Students place their counters on the start square. The students then take it in turns to roll the dice and move their counter along the board. When a student lands on a shaded square, they make a comparative sentence using the adjective and two things shown on the square, e.g. 'Wine is stronger than beer'. When a student lands on a white square, they make a comparative and superlative sentence using the adjective and three things shown on the square, e.g. 'In my opinion, cars are safer than motorbikes. I think that bicycles are the safest way to travel'. The other group members listen to the student's sentence and decide if it is grammatically correct or not. If it is, the student stays on the square. If not, the student goes back to their previous square. The first student to reach the finish wins the game.
ESL Comparatives and Superlatives Activity - Writing, Listening and Speaking - Pre-intermediate (A2) - 30 minutes
In this free comparatives and superlatives activity, students complete questions with comparative or superlative adjectives and then predict a partner's answers to the questions. The students are divided into two groups (A and B) and each student is given a corresponding worksheet. The students then complete questions on their worksheet with the correct comparative or superlative form of the adjectives in brackets. When the students have finished, the comparative and superlative adjectives are checked and the questions are reviewed with each group. Next, each student pairs up with someone from the other group. Without talking, the students predict their partner's answers to the questions and write them down in the second column of the worksheet. Students then take it in turns to ask and answer the questions and compare their partner's answers with the predictions. For each correct prediction, students score a point. The student with the most points at the end of the activity wins. Finally, the students tell the class what they found out about their partner and any interesting findings are discussed in more detail.
ESL Comparatives and Superlatives Game - Speaking Activity - Pre-intermediate (A2) - 25 minutes
Here is a fun comparatives and superlatives game for students to play in class. The students are divided into groups of three and each student is given a set of category cards. The students write one word belonging to the category on the back of each card. When the students have done that, they spread the cards out with the category headings face up. Students take it in turns to turn over two cards from the same category and make a comparison between the two words on the back of the cards. For example, if a student turned over to animal cards and the two words were 'tiger' and 'mouse', the student might say 'A tiger is more dangerous than a mouse'. If a student turns over two identical words, they make a superlative sentence. If a student successfully makes a comparative or superlative sentence, they keep the two cards. If a student cannot think of a sentence or their sentence is grammatically incorrect, they put the cards back and miss a turn. The student with the most cards at the end of the game is the winner.
ESL Comparatives and Superlatives Game - Writing Activity - Pre-intermediate (A2) - 25 minutes
In this comparatives and superlatives game, students make sentences about different countries. The students are divided into teams of three or four. The class names as many adjectives as they can and their answers are written on the board. Next, the students name ten countries. These answers are also written on the board. The students then have ten minutes to make as many comparative and superlative sentences as they can using the adjectives and countries listed on the board, e.g. 'Thailand is hotter than Germany'. After the ten-minute time limit has been reached, the teams read out their sentences to the class. Teams score one point for each grammatically correct and appropriate sentence. Further rounds can be played by asking the students to name other categories such as sports, animals, famous people, etc.
ESL Comparatives and Superlatives Game - Speaking Activity - Low intermediate (B1) - 30 minutes
This free comparatives and superlatives game helps to teach students how to make comparative and superlative sentences using a range of adjectives. The students are divided into groups of three or four. Each group is given a set of topic cards and a set of adjective cards. Students place the topic cards face up on the desk and shuffle the adjective cards and put them face down in a pile. Students take it in turns to choose a topic and then take an adjective card from the top of the pile. The student then has to make a comparative and superlative sentence using the adjective on the card. The two sentences must be related to the topic. If a student manages to do this, they receive two points. If a student cannot make two sentences, or one or both sentences are grammatically incorrect, the adjective card goes to the next player and they try to make two sentences about the topic for four points and so on. The game continues until all the adjective cards have been used. The student with the highest score at the end of the game is the winner.
ESL Comparatives and Superlatives Activity - Speaking - Low intermediate (B1) - 25 minutes
In this comparatives and superlatives activity, students play a game where they race to find as many people as they can who fit comparative and superlative descriptions. Each student draws a slip from a box. The students read the comparative or superlative description on their slip and think about the question they need to ask to find people who fit that description. For example, if the slip read 'Find people who are the oldest children in their families', the student might ask 'Are you the oldest in your family?' When the students have their questions prepared, they race to find as many people as they can who fit their description. When a student finds someone who matches the description, they write down their name on the back of the slip. When a time limit has been reached, the students say how many people they found who matched their description. Students score one point for each person they find. Students then draw another slip from the box and continue as before. The student with the most points at the end of the game wins.
ESL Comparatives and Superlatives Activity - Reading, Listening and Speaking - Low intermediate (B1) - 25 minutes
In this enjoyable teaching activity, students complete a questionnaire about preferences and then discuss their preferences with a partner using comparatives and superlatives. Each student is given a copy of the worksheet. The students read each question on the worksheet and order the items, according to their preferences. Students mark number 1 for what they prefer the most and number 3 for what they prefer the least. When the students have finished, they are divided into pairs. The students then discuss their preferences with their partner using comparatives and superlatives. Afterwards, the students give feedback to the class by explaining their preferences.
ESL Comparatives and Superlatives Worksheet - Reading and Writing Activity - Intermediate (B1) - 25 minutes
This comparatives and superlatives worksheet helps students review a variety of comparative and superlative structures. Each student is given a copy of the two-page worksheet. Students begin by reading a chart that contains information about four large dog breeds. The students then use the information in the chart to complete the exercises on the worksheet. In the first exercise, students read comparative and superlative true or false statements about the dogs and then write their answers in the spaces. The students then correct the false sentences to make them true. They can do this by changing the names of the dogs or by making the sentences negative, e.g. 1. The Great Dane is taller than the Akita. / The Akita isn't taller than the Great Dane. Next, students complete sentences with the comparative or superlative form of the adjectives or phrases in brackets. Finally, students answer questions by writing complete comparative or superlative sentences.
ESL Comparatives and Superlatives Activity - Writing and Speaking - Intermediate (B1) - 40 minutes
In this comparatives and superlatives activity, students complete questions with various comparative and superlative adjectives and structures. The students then ask and answer the questions with a partner. The class is divided into two groups and each student is given a copy of the worksheet. The students work together with the other people in their group to complete the questions with their own ideas. Students must write a different comparative or superlative adjective in each question. When the students have finished, their questions are checked. The students then cut their questions into cards. After that, students pair up with someone from the other group. The students shuffle their own question cards and place them in a pile, face down in front of them. Students then take it in turns to pick up one of their question cards and ask the question to their partner. The students should try to give detailed answers and keep the conversation going by asking follow-up questions. This continues until all the questions have been asked and answered. Afterwards, students give feedback to the class on what they found out about their partner. Any interesting findings are discussed in more detail.
Business English Comparatives and Superlatives Lesson - Upper-intermediate (B2) - 60 minutes
In this comparatives and superlatives lesson for adults, students learn how to make direct and general comparisons using a variety of comparative and superlative adjectives and structures. Students also compare companies and products from information contained in a chart. In addition, the lesson includes several writing and speaking activities based on comparing companies and their competitors.
