Comparatives and Superlatives ESL Activities, Worksheets and Games
ESL Comparatives and Superlatives Worksheet - Reading and Writing Exercise - Elementary (A1-A2) - 25 minutes
In this comparatives and superlatives worksheet, students take part in a quiz where they order things and write comparative and superlative sentences about them. Give each student a copy of the worksheet. Students complete the worksheet by putting words in order, according to the adjectives in brackets. Students then write sentences using the words and adjective in its comparative and superlative form. When everyone has finished, check the correct answers with the class.
ESL Comparatives and Superlatives Activity - Speaking and Writing - Elementary (A1-A2) - 25 minutes
In this comparatives and superlatives activity, students conduct a survey and then write comparative and superlative sentences about the results. Give each student 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 - Reading and Drawing Activity - Elementary (A1-A2) - 20 minutes
In this comparative and superlative worksheet, students draw pictures of three people from comparative and superlative descriptions of their appearance. Give each student 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 Activity - Writing 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. Divide the students into two groups (A and B) and give each student 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, check the comparative and superlative adjectives and questions 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 discuss any interesting findings in more detail.
Interactive Version - In this free comparative and superlative breakout room activity, students use comparative and superlative adjectives to complete questions and then predict a partner's responses.
ESL Comparatives and Superlatives Game - Writing Activity - Pre-intermediate (A2) - 25 minutes
In this comparative and superlative game, students make sentences about different countries. Divide the students into teams of three or four. The class names as many adjectives as they can and you write them on the board. Next, the students name ten countries. Write these answers 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. Play further rounds by asking the students to name other categories such as sports, animals, famous people, etc.
ESL Comparative and Superlative Board Game - Listening and Speaking Activity - Pre-intermediate (A2) - 30 minutes
This fun comparatives and superlatives board game helps students practice making comparative and superlative sentences by giving opinions and stating facts. Give each group of three or four a copy of the game board, a dice and counters. The students 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 Worksheet - Reading and Writing Activity - Pre-intermediate (A2) - 50 minutes
This free comparatives and superlatives worksheet helps students to learn and practice comparative and superlative adjectives and sentence structure. Give each student a copy of the four-page worksheet. Students begin by reading information about how comparative and superlative adjectives are formed. The students then test their knowledge of irregular comparative and superlative adjectives. Students then write the comparative and superlative forms of adjectives using the information about how they are formed. Next, students complete questions and answers with the comparative or superlative forms of the adjectives in brackets and their own answers. The students then go on to create two conversation questions of their own and answer them. One question should use a comparative adjective and one should use a superlative adjective. When the students have finished, they ask and answer questions 1 to 12 with a partner. In the last exercise, students say which things they prefer from two choices, explaining their answers using comparatives. Afterwards, review the students' answers as a class and provide feedback.
Interactive Version - This free comparatives and superlatives interactive lesson helps to teach your students how to make comparative and superlative adjectives and sentences.
ESL Comparative and Superlative Game - Speaking Activity - Pre-intermediate (A2) - 25 minutes
Here is a rewarding comparatives and superlatives game for students to play in class. Divide the students into groups of three and give each student 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 then 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 Comparative and Superlative Worksheet - Reading and Writing Exercises - Intermediate (B1) - 25 minutes
This comparatives and superlatives worksheet helps students review a variety of comparative and superlative structures. Give each student 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 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 Comparative and Superlative Game - Reading, Listening and Speaking Activity - Intermediate (B1) - 25 minutes
In this engaging comparatives and superlatives game, students 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 child 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 Game - Speaking Activity - Intermediate (B1) - 30 minutes
This free comparatives and superlatives card game helps students practice making comparative and superlative sentences with a range of adjectives. Give each group of three or four 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 then 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 score 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, adding two points each time. 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 - Writing, Listening and Speaking - Intermediate (B1) - 40 minutes
In this comparatives and superlatives discussion activity, students complete questions with various comparative and superlative adjectives and structures and then ask and answer the questions with a partner. Divide the students into two groups and give each student 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, check their questions. 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.
ESL Comparative and Superlative Activity - Listening and Speaking - Intermediate (B1) - 25 minutes
Here is a comparatives and superlatives questionnaire activity to use in class with your students. In the activity, students complete a preferences questionnaire and then discuss their preferences with a partner using comparatives and superlatives. Give each student 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, divide them 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.
In this comparative and superlative lesson for adults or people studying Business English, students practice making direct and general comparisons in a business context using a variety of comparative and superlative structures. Give each student a copy of the four-page lesson. To begin, have the students work in pairs. Give the students two things to compare and a fixed amount of time. The students then write down as many comparatives as they can think of comparing the two things. Next, go through how to make direct and general comparisons using the information and examples provided and review comparative and superlative structures with the class. In pairs, the students then practice comparing the items shown using the language. After that, students think about their company and its main competitor and write comparative adjectives and questions they would ask to compare them. The students then move on to compare companies and products from information contained in a chart by taking it in turns to ask superlative questions to their partner about the companies and products, writing down the answers. The students also say which company they would buy from and why. In the last exercise, students work in small groups and discuss their company and its main competitor using the comparative questions provided. To end the lesson, each group gives feedback to the class on their answers.
