Download - Compratives Superlatives
Chalk and cheese
This activity looks at ways of making comparative forms by asking learners to
compare things that are usually thought of as opposites. It can be used to revise
structures or to present them as part of an inductive approach. It also encourages
learners to be creative. The activity would be suitable for an elementary to
intermediate level.
Procedure
Dictate the complete word pairs on the handout (pairs 1 – 5) to
learners. If they are low level give them time to check their spelling in
groups before moving on. Draw the learners’ attention to the opposites in
the pairs.
Give the handout to the learners, giving them time to check their
spelling again. Ask them to complete the next three pairs (numbers 6 – 8)
with their own ideas. Emphasise that there are many possible ways to
complete them. Discuss answers.
Ask learners to add one more pair of their own (number 9), and then
share that with the class. Other learners can choose one they like and add it
as number 10.
Use the first pair as an example. Write it on the board and ask
learners what the difference is between men and women . Elicit answers that
use comparative forms, for example:
o Men are stronger than women
o Women are more sensitive than men
Try to get at least one examples of –er than and one using
more_____ than.
Ask learners in groups to write sentences comparing the other things
in the pairs. Monitor for accuracy if this is one of your aims for the class.
Share ideas together. Ask learners to choose the best comparisons.
Chalk and cheese – Try - Activities © BBC | British Council 2007
As different as chalk and cheese
Here are the pairs your teacher dictated
1. Men and women
2. Love and hate
3. Love and money
4. Black and white
5. Whisky and water
Complete the word pairs below with your ideas
6. Fire and ________________
7. Seas and _______________
8. Mountains and ___________
Invent one more pair and also write down one you like from the class
9. __________ and __________
10. __________ and __________
Now write sentences comparing the things in each pair, for example:
Comparatives and superlatives through pictures
A short but fun way to revise comparatives and superlatives is to give students a
blank piece of paper and ask them to draw an easy to draw object, such as a star, a
tree, a flower or a house on it.
Once students have finished drawing their pictures ask the students
either as a class, or in small groups if the class is very large, to line up
according to the size of the object that they drew.
The student with the biggest star stands on the right and the student
with the smallest star stands on the left. Once the students are lined up
according to the size of their picture you can then ask them questions such
as;
o Who has got the biggest star?
o Who has got the smallest star?
o Is student X's star bigger or smaller than student Y's star?
o etc.
Variations on the same activity
If you get the students to line up in small groups, you can then get them to re-
group, with all the students with the smallest stars on one side of the classroom and
all the students with the biggest stars on another side of the classroom and all the
students with the second smallest stars on another side of the classroom etc.
If you ask students to draw a house you can ask them to draw a house with a front
door, two windows, a roof, a chimney etc, and after students have lined up
according to who has the biggest / smallest house, you can then get students to
work in pairs and compare their pictures to see who has the biggest or smallest
front doors etc.
With young learners you can get them to colour their stars and then pin them on
the wall according to the size of the stars and then get students to write sentences
on a piece of paper about their stars which they will pin on the wall under their
picture.
My star is the biggest star.
My start is bigger than John's star but smaller than Mary's star
etc.
This creates a nice display for all the class to read.
I heard about this activity on the first teacher training course I attended and have
used it repeatedly and have found that it is always popular with students and that
the activity works well with young learners, teens and adults.