LESSON OVERVIEW

The main objectives of this ESL lesson on comparatives are to:

• compare things and people and share opinions and experiences;
• listen to a recording where people make comparisons;
• understand and apply comparison rules with adjectives.

With this lesson, students revise adjectives and their opposites (e.g. cheap – expensive) to describe things and people. They share preferences and opinions and explore the rules for making comparisons with adjectives. Students listen to a recording of people comparing things and situations, practise the comparative forms of the adjectives and work in pairs expressing whether they agree or disagree with comparisons. 

WARM-UP AND ADJECTIVES

This ESL lesson on comparatives begins with a warm-up. Students find pairs of opposite adjectives (e.g. cheap – expensive, cold – hot) in the task. Following that, students use these adjectives to describe things and people in photos (e.g. women, houses, weather – There are two happy women and some old houses. It’s cold.). Next, they match more adjectives (e.g. popular, difficult, easy) with pictures that represent them in sentences (e.g. This task is easy. I can do it.). After that, students describe things in different categories (e.g. famous characters: Batman, Superman, Voldemort) using the adjectives from the lesson (e.g. Superman is good and Voldemort is bad. Batman and Superman are popular.).  

GRAMMAR RULES AND DISCUSSION

At this point in this ESL lesson on comparatives, students read sentences that compare things (e.g. Swimming is easier than basketball.). They then complete comparison rules using words from the sentences (e.g. cheaper, sadder, easier). After that, students listen to a recording where people make comparisons and say if each person agrees with some statements (e.g. Vegetables are cheaper than meat.). Next, they complete gaps with the comparative forms of adjectives (e.g. interesting – more interesting). Following that, students look at the statements again and say if they are true for them. They also give details. Finally, students choose categories (e.g. languages, singers, restaurants) and compare things, people and places in them using target adjectives and their own ideas. Their partner agrees or disagrees and adds details. Students take turns until they’ve discussed four categories. 

HOMEWORK/REVISION

This lesson plan also includes an additional task that you can use as homework or revision. In the task, students find mistakes in sentences about comparisons and correct them. The task is available in the teacher’s version of the worksheet. You can print it and hand it out to your students. It’s also included in the e-lesson plan.