Teaching comparatives and superlatives can be engaging and effective with the right approach. This guide provides a structured method for introducing these concepts to English language learners, progressing from simple one-syllable adjectives to more complex forms and irregular adjectives.
Introducing Comparatives and Superlatives: One-Syllable Adjectives
Begin with visual aids. Use pictures of people with varying heights or ask three students to stand. Introduce the comparative form: “Juan is tall, but Mario is taller than Juan. Juan is shorter than Mario.” Explain that adding “-er” forms the comparative. Have students compare their own heights.
Then, introduce the superlative: “Mario is taller than Juan, but Sam is taller than Mario. Sam is the tallest of the three.” Clarify that adding “-est” forms the superlative. Have students identify the tallest and shortest in the class.
Comparatives and Superlatives: One-Syllable Adjectives Ending in “e”
Use images of different furniture pieces. Introduce the comparative: “This brown sofa is nice. But the red one is nicer than the brown one. It’s also wider than the brown one.” Explain that only “-r” is added for these adjectives. Have students compare other furniture items.
For the superlative, point to three sofas: “The red sofa is nicer than the brown one, but the blue one is the nicest of the three.” Explain that “-st” is added. Students then identify the nicest or widest furniture pieces.
Comparatives and Superlatives: Consonant-Vowel-Consonant Adjectives
Utilize pictures depicting various seasons and weather conditions. Introduce the comparative: “The weather in May can be hot, but the weather in June is hotter than in May. October is a wet month, but November is wetter than October.” Emphasize doubling the final consonant before adding “-er.” Using a weather chart, have students compare weather in different cities and countries, encouraging them to use other one-syllable adjectives.
Introduce the superlative using the weather chart: “November is the wettest month of the year. July is the hottest.” Explain that the final consonant is doubled before adding “-est.” Students identify the hottest, wettest, coolest months in various locations.
Comparatives and Superlatives: Two-Syllable Adjectives Ending in “y”
Discuss feelings to introduce the comparative: “I am happy when I visit a friend, but I’m happier when it’s her birthday.” Highlight replacing “y” with “i” before adding “-er.” Students compare feelings in different situations, applying previously learned comparison rules.
Introduce the superlative: “I am happy when I’m on vacation, but I’m the happiest when I travel to a new place.” Explain replacing “y” with “i” and adding “-est.” Students describe when they experience different feelings most intensely (happiest, saddest, etc.).
Comparatives and Superlatives: Two or More Syllable Adjectives
Show pictures of vacation spots and famous cities. Introduce the comparative: “Berlin is a beautiful city, but Paris is more beautiful than Berlin.” Explain using “more” before the adjective. Have students compare cities and countries using longer adjectives.
For the superlative: “Paris is a very beautiful city, but in my opinion Rome is the most beautiful city in the world.” Explain using “the most” before the adjective. Students discuss what they consider the most beautiful, expensive, or interesting cities.
Comparatives and Superlatives: Irregular Adjectives
Continuing with city comparisons: “The traffic in London is bad, but the traffic in Rome is worse. The traffic in London is better than the traffic in Rome.” Explain that “good” and “bad” are irregular, becoming “better” and “worse” in the comparative. Students continue making comparisons.
Finally, introduce the superlative: “They say the traffic in Rome is the worst in the world. But it’s the best place to visit in Italy.” Emphasize “the best” and “the worst” as superlatives for “good” and “bad.” Students discuss the best sights and worst problems in different places.
