The Grass Is Always Greener — Comparatives & Superlatives (B1 Grammar)

B1 - comparatives and superlatives

Greener Grass

PICTURE

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"That is the most offensive and the most accurate thing anyone has ever said to me."

Comparative adjectives and adverbs · *(not) as ... as* · *the same as* · superlatives + *ever*

Listening

Speaking

LEAD-IN

Discussion

City life vs country life

First, make a list of advantages for living in the city and the country.

Then compare your list with a partner.

Finally, decide which place is better overall.

PICTURE

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BEFORE YOU LISTEN

One year away

Sam moved to a village a year ago. Leah stayed in the city. They have very different opinions about it.

LISTEN FOR

1. Who seems happier with their life?

2. What's the strongest argument each one makes?

PICTURE

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LISTENING

Tapescript: "The grass is always greener"

A conversation between two old friends

LEAH So. One year in the countryside. Be honest — you miss the city, don't you?

SAM Honestly? Less than I expected. My life is so much calmer than it used to be. I sleep better, I work more efficiently, and my rent is half of what you pay. Half, Leah.

LEAH OK, but what do you actually do in the evenings? Because I checked, and your village has one pub and a shop that closes earlier than my grandmother goes to bed.

SAM The pub is lovely, actually. And it's not as quiet as you think — there's a market, there's a running club...

LEAH A running club. Sam, last month I saw two festivals, a comedy show and the best exhibition I've ever seen in my life. That's one month.

SAM And you spent more on those tickets than I spend on food. Come on — the city's got more expensive since you moved there, hasn't it?

LEAH Everything's got more expensive, everywhere. But fine, yes. My flat is smaller than your bathroom, and my commute is the worst part of my day. Forty minutes standing under someone's armpit.

SAM Mine's a ten-minute walk. Through fields. I'm just saying — I get home earlier than you leave work.

LEAH But that's my point! Nothing happens to you. When was the last time something surprised you?

SAM Tuesday. A cow got into the garden.

LEAH ...OK, that's the funniest thing you've said all year.

SAM Look, it's simple. You like living quickly. I like living slowly. Your life isn't the same as mine any more — but honestly? Neither of us dresses as well as we used to, neither of us goes out as much as we used to, and we're both turning into our parents. Yours just happened faster than mine.

LEAH That is the most offensive and the most accurate thing anyone has ever said to me.

COMPREHENSION

Listen again. Sam (S), Leah (L) or both (B)?

1. Pays lower rent. ______

2. Has the shorter journey to work. ______

3. Spends a lot on entertainment. ______

4. Thinks the other person's life lacks excitement. ______

5. Is turning into their parents. ______

GRAMMAR FOCUS

Comparing things, actions and lives

a) My life is so much calmer than it used to be.

b) I sleep better, I work more efficiently.

c) It's not as quiet as you think. / Neither of us dresses as well as we used to.

d) The best exhibition I've ever seen in my life.

e) Your life isn't the same as mine.

f) Yours just happened faster than mine.

1. In (a), how do we make the comparative of a short adjective like calm? And of a longer one like expensive?

2. (b) compares two actions. What kind of word is efficiently? Which two comparative adverbs here are irregular (well → ?, badly → ?)?

3. In (c), the two things are equal — or not equal. What structure does English use?

4. In (d), is Leah comparing two exhibitions, or one against all the exhibitions of her life? What tense follows a superlative + ever?

5. After a superlative, is it the best exhibition of my life or *in my life? (The longest bridge ____ the world.*)

6. In (f), what comes after than — I, or me / mine? Which sounds more informal?

THE RULES

Complete the rules

• Short adjectives: add ________ (calmer). Long adjectives and adverbs: use ________ (more efficiently). Irregular: good / well → ________ , bad / badly → ________ .

• (not) as + adjective or adverb + ________ compares things that are (not) equal. The same ________ says two things are identical.

• Superlatives: the -est / the most..., often with the present perfect + ________ , and in (not of) before places and groups.

CAREFUL

Add weight to a comparative with much / a lot / so much / far: My life is much calmer. Add a bit / slightly to soften it.

PRACTICE

Complete with ONE word, or the correct form of the word in brackets.

1. His village is much ________ (quiet) than her neighbourhood.

2. That's the ________ (funny) story I've ________ heard.

3. My commute isn't as bad ________ yours.

4. She works harder ________ anyone else in the office.

5. He drives more ________ (careful) than his brother — he's never had an accident.

6. It's the most expensive café ________ town.

7. My salary is the same ________ it was three years ago. My rent is not.

8. Leah goes out a lot more often than ________ . (Sam)

SPEAKING

Then and now

Compare your life today with your life ten years ago: sleep, money, friends, energy, weekends, worries.

• Use at least two comparatives.

• Use at least two (not) as ... as sentences.

• Use one superlative + ever.

• Then, as a class: who has changed the most?

PICTURE

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TEACHER'S REFERENCE · HIDE OR DELETE BEFORE CLASS

Answer key

GIST Both defend their choices, but Sam seems more content. Sam's strongest arguments: cost and calm (half the rent, a ten-minute walk). Leah's: culture and excitement (festivals, exhibitions, things actually happening).

COMPREHENSION 1 S · 2 S · 3 L · 4 B · 5 B

GRAMMAR FOCUS 1 Short: + -er (calmer); long: more + adjective (more expensive). 2 An adverb; more + adverb; irregular well → better, badly → worse. 3 (not) as ... as. 4 Against all the exhibitions of her life; the present perfect (I've ever seen). 5 in — in my life, in the world. 6 me / mine; than mine is more informal than than mine did / than I do.

RULES -er · more · better · worse

as ... as · the same as

ever

PRACTICE 1 quieter

2 funniest / ever

3 as

4 than

5 carefully

6 in

7 as

8 Sam / him