The Twins Who Swapped Lives — Comparatives (A2)

A2 · COMPARATIVES

The Twins Who Swapped Lives

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“Is city life better than village life? It’s not as simple as that.”

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Comparative adjectives & adverbs · (not) as … as

Reading

Speaking

STAGE 1 · WARM-UP

City or countryside?

Without thinking too much, which would you choose?

• noisy streets or quiet fields

• the metro or a bike

• restaurants everywhere or your own tomatoes

• crowds of people or a field of cows

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(you add this)

Based on your answers, are you a city person or country person? Does your partner agree?

STAGE 2 · BEFORE YOU READ

One year, two lives

Identical twins Emil (a city man) and Filip (a country man) swapped lives for one year: Emil moved to the village, Filip to the city.

PREDICT

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After one year, do you think each twin wanted to go back to his old life — or stay in the new one?

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Read the double interview and find out.

STAGE 3 · READING

Read — did they go back, or stay?

One year, two lives: the twins report back

Emil (city → village): “The first month was terrible — the village is much quieter than the city, too quiet to sleep! But I’m healthier now: I walk everywhere, and vegetables are cheaper and fresher. I’m more relaxed than before, and I’ve always been fitter than Filip! Life is slower, but it isn’t as boring as I expected. The people are friendlier than my city neighbours. The only problem is work: the internet is worse than in the city. But I sleep better, I cook more often, and I laugh more. I’m staying.”

Filip (village → city): “Everybody said the city would eat me alive. Wrong! Yes, it’s noisier and more expensive — my coffee costs three times more. People walk, talk and eat more quickly. At first I felt slower than everybody. But the city is more interesting than I imagined, and I speak better English now. I’m busier than before, but I have more energy. Is city life better than village life? It’s not as simple as that. My brother sleeps better than me — but I laugh as much as him. We’re both staying. Mum isn’t happy.”

STAGE 4 · COMPREHENSION

Which twin?

Write E (Emil), F (Filip) or B (both). Then: was your prediction right? Who isn’t happy?

• He had problems sleeping at first.

• His coffee is much more expensive now.

• He says he’s more relaxed than before.

• His English has improved.

• He mentions a problem with the internet.

• He is staying in his new home.

• He compares how much the brothers laugh.

STAGE 5 · TALK ABOUT IT

What do you think?

Discuss with a partner.

Which twin’s new life sounds better to you?

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(you add this)

Could you do this experiment for a year? What would you miss the most?

STAGE 6 · GRAMMAR — NOTICE

Find the comparatives

Find the comparative of each word in the interviews. Then look at your table and spot the rules.

word

comparative in the text

quiet

(much) ____________

healthy

____________

relaxed

____________

bad

____________

quickly

____________

well

I sleep ________ / I speak ________ English

Also find two sentences with “as … as”. Do they mean the same, or different?

STAGE 7 · THE RULES

Comparatives

adjective

comparative

rule

quiet / cheap

quieter / cheaper

one syllable: + -er

big / hot

bigger / hotter

one vowel + one consonant: double it

healthy / busy

healthier / busier

consonant + y → -ier

relaxed / expensive

more relaxed / more expensive

-ed or 2+ syllables: more + adj

good / bad / far

ALSO

better / worse / further

irregular

• Compare with than: the village is quieter than the city.

• (not) as + adjective + as = the same / not the same: it isn’t as boring as I expected.

• Adverbs: more quickly; irregular: fast → faster, well → better, badly → worse.

STAGE 8 · PRACTICE

Comparative + than

Complete with the comparative. Add “than” where necessary.

1. The city is ______ (noisy) the village.

2. Emil is ______ (fit) his brother — he says!

3. Vegetables are ______ (cheap) and ______ (fresh) in the countryside.

4. City people walk ______ (quickly) village people.

5. Filip’s coffee is much ______ (expensive) now.

6. The village internet is ______ (bad) the city.

7. Filip speaks English ______ (well) a year ago.

STAGE 8 · PRACTICE

Rewrite with (not) as … as

Example: The village is quieter than the city. → The city isn’t as quiet as the village.

1. The city is more expensive than the village. → The village …

2. Filip laughs as much as Emil. (= the same!) → Emil … Filip.

3. Emil sleeps better than Filip. → Filip … Emil.

4. I expected village life to be more boring. → Village life … I expected.

STAGE 9 · SPEAKING

The great debate

STEPS 1–2

As a class, choose four “battles”: cats vs dogs · coffee vs tea · texting vs calling · summer vs winter · cinema vs streaming · cars vs bikes. Split into two teams — defend the side you’re given! Prepare three comparative arguments.

STEPS 3–4 — DEBATE

Each team gives its arguments; the other answers with “but…” or “(not) as … as”: “Maybe, but cats aren’t as noisy as dogs!”

The class votes for the better arguments — not the idea you prefer. Bonus point for the best “as … as” of the day.

TEACHER'S REFERENCE

Answer key

4 1 E · 2 F · 3 E · 4 F · 5 E · 6 B · 7 F · Mum isn’t happy.

6a quieter / healthier / more relaxed / worse / more quickly / better, better

6b 1 -er 2 -ier 3 more 4 worse, better 5 more

6c “it isn’t as boring as I expected” (different); “I laugh as much as him” (the same).

8a 1 noisier than 2 fitter than 3 cheaper / fresher 4 more quickly than 5 more expensive 6 worse than 7 better than

8b 1 The village isn’t as expensive as the city. 2 Emil laughs as much as Filip. 3 Filip doesn’t sleep as well as Emil. 4 Village life isn’t as boring as I expected.