Everyday Comparisons and Recommendations
1. Warm-up discussion
Discuss these questions:
- What new things have you bought recently? (e.g., clothes, electronics, books)
- Do you usually compare different options before you buy something? Why or why not?
- Do you ask friends for recommendations? What was the last thing you recommended to someone?
2. Listening: Comparing Phones
Listen to the conversation and fill in the gaps with the exact words you hear.
I need a new phone. My old one is than yours. I think the new iPhone is than the Samsung, but it's much more . The camera on the Samsung is really good, almost the iPhone's. You should buy the Samsung phone. I it because it's and still very good.
3. Key Vocabulary for Comparisons
Drag the terms from the word bank to match them with their correct definitions.
4. Grammar Focus: Comparatives, Superlatives, and 'As...As'
We use **comparative** adjectives to compare two things (e.g., bigger, more interesting).
We use **superlative** adjectives to compare three or more things and show which is the most (e.g., the biggest, the most interesting).
We use **as + adjective + as** to say two things are equal or not equal (e.g., as tall as, not as easy as).
Choose the correct form to complete each sentence:
1. My new laptop is _______ (fast) than my old one.
2. This is _______ (delicious) cake I've ever eaten!
3. Sarah is _______ (tall) as her brother.
4. London is _______ (big) city in England.
5. My car is _______ (expensive) than yours, but it's also _______ (old).
6. Learning English is not _______ (easy) as learning Spanish for me.
5. Reading: "My New Headphones"
Read the blog article about choosing new headphones, then answer the questions.
Choosing Your Next Gadget: My New Headphones
I recently bought new headphones, and I spent a lot of time choosing! I looked at the 'SoundBlast 500' and the 'MusicFlow Pro'. The SoundBlast 500 was cheaper and lighter, which was good for carrying. But the MusicFlow Pro had better sound quality. It was also more comfortable for long listening sessions. The battery life on the MusicFlow Pro was the longest, almost 30 hours! The SoundBlast's battery was only 15 hours. For me, sound quality and comfort were the most important things. So, even though the MusicFlow Pro was more expensive, I decided to buy it. It's the best choice I've made all year for music!
Answer True or False based on the article:
1. The SoundBlast 500 was more expensive than the MusicFlow Pro.
2. The MusicFlow Pro had better sound quality.
3. The SoundBlast 500 had the longest battery life.
4. Comfort was not important to the writer.
5. The writer thinks the MusicFlow Pro was the best choice.
6. Practice: Making Comparisons
Complete the sentences using the correct comparative or superlative form of the adjective in parentheses, or 'as...as'.
2. My sister is than me.
3. This book is than the last one I read.
4. He is the student in the class.
5. A bicycle is than a car.
6. This exam was not as the previous one.
7. Speaking practice: Your Recommendations
Discuss these questions with a partner. Use the vocabulary and grammar from this lesson to make comparisons and recommendations.
- What is the best restaurant in your town? Why do you think it's the best?
- What is the most useful app on your phone? Why do you recommend it to others?
- Compare two things you own (e.g., two pairs of shoes, two pieces of clothing, two books). Which one do you like better and why?