Testujemy Metody – Comparative and superlative adjectives

Testujemy Metody – Comparative and superlative adjectives

by | Feb 7, 2025 | English grammar

Sorry, but lessons on The Blue Tree work only on a computer or a tablet.

Bardzo mi przykro, ale lekcje na platformie The Blue Tree działają jedynie na komputerze lub tablecie.

Do zobaczenia na większym ekranie 🙂

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Testujemy Metody – Comparative and superlative adjectives
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THE BLUE TREE

English Grammar

CEF B1

CEFR B1

Intermediate

warm up

Answer the questions below.

Do you think it is possible to learn a foreign language without learning its grammar?
TRANSCRIPT

“I believe it’s possible to learn basic communication without studying grammar in detail. For example, my friend moved to Spain and learned Spanish just by talking to people every day. He didn’t focus on grammar, but he learned to communicate well in daily life. However, if you want to express yourself clearly in writing or speak more correctly, you need to understand grammar rules.”

Some people believe that learning grammar is like learning maths, is this true in your opinion?
TRANSCRIPT

“Yes, I think learning grammar is like learning maths because both have rules and formulas you need to follow. For example, when you start learning grammar, you need to understand the rules, like how to form tenses or sentences, just like in maths, where you learn formulas. But later, grammar becomes more natural because you don’t have to think about the rules all the time, especially when you practice a lot.”

What’s your favourite way of learning grammar?
TRANSCRIPT

“My favorite way of learning grammar is by making mind-maps and charts. For example, I create a chart to compare tenses or show how adjectives change into comparatives and superlatives. It helps me see the rules clearly. I also like reading books and articles because I can see grammar used in real sentences, and it helps me remember the rules better.”

part one

INTRODUCTION

Read the introduction to this lesson.

Gramatyka – ech, tylko nie to – myślisz sobie. Ale wcale nie musi tak być, gramatyka, a raczej poznanie reguł działania języka obcego może być fascynującym przeżyciem, zupełnie jak poszukiwanie skarbów. 

W tej lekcji przetestujemy sześć różnych metod uczenia się gramatyki. Tematem będzie zawsze to samo – Comparative and Superlative Adjectives. 

Jakie to będą sposoby?

1. Strona z tradycyjnego podręcznika do gramatyki

2. Mapa myśli

3. Ćwiczenia typu “Discovery technique”

4. Dialog, czyli trochę storytelling’u

5. Podcast

6. Test

BOOK-STYLE RULES

Click on the link below and study a page from a traditional book for English grammar.

BOOK-STYLE INSTRUCTION

DISCUSSION

Discuss these questions.

  • What is your general impression on learning from this type of material?
  • Do you like learning this way?
  • What are the pros and cons of this method?
  • Is this a good idea to use a highlighter or make notes on the margins when we study in this way?

part two

MIND-MAP

Go through the mind-map below. You can click on it to enlarge it.

DISCUSSION

Discuss these questions.

  • What do you think of this method of learning?
  • Have you ever tried learning this way yourself?
  • What are the upsides and downsides of mind-maps?
  • Is it better to learn from a ready-made mind-map or done by ourselves?

part three

DISCOVERY TECHNIQUE

Bardzo ciekawą metodą uczenia się gramatyki jest metoda dedukcji. “Discovery Technique” zmusza do myślenia. Warto przeznaczyć trochę więcej czasu na tę część. 

DISCOVERY TECHNIQUE

DISCUSSION

Discuss the questions below.

  • What is your opinion about this method of learning grammar?
  • How much time did it take you to cover this material?
  • Do you believe it is better or worse than the book-style instruction?
  • Is it possible to learn grammar this way, even when you are a beginner?

part four

DIALOGUE – STORYTELLING

Read a dialogue between characters from The Big Bang Theory series. Sheldon is teaching his friends how to make and use comparative and superlative adjectives.

SHELDON TEACHES THE GANG

Scene: Sheldon and the gang are in the living room. Sheldon stands at the whiteboard, marker in hand, with a distinct air of superiority.

Sheldon: (Tapping the whiteboard) Alright, settle down, settle down. Today, we tackle a subject of grave linguistic import: comparative and superlative adjectives. Prepare to have your minds expanded!

Penny: (Rolling her eyes) Oh, goody. Is this going to be more boring than string theory?

Sheldon: (Gasps) Preposterous! Nothing is more boring than string theory, except maybe toenail fungus. But I digress. A comparative adjective, my dear Penny, allows us to compare two entities. For example, my intellect is superior to yours.

Penny: (Sarcastically) Wow, what an unexpected comparison.

Leonard: (To Penny) Just let him go, it’s easier.

Sheldon: Precisely, Leonard. Now, superlative adjectives indicate the utmost degree of something. For instance, I am the most intelligent person in this room.

Raj: (Muttering) I think you’ll find there are several candidates.

Sheldon: (Ignoring Raj) Now, the formation of these adjectives follows specific rules. Short adjectives – those concise linguistic gems – typically add “-er” and “-est.” For example, “This room is smaller than my bedroom,” or “My spot is the best spot”.

Howard: (Snickering) What if something is already short, like… me?

Sheldon: (Stares at Howard) That is neither here nor there, Wolowitz. Irrelevant!

Bernadette: (Elbowing Howard) Behave.

Sheldon: Now, long adjectives – those verbose monstrosities – require “more” and “most.” “Quantum physics is more complicated than comic books”. Though one could argue the intricacies of a Superman storyline rivals quantum entanglement.

Leonard: I think some comic storylines are more complicated than some physics.

Sheldon: (Scoffs) Nonsense! It is getting more and more difficult to get you to appreciate the nuances of language.

Amy: Sheldon, perhaps an example using something Penny can relate to?

Sheldon: Very well. “That Cheesecake Factory dessert was more delicious than the salad she didn’t eat.”

Penny: Hey! I resent that!

Sheldon: (Unfazed) Furthermore, we have two-syllable adjectives. Some take “-er/-est,” like “happier,” while others opt for “more/most,” like “more useful”. Determining which to use requires… (pauses dramatically) …linguistic intuition!

Raj: (Whispering to Howard) Or a quick Google search.

Sheldon: (Overhearing) Silence, Raj! And then, we have the rogue elements: irregular forms. “Good” becomes “better,” and “best”. “Bad” transforms into “worse,” and “worst.” It’s linguistic anarchy!

Amy: Think of it as linguistic diversity, dear.

Sheldon: Irregular? I’ll give you an irregular. Why is it that “further” is used to describe metaphorical distance, and “farther” is used to describe physical distance. The lack of consistency is infuriating!

Howard: So, if I wanted to say that Sheldon is the least flexible person I know, is that right?

Sheldon: (Eyes narrowing) That statement, Wolowitz, is not only hurtful but also inaccurate. And uses least correctly. Good for you.

Penny: What about “as…as”? Like, “Is Sheldon as annoying as he thinks he is smart?”

Sheldon: (Indignant) Penny! Using the structure correctly, I will note.

Leonard: See, you’re as good at teaching grammar as you are at physics, Sheldon.

Sheldon: (Beaming) Acknowledged! Now, let us move on to the nuances of “than me” versus “than I am”…

(The scene fades out as Sheldon continues his lecture, the others exchanging weary glances.)

DISCUSSION

Discuss these questions.

  • What do you think of using such dialogues for learning grammar?
  • Did you find it amusing or rather annoying?
  • Was it engaging for you?
  • What are the pros and cons of learning through such dialogues?

part five

PODCAST

Listen to the podcast about comparative and superlative adjectives, especially in the context of business English.

This listening is ten minites long. Why don’t you make notes while you listen, this will help you keep your focus on the task 😉

DISCUSSION

Discuss these questions.

  • Do you like listening to podcasts?
  • Was it easy to keep your attention on this podcast?
  • Were the examples and rules presented clearly for you?
  • What are the advantages and disadvantages of this method?

part six

TEST

Finally, let’s do a test. There are twenty items in this test. The results feature comments for each of the question. This will allow you to check why you made a mistake. (if any 😉 

COMPARATIVE AND SUPERLATIVE ADJECTIVES

Test your ability to create and use comparative and superlative adjectives.

If you get more than 60%, you will receive a beautiful certificate. 🙂

1. Which sentence is correct?
2. Choose the correct superlative form: "That was the ______ movie I've ever seen."
3. Complete the sentence: "Our new marketing strategy is ______ than the old one."
4. Which is the correct way to compare quantities?
5. "This project is ______ difficult than we anticipated."
6. Choose the correct sentence:
7. Complete the sentence: "The ______ you invest, the greater the return."
8. Which sentence uses the superlative correctly?
9. "His presentation was ______ than hers."
10. Which sentence is correct when comparing two options?

11. Complete the sentence: "The company's profits are ______ this quarter."
12. Which is the correct comparative form of "far"?
13. Choose the correct sentence using "as...as":
14. "The new software is ______ to use than the old one."
15. Which sentence is correct?
16. "She is ______ than her sister."
17. Complete the sentence: "Of all the candidates, he is the ______ qualified."


Well done! You're almost there!

18. Which sentence uses the correct form for continuous increase?
19. "This is the ______ day of my life."
20. Choose the correct sentence:

DISCUSSION

Discuss these questions.

  • What was your score?
  • Do you think testing your knowledge is part of learning?
  • What are the benefits of tests like this one?
  • Does it make sense to do this test twice; once before you start learning a topic, second time at the end?

POLL

Cast your vote in the poll below.

Which of these methods do you find the most effective?
3 votes

Cast Your Vote
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Alita is learning something on a computer

COMMENTS

What is your preferred way of learning grammar?

Talking Picture – Goals

Talking Picture – Goals

by | Jan 9, 2025 | Everyday English

Sorry, but lessons on The Blue Tree work only on a computer or a tablet.

Bardzo mi przykro, ale lekcje na platformie The Blue Tree działają jedynie na komputerze lub tablecie.

Do zobaczenia na większym ekranie 🙂

Zespół The Blue Tree

back to HOME > Learning English > Everyday English >

Talking Picture – Goals
Learn more words

THE BLUE TREE

Everyday English

CEF B1

CEFR B1

Intermediate

TALKING PICTURE

Answer the questions. Move your mouse over the icons to see the questions.

model answers

QUESTION #1

What are the benefits of setting personal and professional goals?

Setting personal and professional goals has several benefits. Firstly, it provides a clear sense of direction and helps you focus on what truly matters. When you have a goal, you’re less likely to waste time on activities that don’t 1. align with your priorities. Secondly, goals keep you motivated. They act as a reminder of what you want to achieve and push you to work harder. Finally, achieving goals, even small ones, gives you a 2.sense of accomplishment and builds self-confidence. For example, if you set a professional goal to improve your skills, reaching it can open new opportunities for career growth.

pasować do czegoś, zgadzać się z czymś

poczucie spełnienia

QUESTION 2

What challenges do we face when trying to reach your goals?

Reaching goals can be challenging for several reasons. One common issue is 3. procrastination, where we delay taking action because a task seems too difficult or 4. overwhelming. Another challenge is distractions, such as social media or unimportant tasks, which take our focus away from what we need to do. Additionally, 5. a lack of resources, like time, money, or support from others, can make achieving goals harder. Finally, 6. self-doubt and fear of failure can stop us from pushing forward. Overcoming these challenges often requires strong discipline, clear priorities, and sometimes 7. seeking help or advice from others.

odkładanie rzeczy na później

przytłaczające

brak środków, zasobów

Zwątpienie w siebie.

szukać, poszukiwać

Question #3

Some people share their goals with others, like a friend or a spouse. Do you think it is a good idea? Why? Why not?

Sharing your goals with others can be both helpful and risky, depending on the situation. On the positive side, when you tell someone about your goals, they can offer 8. encouragement and hold you accountable, which increases your chances of success. For example, if you share a fitness goal with a friend, they might motivate you to 9. stay on track or even join you. However, there are risks as well. If the person you share your goals with is negative or overly critical, their feedback might discourage you instead of helping you. Additionally, some studies suggest that sharing your goals too widely can make you feel satisfied just by talking about them, which reduces the motivation to actually achieve them. So, it’s important to 10. be selective about whom you share your goals with.

zachęty

pozostać na właściwej drodze

być wybiórczym

QUESTION #4

Can you share with us a goal you have achieved and how you did it?

One goal I achieved was improving my public speaking skills. I used to feel very nervous when speaking in front of an audience, so I decided to work on it. First, I joined a local public speaking club where I practiced regularly. The supportive environment helped me 11. gain confidence. I also watched videos of skilled speakers to learn from their techniques.

Additionally, I prepared 12. thoroughly for every speech, making sure I knew my material well. Over time, I noticed my confidence growing, and now I can speak in public without feeling overwhelmed. It wasn’t easy, but breaking the goal into smaller steps and staying consistent really 13. paid off.

zyskać pewność siebie

dokładnie, gruntownie

opłaciło się, przyniosło korzyści

Question #5

It is said that goals should be SMART? Do you know what this means?

“Yes, SMART is a popular method for setting effective goals. It 14. stands for Specific, 15. Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and 16. Time-bound. A goal is Specific when it’s clear and detailed, rather than vague. For example, instead of saying ‘I want to get fit,’ you might say ‘I want to run 5 kilometers without stopping.’ Measurable means you can 17. track your progress, like setting a target distance or weight. Achievable means the goal is realistic; it should challenge you but still 18. be within your abilities. Relevant ensures the goal aligns with your broader priorities, and Time-bound means setting a deadline to stay motivated. Using the SMART approach helps make goals more structured and easier to achieve.”

oznacza

mierzalny

śledzić swoje postępy

określony w czasie

jest w granicach twoich możliwości

FREE PRACTICE

Choose one question from the Talking Picture and write your own answer to it. Paste your answer in the comments section or send it to your teacher.

Alita is listening to a podcast and making notes

COMMENTS

Paste your upgraded answers here.