Bigger, Better, Faster!
Comparatives — comparing people, places & things. Jess and Maya compare New York and Toronto: bigger, cheaper, more diverse, friendlier.
📖 Reading: New York vs. Toronto
Jess loves New York, but after her visit to Toronto she had some interesting comparisons to make.
"Toronto is cleaner than New York," she told Maya on the phone. "The streets are wider and the public transport is more organized."
"But New York is bigger and more exciting," said Maya. "There's always something happening!"
"That's true," said Jess. "New York is louder, faster, and more intense. Toronto is quieter and more relaxed. But I'm not sure which is better — they're just different."
"The people in Toronto are friendlier," said Maya. "Or at least, that's my experience."
"Maybe. But New York is more diverse and more international. You can find any food from any country in the world there."
"We have that here too!" said Maya.
"OK, OK — they're both great cities," laughed Jess. "But I'll say this: Toronto is more affordable than New York. My rent is three times higher!"
"Now THAT I agree with completely," said Maya.
🔑 Vocabulary Box
Eight key words from this lesson.
| Word | Meaning | Note |
|---|---|---|
| intense | Very strong, extreme, or serious | adj. — New York is louder, faster, and more intense. |
| diverse | Having many different types of people or things | adj. — New York is more diverse. |
| affordable | Not too expensive; within most people's budget | adj. — Toronto is more affordable than New York. |
| relaxed | Calm and not worried or tense | adj. — Toronto is quieter and more relaxed. |
| organized | Arranged in a neat and efficient way | adj. — The transport is more organized. |
| comparison | The act of examining differences and similarities | n. — Jess had interesting comparisons to make. |
| wide | Having a large distance from side to side | adj. — The streets are wider. |
| rent | The amount paid to live in a property | n. — Her rent is three times higher. |
📚 Key Verbs in This Lesson | |
to compare | Jess compared New York and Toronto. |
to prefer | Which city do you prefer? / I prefer Toronto. |
to agree | Maya agreed completely. / Do you agree? |
to find (opinion) | I find Toronto friendlier. / She finds New York more exciting. |
📚 Grammar Focus
📚 Comparative Adjectives — Formation Rules | |
Short (1 syllable): + er | clean→cleaner / tall→taller / fast→faster |
Short ending in -e: + r | wide→wider / large→larger / nice→nicer |
Short CVC: double + er | big→bigger / hot→hotter / sad→sadder |
2+ syllables: more + | more exciting / more affordable / more organized |
End in -y: y→ier | friendly→friendlier / busy→busier / noisy→noisier |
Irregular Comparatives
📚 Irregular Comparatives | |
good → better | Toronto is better for cycling. |
bad → worse | The traffic is worse in New York. |
far → further / farther | The airport is further from downtown. |
little → less | Toronto is less stressful than New York. |
Comparing with Than / As...As
📚 Comparing with Than / As...As | |
comparative + than | Toronto is cleaner than New York. |
not as + adj + as | New York is not as affordable as Toronto. |
less + adj + than | Toronto is less intense than New York. |
🎭 Dialogue: Which Do You Prefer?
Jess and Maya compare New York and Toronto — Toronto is calmer, cleaner, friendlier, and much cheaper; New York is more exciting and diverse.
Maya, which do you prefer — New York or Toronto?
Toronto, definitely. It's calmer and more affordable.
But New York is more exciting! There's always something to do.
True. But Toronto is cleaner and the people are friendlier.
I'll give you that! The rent is also much cheaper here.
Three times cheaper! I could never afford New York.
Is Toronto better for cyclists?
Much better. The bike lanes are wider and the drivers are more patient!
Practice Exercises
3 questionsNew exercises to reinforce what you learned. Different from the lesson material.
According to Jess, which city is cleaner?
Which city does Jess describe as louder and faster?
What does Maya say about the people in Toronto?
Practice Exercises
3 questionsNew exercises to reinforce what you learned. Different from the lesson material.
Comparative of 'clean' → ___
Comparative of 'big' → ___
Comparative of 'good' → ___
🎭 Now It's Your Turn — Role Play
Practice with a partner. Use the dialogue as a model.
- Student A: Think of two cities, countries, or places you know. Describe one.
- Student B: Compare it to another place using comparatives.
- Have a discussion: Which is better to visit? To live in? Use at least 6 comparative adjectives.