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English lesson plan · 10th grade (Year 11 in England) · 45 minutes

Avoiding double comparatives and comparing absolutes

Grammar

CCSS L.9-10.1CCSS L.11-12.1.BEngland: GCSE English Language (AO6 Standard English)England: ACT English

Objective and success criteria

Students will: Avoiding double comparatives and comparing absolutes.

  • I can answer questions on today's skill on my own, without help.
  • I can explain each step and say why it works.
  • I can check my answer and spot a mistake.

Before and after

Needs first: Logical comparisons: comparing like with like

Leads to: the next skill in this area.

Materials: Sentence strips, Highlighters, Mini whiteboards, Mini whiteboards, A short model text on the board, Printed student sheet (below).

Warm-up · 5 min

  • Quick retrieval from earlier learning (Logical comparisons: comparing like with like). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
  • Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
  1. Is this sentence correct in formal written English? The paintings in this gallery are more modern than those in the museum. (correct / incorrect) → correctPrompt: What exactly is being compared on the first side? (the climate, the battery, the population…)
  2. Choose the option that makes a logical comparison. The climate of Spain is warmer than ___. (Norway is / Norway / that of Norway / Norway's climate is) → that of NorwayPrompt: What exactly is being compared on the first side? (the climate, the battery, the population…)
  3. Is this sentence correct in formal written English? The novel's ending is more satisfying than the film does. (correct / incorrect) → incorrectPrompt: What exactly is being compared on the first side? (the climate, the battery, the population…)

Hook · 5 min

  • Show a sentence with the grammar point used wrongly and ask what sounds odd.
  • Share the objective: Avoiding double comparatives and comparing absolutes. Read the success criteria together.

I do: model it · 10 min

  • Work through the example out loud, saying why you do each step, not just what you do.
  • Example: Which sentence is correct in formal English? • The water was the most frozen. • The water was more frozen than ever. • The water was very completely frozen. • The water was completely frozen.
  • Step 1: Use -er/-est OR more/most, never both; use the comparative for two things; avoid grading absolute adjectives in formal writing.
  • Step 2: 'Frozen' (solid ice) is an absolute state here.
  • Step 3: So the answer is: The water was completely frozen.
  • Answer: The water was completely frozen.
  • Pause after each step and ask a student to say what comes next.

We do: guided practice · 10 min

  • Do these together. Students try each step on whiteboards before you reveal it.
  • Use the hints as prompts rather than giving the answer.
  1. Is this sentence correct? That was the worst film I've ever seen. (yes, it is correct / no, it is not correct) → yes, it is correctPrompt: Look for 'more' or 'most' stuck onto a word that is already comparative or superlative.
  2. Which sentence is correct in formal English? • She is the cleverest student in the class. • She is the most cleverest student in the class. • She is the cleverer-est student in the class. • She is the more cleverer student in the class. (She is the cleverest student in the class. / She is the most cleverest student in the class. / She is the cleverer-est student in the class. / She is the more cleverer student in the class.) → She is the cleverest student in the class.Prompt: Look for 'more' or 'most' stuck onto a word that is already comparative or superlative.

You do: independent practice · 10 min

  • Students work on the student sheet. Circulate and check the first two answers of every student early.
  • Students who finish: write a question of their own for a partner, with the answer.

The 8 questions are on the student sheet below, with answers in the key.

Exit ticket · 5 min

  • Two questions on their own. Sort answers into got it / nearly / not yet to plan the next lesson.
  1. Is this sentence correct? This pizza is more better than the last one. (yes, it is correct / no, it is not correct) → no, it is not correctPrompt: Look for 'more' or 'most' stuck onto a word that is already comparative or superlative.
  2. Which sentence is correct in formal English? • The new bridge is most modern than the old one. • The new bridge is more modern than the old one. • The new bridge is more moderner than the old one. • The new bridge is modern-er than the old one. (The new bridge is most modern than the old one. / The new bridge is more modern than the old one. / The new bridge is more moderner than the old one. / The new bridge is modern-er than the old one.) → The new bridge is more modern than the old one.Prompt: Look for 'more' or 'most' stuck onto a word that is already comparative or superlative.

Watch out for

  • Naming the feature but not using it in their own sentences.
  • Thinking a sentence is right because it sounds right when spoken casually.

Support and stretch

Support

  • Review first: Logical comparisons: comparing like with like.
  • Use concrete materials: sentence strips.
  • Give the first step of each question, or a partly worked example to finish.
  • Pair with a confident partner for the guided practice.

Stretch

  • Explain a common mistake in writing and how to fix it.
  • Write a word problem that uses today's skill, then solve a partner's.

Homework and more practice

Free online practice with hints and printable worksheets for this skill: eurekami.com/english/grade-10.

Free lesson plan from eurekami.com/lesson-plan-builder

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Avoiding double comparatives and comparing absolutes

Name

Date

Score/ 8

  1. Question 1

    Which sentence is correct in formal English? • Of the two routes, the coastal one is longest. • Of the two routes, the coastal one is most longest. • Of the two routes, the coastal one is more longer. • Of the two routes, the coastal one is longer.

    • A. Of the two routes, the coastal one is longest.
    • B. Of the two routes, the coastal one is most longest.
    • C. Of the two routes, the coastal one is more longer.
    • D. Of the two routes, the coastal one is longer.

  2. Question 2

    Is this sentence correct? That was the worse film I've ever seen.

    • A. yes, it is correct
    • B. no, it is not correct

  3. Question 3

    Which sentence is correct in formal English? • She is the cleverer-est student in the class. • She is the cleverest student in the class. • She is the most cleverest student in the class. • She is the more cleverer student in the class.

    • A. She is the cleverer-est student in the class.
    • B. She is the cleverest student in the class.
    • C. She is the most cleverest student in the class.
    • D. She is the more cleverer student in the class.

  4. Question 4

    Is this sentence correct? This pizza is better than the last one.

    • A. yes, it is correct
    • B. no, it is not correct

  5. Question 5

    Which sentence is correct in formal English? • She is the cleverest student in the class. • She is the most cleverest student in the class. • She is the cleverer-est student in the class. • She is the more cleverer student in the class.

    • A. She is the cleverest student in the class.
    • B. She is the most cleverest student in the class.
    • C. She is the cleverer-est student in the class.
    • D. She is the more cleverer student in the class.

  6. Question 6

    Is this sentence correct? Her design was more unique than any.

    • A. yes, it is correct
    • B. no, it is not correct

  7. Question 7

    Which sentence is correct in formal English? • Her design was the most unique. • Her design was unique. • Her design was more unique than any. • Her design was very unique.

    • A. Her design was the most unique.
    • B. Her design was unique.
    • C. Her design was more unique than any.
    • D. Her design was very unique.

  8. Question 8

    Is this sentence correct? The new bridge is more modern than the old one.

    • A. yes, it is correct
    • B. no, it is not correct

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Answer key: Avoiding double comparatives and comparing absolutes

  1. 1. D. Of the two routes, the coastal one is longer.

  2. 2. B. no, it is not correct

  3. 3. B. She is the cleverest student in the class.

  4. 4. A. yes, it is correct

  5. 5. A. She is the cleverest student in the class.

  6. 6. B. no, it is not correct

  7. 7. B. Her design was unique.

  8. 8. A. yes, it is correct