Business Writing Comparatives Game

Business writing genres comparative adjectives guessing game

Student A

Read the sentences below to your partner without the word in the gap. Can they guess the missing word or words?

1. Writing an email is ________________ than writing a letter. (quicker)

2. Sending a postcard is ________________ than sending a letter. (cheaper)

3. Minutes written in shorthand are ___________________ to read than minutes written in longhand. (more difficult)

4. A message left on your answer machine is __________________ to ignore than a note stuck on your computer’s screen. (easier)

5. The paper you print out a memo on is usually _______________ than the paper you write a note on (bigger)

6. From UK mobile phones, sending texts is ____________________ than sending emails (more popular)

7. Using emoticons is ___________________ than using abbreviations and acronyms. (friendlier)

8. Writing an SMS with your thumb is ____________ than writing an email on a computer keyboard. (slower)

9. Cancelling a meeting by texting someone is _______________ than cancelling a meeting by leaving an answer on their answer machine. (worse)

How many of your partner’s sentences can you remember? Do you agree with all of them?

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Student B

Read the sentences below to your partner without the word in the gap. Can they guess the missing word or words?

1. A polite email to a client is usually ________________ than an informal email to a colleague. (longer)

2. An SMS is usually ________________ than an email. (shorter)

3. Sending a letter is ___________________ than sending an email. (more romantic)

4. A memo is ____________________________________ than a company newsletter. (more important)

5. BCCing someone is ___________________________ than CCing someone (more private).

6. Sending a signed contract by bicycle courier is _____________________ than faxing a signed contract. (more official)

7. Typing up the minute of a meeting is ___________________ than writing a report (more boring)

8. People who send very short emails with lots of abbreviations, acronyms and emoticons are usually ______________________ than people who write out everything in full (busier)

9. A note is ______________________________ than a memo (shorter)

How many of your partner’s sentences can you remember? Do you agree with all of them?

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Comparative adjectives presentation/ practice

Without looking above, try to fill the gaps in the table below:

Adjective	Comparative Adjective
Quick	Quicker
Cheap
Short
Long
Slow
Big
Difficult
Boring
Romantic
Important
Private
Official
Popular
Easy
Busy
Friendly
Bad

Check your answers above.

Match the following rules about forming comparative adjectives with the examples above:

1. Adjectives ending in –y always change to –ier
2. Other short (one syllable) adjectives are made into comparative adjectives by adding –er
3. Short (one syllable) adjectives ending in just one vowel (a, e, i, o or u) and one consonant (b, c, etc.) double the last consonant (bb, cc etc.) and add -er
4. Longer adjectives are made into comparatives with the word more-
5. A few adjectives are irregular and don’t follow any of these rules

Use these rules to make the comparatives of these adjectives:

• safe
• early
• common
• hot

Check your answers below.

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Comparative adjectives table

Test each other in pairs on the spelling and pronunciation of the comparative adjectives in the table

Tall Small Large Fast Old Long Short Safe High	Taller Smaller Larger Faster Older Longer Shorter Safer Higher
Big Hot Wet Sad Thin	Bigger Hotter Wetter Sadder Thinner
Early Healthy Sunny Dirty Dry Hungry	Earlier Healthier Sunnier Dirtier Drier Hungrier
Comfortable Boring Interesting Expensive Dangerous Popular Common Generous	More comfortable More boring More interesting More expensive More dangerous More popular More common More generous