Comparative Adjectives- Requests

Requests with comparative adjectives

Choose one of the requests below and ask your partner for that thing, explaining why you need it, pretending that your partner is your boss, someone in the HR department, etc. Listen to their reply and respond naturally, maybe continuing the conversation until you find an acceptable solution. Then switch roles and do the same.

Requesting

Explaining your needs

I/ We (really) need…

Can I/ we (have)…?

Could you (possibly) give me/ us…?

I’d be very grateful if you could (arrange for)…

… would be really appreciated.

 

a bigger meeting room for next week’s meeting

a desk that is closer (= nearer) to the window

a faster decision about your proposal

a further off deadline

a higher salary

a larger screen (= monitor)

a later start

a more creative ad campaign next time

a more efficient company car

a more expensive office chair

a more flexible schedule

a more powerful computer

a more spacious office

a newer operating system

a shorter working day

a thinner laptop

an earlier finish

an easier to use company mobile phone

better integration between the different software used in the office

cheaper meals in the cafeteria

longer holidays

more competitive prices

more dynamic graduate recruits next year

more helpful instructions on how to use the new product

more intensive English language training

more interesting work

more positive predictions for the next 12 months

more practical feedback about my last presentation

more reliable wifi in the office

more stylish business cards

more up-to-date equipment

quieter air conditioning

 

Giving reasons

… because…

This is because…

…in order to…

… so that (I can)…

 

Responding to requests

Positive responses to requests

All right.

Okay, I’ll…

No problem. Let’s…

Negative responses to requests

I understand your problem, but…

I’m sorry (it’s just not possible).

Well, the problem is…

You see, we don’t (have)…

Suggesting other solutions

Why don’t you… instead…?

What about…?/ How about…?

Maybe you could…

 

Responding to the response

Great. Thanks for your help.

Okay, thanks anyway.

Okay, I might give that a try.

Ask about anything you don’t understand above, each time talking about what you would suggest or agree to if you received that request.

 

Comparative and superlative grammar presentation

Without looking above for now, put the comparative form of the adjectives on the next page into the space given. There is no need to write anything in the last column yet.

Hint: The adjectives are arranged by how the comparative form is made, so make sure they are all made the same way in each section.

Check your answers with the previous page. Note that they are in a different order there.  What is the rule in each of the sections above?

Make rules for these kinds of adjectives:

• One syllable (= very short words, with one vowel sound)
• One syllable with one short vowel sound then one consonant
• Three or more syllables (= long words)
• Two syllables
• Ending in “-y”

What are the (very similar) rules for making superlative forms (“the most…”, “the …est”, etc)? Write the superlative forms in the right-hand column below.

Adjective	Comparative	Superlative
cheap close fast high large late long near new quiet short   big thin   early easy   competitive creative dynamic efficient expensive flexible helpful intensive interesting positive powerful practical reliable spacious stylish up-to-date   far good	_________________ than _________________ than _________________ than _________________ than _________________ than _________________ than _________________ than _________________ than _________________ than _________________ than _________________ than   _________________ than _________________ than   _________________ than _________________ than   _________________ than _________________ than _________________ than _________________ than _________________ than _________________ than _________________ than _________________ than _________________ than _________________ than _________________ than _________________ than _________________ than _________________ than _________________ than _________________ than   _________________ than _________________ than	the __________________ the __________________ the __________________ the __________________ the __________________ the __________________ the __________________ the __________________ the __________________ the __________________ the __________________   the __________________ the __________________   the __________________ the __________________   the __________________ the __________________ the __________________ the __________________ the __________________ the __________________ the __________________ the __________________ the __________________ the __________________ the __________________ the __________________ the __________________ the __________________ the __________________ the __________________   the __________________ the __________________