The World's Most Competitive Races
Grammar: Comparatives and superlatives
A Level 4 English lesson exploring sport.
What's in this lesson
A Level 4 (upper intermediate) ESL lesson on sport, practising comparatives and superlatives. The worksheet has a reading, target vocabulary, a grammar reference with practice and discussion questions.
From the reading: The World's Most Competitive Races
In 2023, Kelvin Kiptum of Kenya ran the Chicago Marathon in 2 hours, 35 seconds — the fastest marathon time ever recorded. It was faster than any human being had managed before, and the running world could barely believe it. Sports scientists called it a statistical outlier. Fans called it extraordinary. Either way, it raised a question that athletes have been asking for decades: how much faster can we go?
Vocabulary
- a game changer
- hit the ground running
- move the goalposts
- push the boundaries
Grammar: Comparatives and Superlatives
- Comparative adjectives
- Marchand trains harder than most professionals his age. — use -er than or more … than
- Superlative adjectives
- It was the fastest marathon time ever recorded. — use the -est or the most …
Discussion questions
- Who is the greatest athlete of all time, in your opinion?
- Do you think athletic world records will ever stop being broken?
- What sport do you find most impressive to watch, and why?
The World's Most Competitive Races
Grammar: Comparatives and superlatives
What's in this lesson:
Full lesson plan with reading, grammar, vocabulary, and discussion.
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