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Key Word Transformations 4: Bigger, Better, Best

Students practise Reading and Use of English Part 4 with comparatives, superlatives, too and enough, and so and such … that, building from controlled practice to two exam-format sets.

Use of english · Comparatives · So such · Transformations

B2 First preparationKey Word Transformations 4Key Word Transformations 3 Key Word Transformations 5

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Plan at a glance

Aims

Recap how Reading and Use of English Part 4 works and how it is marked
Learn and use 25 words and phrases in 4 sets: Comparing two things, Superlatives, Too and enough, So and such
Use comparatives, superlatives, too and enough, and so and such … that accurately
Complete two exam-format sets of Part 4 within the word limit

Stages · 80 min

5 minLead-in: Pairs compare two places they know using three structures: not as … as, far + comparative and too … to. Share a few with the class.
10 minLanguage focus: Go through the grammar notes: comparing two things, superlatives with ever and never, and the pairs too / enough and so / such.
15 minControlled practice: Ex. 1–3
15 minAccuracy practice: Ex. 4–6
20 minExam practice: Ex. 7–8
15 minWriting: Ex. 9

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Grammar notes

Part 4 in brief

Your answer must be two to five words long, and the key word counts as one of them. A contraction such as isn't counts as two.
The key word must stay exactly as it is.
There are two marks for each answer, and each mark usually tests one change.

Comparing two things

Comparative + than: A taxi is quicker than the tram.
not as + adjective + as: The tram isn't as quick as a taxi.
far / much / a lot (big difference) or slightly / a bit (small difference) + comparative: far cheaper, slightly older.
twice as + adjective + as; the same + noun + as: twice as long as, the same age as.
The + comparative, the + comparative: The earlier we leave, the quieter the roads are.

Superlatives

the + superlative + present perfect with ever: It's the tallest tree I've ever climbed.
The same idea with never and a comparative: I've never climbed a taller tree.
the least + adjective is the opposite of the most. by far + superlative makes it stronger.

Too, enough, so and such

too + adjective (+ for someone) + to-infinitive: too tired to cook. Don't repeat the object at the end.
adjective + enough + to-infinitive; enough + noun: tall enough to reach the shelf, enough time.
so + adjective or adverb + that: so tired that I went to bed at eight.
such (a) + adjective + noun + that: such a cold night that…, such good friends that…
so much / so many + noun, such a lot of + noun. You can leave out that.

Study tips

Learn the pairs that often swap in Part 4: too ↔ not … enough, so … that ↔ such … that, the most … ever ↔ never … a more ….
Before you write, decide whether the gap needs a comparative, a superlative or as … as, then check the words after the gap.

Glossary

Comparing two things7 items
Superlatives6 items
Too and enough6 items
So and such6 items

See every word and its meaning

Complete the exercises, then check your answers.

What kind of comparison?

What does each phrase do? Put each one in the right group.

a
far cheaper than mine
b
too much coffee
c
the oldest building
d
so long that I slept
e
not as fast as mine
f
not enough room
g
the worst meal ever
h
such a hot day that…
i
twice as big as
j
by far the best
k
so much work that…
l
far too crowded
m
the more, the better

Which word?

Complete each sentence with a word or phrase from the box. Use each one once.

Word box

Tap a gap, then a word, or type the answer.

a
This year's festival was better than last year's: three times as many people came.
b
The new bus is only faster than the old one: it saves about two minutes.
c
Mia is the funniest person in our class.
d
The new café isn't as cheap the old one.
e
The tickets were more expensive we expected.
f
Is the water warm to swim in yet? It was freezing last week.
g
This soup is hot to eat. Let's wait a few minutes.
h
It was a boring talk that half the audience left.
i
The music was loud that we couldn't hear each other.
j
My phone is exactly as yours: same model, same colour.

Make the comparison

Complete each sentence with the correct form of the word in brackets. You may need more than one word.

a
This is (good) pizza I've ever eaten.
b
The test was a bit (easy) than I expected.
c
Running a marathon was (hard) thing I've ever done.
d
The new library is twice as (big) as the old one.
e
My brother drives (careful) than my sister.
f
The longer you wait, the (expensive) the tickets get.
g
That was (bad) journey of my life.
h
Our garden gets (little) sun than our neighbours' garden.
i
There are (few) cars in the city centre now that parking is so expensive.

Fix the answer

Each sentence has one mistake. Find it and write the correction.

a
Ben is more taller than his brother now.
Correction:
b
It was so a boring film that I left early.
Correction:
c
I don't have money enough for a taxi.
Correction:
d
This is the most good café in town.
Correction:
e
The box was too heavy for me to lift it.
Correction:
f
There are too much cars in the city.
Correction:
g
My bag is the same big as yours.
Correction:
h
It's the best film I have never seen.
Correction:

Guided transformations

Complete the second sentence using the word given. The start of the sentence is already there to help you. Use between two and five words, including the word given.

a
The train is quicker than the bus.
AS
The bus the train.
Use 2–5 words, including the word given.
b
I've never stayed in such an expensive hotel.
MOST
This is hotel I've ever stayed in.
Use 2–5 words, including the word given.
c
The water was too cold for us to swim in.
ENOUGH
The water wasn't swim in.
Use 2–5 words, including the word given.
d
The concert was so popular that it sold out in an hour.
SUCH
It was that it sold out in an hour.
Use 2–5 words, including the word given.
e
Our old flat was much smaller than the new one.
FAR
Our new flat is the old one.
Use 2–5 words, including the word given.
f
The coffee was so hot that I couldn't drink it.
TOO
The coffee was drink.
Use 2–5 words, including the word given.

Which answer gets both marks?

Choose the answer that is correct, uses the key word unchanged and has no more than five words.

a
My sister is more patient than me. (AS) I ___ my sister.
b
The room was too small for all of us. (ENOUGH) The room ___ all of us.
c
Lucy is the best cook in our family. (THAN) Lucy cooks ___ in our family.
d
The test was so difficult that nobody finished it. (SUCH) It was ___ nobody finished it.

Exam practice: set A

Complete the second sentence so that it has a similar meaning to the first sentence, using the word given. Do not change the word given. Use between two and five words, including the word given.

Exam task: Reading and Use of English, Part 4

Tip: Count every word you write. A contraction such as don't counts as two words, so check that your total is five or fewer.

a
I've never eaten such a delicious curry.
EVER
This is the most eaten.
Use 2–5 words, including the word given.
b
The museum was too far away for us to walk to.
ENOUGH
The museum wasn't to walk to.
Use 2–5 words, including the word given.
c
Please answer the email as quickly as you can.
POSSIBLE
Please answer the email .
Use 2–5 words, including the word given.
d
The queue was so long that we gave up and went home.
SUCH
There was that we gave up and went home.
Use 2–5 words, including the word given.
e
Living in the city costs more than living in the countryside.
LESS
Living in the countryside living in the city.
Use 2–5 words, including the word given.
f
This is the funniest film I've ever seen.
NEVER
I have than this one.
Use 2–5 words, including the word given.

Exam practice: set B

Complete the second sentence so that it has a similar meaning to the first sentence, using the word given. Do not change the word given. Use between two and five words, including the word given.

Exam task: Reading and Use of English, Part 4

Tip: Read the words after the gap carefully before you write. They often tell you which structure the sentence needs.

a
Eva is too young to join the club.
OLD
Eva isn't join the club.
Use 2–5 words, including the word given.
b
There were such a lot of mistakes in the report that I had to rewrite it.
SO
There were mistakes in the report that I had to rewrite it.
Use 2–5 words, including the word given.
c
My new laptop is much faster than my old one.
NEARLY
My old laptop is my new one.
Use 2–5 words, including the word given.
d
My bike cost £200, and so did Leo's.
SAME
My bike cost Leo's.
Use 2–5 words, including the word given.
e
If you exercise more, you get fitter.
THE
The you get.
Use 2–5 words, including the word given.
f
All the other phones in the shop cost more than this one.
LEAST
This is phone in the shop.
Use 2–5 words, including the word given.

Write your own

Write four transformations of your own, like the ones in this lesson.

Write four Part 4 tasks for a partner about comparisons. Use a different key word in each one, for example ENOUGH, SUCH, NEVER or LEAST. Write the first sentence, then the second sentence with a gap, and the answer on the back. Swap with a partner, then check each other's answers and count the words.

Suggested minimum: 60 words

0 words · aim for at least 60

Spotted a mistake in this lesson?· tell us the exercise and item

Revise with a game

This lesson's own words and questions. Play on your own, or in teams on the classroom screen.

Glossary

The 25 words and phrases this lesson teaches, in 4 sets.

Comparing two things

far: a lot; before a comparative it shows a big difference: far better
much: a lot; before a comparative: much smaller
slightly: a little; before a comparative it shows a small difference: slightly faster
a bit: a little; informal, before a comparative: a bit easier
twice as: two times; twice as + adjective + as: twice as big as
the same as: with no difference at all
not nearly: not at all; not nearly as + adjective + as shows a big difference

Superlatives

the best: the superlative of good
the worst: the superlative of bad
the most: used before longer adjectives to make a superlative
the least: the opposite of the most: the least expensive = the cheapest
ever: at any time; often after a superlative with the present perfect
by far: much; used before a superlative: by far the best

Too and enough

too: more than is good or possible: too hot to drink
enough: as much as is needed; after an adjective, before a noun
far too: a lot too; stronger than too
too much: more than is needed; with uncountable nouns
too many: more than are needed; with plural nouns
not enough: less than is needed

So and such

so: so + adjective or adverb (+ that) to show a result
such: such + adjective + plural or uncountable noun (+ that)
such a: such a + adjective + singular noun (+ that)
so much: so much + uncountable noun (+ that)
so many: so many + plural noun (+ that)
such a lot of: a very large number or amount of (+ that)

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Key Word Transformations 4: Bigger, Better, Best

Students practise Reading and Use of English Part 4 with comparatives, superlatives, too and enough, and so and such … that, building from controlled practice to two exam-format sets.

Use of english · Comparatives · So such · Transformations

Or download everything as a ZIP (2 PDFs)

This lesson plan and its PDFs are free.

Plan at a glance

Aims

Recap how Reading and Use of English Part 4 works and how it is marked
Learn and use 25 words and phrases in 4 sets: Comparing two things, Superlatives, Too and enough, So and such
Use comparatives, superlatives, too and enough, and so and such … that accurately
Complete two exam-format sets of Part 4 within the word limit

Stages · 80 min

5 minLead-in: Pairs compare two places they know using three structures: not as … as, far + comparative and too … to. Share a few with the class.
10 minLanguage focus: Go through the grammar notes: comparing two things, superlatives with ever and never, and the pairs too / enough and so / such.
15 minControlled practice: Ex. 1–3
15 minAccuracy practice: Ex. 4–6
20 minExam practice: Ex. 7–8
15 minWriting: Ex. 9

Printables

Click a page to preview it, download it or open it in a new tab.

Download all (ZIP, 2 PDFs)

Grammar notes

Part 4 in brief

Your answer must be two to five words long, and the key word counts as one of them. A contraction such as isn't counts as two.
The key word must stay exactly as it is.
There are two marks for each answer, and each mark usually tests one change.

Comparing two things

Comparative + than: A taxi is quicker than the tram.
not as + adjective + as: The tram isn't as quick as a taxi.
far / much / a lot (big difference) or slightly / a bit (small difference) + comparative: far cheaper, slightly older.
twice as + adjective + as; the same + noun + as: twice as long as, the same age as.
The + comparative, the + comparative: The earlier we leave, the quieter the roads are.

Superlatives

the + superlative + present perfect with ever: It's the tallest tree I've ever climbed.
The same idea with never and a comparative: I've never climbed a taller tree.
the least + adjective is the opposite of the most. by far + superlative makes it stronger.

Too, enough, so and such

too + adjective (+ for someone) + to-infinitive: too tired to cook. Don't repeat the object at the end.
adjective + enough + to-infinitive; enough + noun: tall enough to reach the shelf, enough time.
so + adjective or adverb + that: so tired that I went to bed at eight.
such (a) + adjective + noun + that: such a cold night that…, such good friends that…
so much / so many + noun, such a lot of + noun. You can leave out that.

Glossary

The 25 words and phrases this lesson teaches, in 4 sets.

Comparing two things

far: a lot; before a comparative it shows a big difference: far better
much: a lot; before a comparative: much smaller
slightly: a little; before a comparative it shows a small difference: slightly faster
a bit: a little; informal, before a comparative: a bit easier
twice as: two times; twice as + adjective + as: twice as big as
the same as: with no difference at all
not nearly: not at all; not nearly as + adjective + as shows a big difference

Superlatives

the best: the superlative of good
the worst: the superlative of bad
the most: used before longer adjectives to make a superlative
the least: the opposite of the most: the least expensive = the cheapest
ever: at any time; often after a superlative with the present perfect
by far: much; used before a superlative: by far the best

Too and enough

too: more than is good or possible: too hot to drink
enough: as much as is needed; after an adjective, before a noun
far too: a lot too; stronger than too
too much: more than is needed; with uncountable nouns
too many: more than are needed; with plural nouns
not enough: less than is needed

So and such

so: so + adjective or adverb (+ that) to show a result
such: such + adjective + plural or uncountable noun (+ that)
such a: such a + adjective + singular noun (+ that)
so much: so much + uncountable noun (+ that)
so many: so many + plural noun (+ that)
such a lot of: a very large number or amount of (+ that)