Comparative Adjectives Reversi Memory Games

Comparative adjectives reversi memory games

Instructions for teachers

Choose which set of cards you want to use with your class (opposites or synonyms) and cut up one set per group of two to four students. Cut off and keep the left-hand column (with the grammar explanations), but don’t cut between the two other columns – leave the opposites or synonyms connected to each other. Give out the cards and ask students to fold them so that there are synonyms or antonyms on each side, taking a quick look at both sides as they do so. It doesn’t matter which side is up as they lay the folded cards on the table before they start playing the game.

To play the game, students must choose a card and guess what is on the other side, then turn over and check. They must get exactly what is on the other side, but if there is more than one option (divided by a slash) then just one of the options is enough (they don’t need to say all the words that are written there). If they guess correctly, they can do the same with other cards, continuing until they make a mistake. If they guess something which isn’t on the other side of the card, play passes to the next person. The next person can do the same cards as the previous person did, different cards, or (probably) a mix of the two kinds. Cards which were guessed correctly stay turned over, to be guessed in the opposite direction the next time.

There are three different ways of scoring the game:

• Students choose any cards that they like each time, and the longest string of correct guesses in a row during the whole game (e.g. one player doing seven cards in a row before making a mistake) wins the game
• Students choose any cards that they like each time, and the total number of correct guesses over the whole game wins the game (added up together, with correct guesses of the same card also counting as more than one point, e.g. 23 correct guesses over the length of the game)
• Students lay the cards in a single column on the table to represent a ladder, and must start at the bottom of the ladder each and every time, with the person who first reaches the top or gets highest before the teacher stops the game being the winner

If students get stuck, you can give them a minute or two to look at both sides of all the cards and/ or let them work together rather than competing (but with the same game rules).

After finishing the game, ask students to unfold the cards and put them into groups by each rule for making comparative adjectives, looking at just the words in italics (not the other words on the cards) as they categorise them. Then give them the descriptions in the left-hand column to match to each of those groups to help. Students check with an un-cut-up version of the worksheet, then test each other (orally) in pairs.

 

Opposites version

Cards to cut up/ Suggested answers

one syllable + er	broader/ wider	narrower
	longer	shorter
	more powerful/ stronger	weaker
	higher/ taller	lower
	looser	tighter
	blunter	more pointed/ sharper
	gentler/ smoother	rougher
one syllable + double letter + er	bigger/ larger	smaller
	cooler/ colder	hotter/ warmer
	thicker/ fatter	thinner
	drier	wetter
more + one syllable	more boring	more fun/ more interesting
	more fake	more real
	more bored	more excited/ more interested
two syllables + er	noisier	quieter
	more complicated/ more difficult/ harder/ trickier	easier/ simpler
more + two syllables	more local	more cosmopolitan/ more international
	more relaxing	more stressful
	more careful	more careless
	more tiring	more energising
	more worthwhile	more pointless
more + three or more syllables	cheaper	more expensive
	more dangerous/ riskier	safer
	more personal/ more private	more public
	more modern	more traditional/ more old-fashioned

 

 

-y changes to –ier	earlier/ sooner	later
	happier	unhappier/ sadder
	cleaner	dirtier
	more serious	sillier
	nastier	nicer
	more beautiful/ better looking/ more handsome/ prettier	uglier
Irregular	better	worse
	closer/ nearer	farther/ further
	elder/ older	younger

 

Synonyms version

Cards to cut up/ Suggested answers

one syllable + er	broader	wider
	faster	quicker/ speedier
	higher	taller
	neater	tidier
	more powerful	stronger
one syllable + double letter + er	hotter	warmer
	bigger	larger/ bulkier
more + one syllable	more entertaining	more fun
	more confused	more lost
two syllables + er	simpler	easier
more + two syllables	more tiring	more exhausting
	more afraid	more frightened/  more scared
	kinder	more caring
	more concerned	more nervous/ more worried
more + three or more syllables	pricier	more expensive
	more important	more significant
	more disgusting	more revolting
	more delicious	tastier
	more fashionable	trendier
-y changes to –ier	noisier	louder
	richer	wealthier/ more loaded
	angrier/ more irritated	more annoyed
	more dangerous	riskier
	more amusing	funnier
Irregular	further	farther
	older	elder
	better looking/ prettier	more beautiful
	better known	more famous
	better value	more reasonable