Then and now: the comparative
Learning outcomes
I can compare the present with the past using comparatives.
I can recognise and pronounce words containing [ich] and [isch].
Then and now: the comparative
Learning outcomes
I can compare the present with the past using comparatives.
I can recognise and pronounce words containing [ich] and [isch].
These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.
Switch to our new teaching resources now - designed by teachers and leading subject experts, and tested in classrooms.
These resources were created for remote use during the pandemic and are not designed for classroom teaching.
Lesson details
Vocabulary and transcripts for this lessons
Key learning points
- Care is needed with [ich] and [isch] when listening and speaking.
- Comparative statements are created by adding -er to most adjectives, e.g., 'lustiger' + 'als'.
- Some adjectives need an additional change to make the comparative, e.g., 'lang' becomes 'länger'.
- 'Gut' works like English: its comparative is 'besser', like 'good' becomes 'better' in English.
- 'Mehr' is an adverb that can be used by itself as a comparative.
Keywords
Adjective - word that gives information about a noun
Adverb - word that describes a verb or an adjective
Comparative - form of adjective or adverb used to compare people, things or ideas
Common misconception
Like in English, a word for 'more' is needed in German when making comparisons like 'more difficult' or 'more interesting'.
German adjectives form comparatives by adding -er; there is no need to include 'more', e.g., more interesting > 'interessanter'; more difficult >'schwieriger'. English does this with 1- and some 2-syllable adjectives, e.g., 'small' > 'smaller'.
To help you plan your year 8 German lesson on: Then and now: the comparative, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your year 8 German lesson on: Then and now: the comparative, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 3 German lessons from the Then and now: imperfect tense and comparatives unit, dive into the full secondary German curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.
Equipment
A mini whiteboard and pen, together with pen and paper for making notes, would be useful, if available.
Licence
Lesson video
Loading...
Some of our videos, including non-English language videos, do not have captions.
Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
to die, dying
population
percent
really
funny
happy
Assessment exit quiz
5 Questions
better
more
than
cheap
dangerous
expensive