تقاسم المسؤوليات العائلية · Programme: Comparing (1); Describing (2) · Grammar: Comparatives; the superlative
By the end of this lesson, I can:
- I can talk about who does what at home.
- I can compare two people with comparatives (-er / more…than).
- I can say who is the best in a group with superlatives (the -est / the most…).
- I can spell short comparatives correctly (bigger, happier, nicer).
🖼️ Picture dictionary قاموس مصوّر
tap 🔊 to listen📚 كلمات الدرس
10 كلمات من هذا الدرس في القاموس المدرسي: المعنى بالعربية والفرنسية، والنطق، ومثال.
📖 Read: The Gharbi family: a team at home أقرأ
Our reporter visited the Gharbi family in Monastir to find out how they share the work at home.
The result? The Gharbis are a very close family. “Sharing the chores makes us happier,” says Salma. “And the house is cleaner than before!”
Do you understand? أفهم
Answer in your copybook first, then check.
- Why can’t Mrs Gharbi do everything at home?
Answer
Because her job is demanding and she often works at night.
- Who cooks dinner and feeds the baby?
Answer
Mr Gharbi, because he comes home earlier.
- What is the most relaxing moment of Mr Gharbi’s day?
Answer
Rocking little Adam to sleep.
- Who is the laziest person in the family, according to Salma?
Answer
Her brother Hamza.
- Find two comparatives and two superlatives in the text.
Answer
earlier than, more difficult than, older than… / the most relaxing, the laziest, the wisest.
🧩 Grammar القواعد
We use the comparative to compare two people or things, and the superlative to say that one is at the top of a group of three or more.
Short adjectives: adjective + -er than / the adjective + -est ➡️ Salma is older than Hamza. Grandma is the wisest.
Long adjectives: more + adjective + than / the most + adjective ➡️ Cooking is more difficult than teaching. It’s the most relaxing moment.
Irregular: good ➡️ better ➡️ the best, bad ➡️ worse ➡️ the worst, far ➡️ farther ➡️ the farthest. For the opposite, use less … than / the least.
صيغة التفضيل للمقارنة بين اثنين (er + than أو more ... than)، وصيغة التفضيل المطلق للأعلى في مجموعة (the ...est أو the most).
The forms at a glance
| Adjective | Comparative (2 people) | Superlative (the top) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Short | old | older than | the oldest |
| Short (-e) | wise | wiser than | the wisest |
| Short (CVC) | big | bigger than | the biggest |
| -y | lazy | lazier than | the laziest |
| Long | patient | more patient than | the most patient |
| Irregular | good / bad | better / worse than | the best / the worst |
Spelling short comparatives
- Most adjectives: + er / + est ➡️ taller, tallest
- Ending in -e: + r / + st ➡️ nicer, nicest
- One vowel + one consonant: double the consonant ➡️ bigger, hottest, thinner
- Consonant + y: y ➡️ i ➡️ happier, busiest
Fact or opinion?
Comparatives can give facts or opinions.
| Fact (we can check it) ✅ | Opinion (what someone thinks) 💭 |
|---|---|
| Salma is older than Hamza. | Cooking is more exciting than teaching. |
| Dad comes home earlier than Mum. | Hamza is the laziest person in the family. |
💬 Useful expressions عبارات مفيدة
Comparing
Talking about roles at home
🔊 Pronunciation النطق
Worked examples أمثلة محلولة
Try first, then read the solution.
Compare: Mum / busy / Dad.
Step-by-step solution
- busy is short (two syllables ending in -y).
- Change y ➡️ i and add -er: busier.
- Add than.
✓ Mum is busier than Dad.
Complete: Ironing is … (boring) chore in the house.
Step-by-step solution
- bor-ing has two syllables and does not end in -y ➡️ long adjective.
- Superlative of a long adjective: the most + adjective.
✓ Ironing is the most boring chore in the house.
Complete: My grandmother is … (good) cook in the family.
Step-by-step solution
- good is irregular: good ➡️ better ➡️ the best.
✓ My grandmother is the best cook in the family.
⚠️ Common mistakes أخطاء شائعة
⭐ Remember أحفظ
- Comparative = 2 people/things; superlative = the top of a group.
- Short adjectives: -er than / the -est.
- Long adjectives: more … than / the most ….
- Spelling: nicer, bigger, happier.
- Irregular: good ➡️ better ➡️ the best; bad ➡️ worse ➡️ the worst.
Quick quiz اختبار سريع
4 questions · instant feedback1. Choose the correct sentence.
2. Being a nurse is … job in the family.
3. Why does Mr Gharbi cook dinner?
4. Which is an opinion?
✍️ Write: Who does what in my family? أكتب
Write a paragraph (80–100 words) about how your family shares the chores. Use at least two comparatives and two superlatives.
Steps
- Say how many people there are in your family.
- Say who does each chore (cooking, cleaning, shopping, looking after…).
- Compare two members with comparatives.
- Say who is the most helpful / the busiest with superlatives.
- Give your opinion: is it fair?
A model text to compare with (after writing mine)
There are five people in my family. My mother is a doctor, so she is the busiest person at home. My father cooks on weekdays because he finishes work earlier than her. His couscous is better than mine, of course! My sister Nour irons our clothes and I do the shopping, because I am faster than her on my bike. My little brother is the youngest, so he only waters the plants. In my opinion, my father is the most helpful person in the house. Our system is fairer than before, and we are happier and closer as a family.
One good example among many: compare, don’t copy.
😊 The lighter side استراحة
Many hands make light work.
What gets wetter the more it dries?
Answer
A towel.
Mum: “Why is the kitchen so clean?” — Son: “Because I’m the best cook: I didn’t cook anything!”
✅ Exercises تمارين
All exercises →6 exercises on three levels, with new questions every time.
- Choose the right answerTo do
- ClassifyTo do
- Situation 1To do
- Situation 2To do
Practise: Sharing Family Responsibilities
True or false, complete, choose, classify and situations: instant correction with explanations.
Got the lesson? Try it yourself
6 exercises · instant correction · new questions every time
Start the exercisesPictures: Twemoji (CC-BY 4.0). Texts, explanations and exercises: Scolaire.tn.