When I was a child

We use a superlative to say that a thing, a place or person is the most of a group. For example, when we say “I'm the tallest in my family” means that no one in your family is taller than you. Study the material on this link to check the rules for superlatives.

Now, we are going to use superlatives to compare people, places and things in the present and in the past.

Mrs. Méndez is explaining her students a project to hand in. This is what she is telling them:

When I was a child

When I was younger, I thought watching cartoons on TV was the most amazing thing. Now watching serie on Netflix is the most popular one.

THEN

When I was a child

NOW

When I was a child

Notice that in these examples we are comparing a TV program in the present (Now "The Loud House" is the most popular TV program among children.) and a TV program in the past (When I was a child, I thought Power Rangers was the most amazing TV program.)

Expressions such as now, today, nowadays refer to the present and those referring to the past can be (some) years ago, when I was…

Don't forget that when we use ideas in the present we use the verb To be in present (am, is or are). If we use past, we use the verb To be in past (was or were).

Writing Exercise

Now, look at the pictures below. Use the words given to make sentences similar to the example. Use the verb To be either in present or past and the adjectives to form superlatives.

THEN

When I was a child

NOW

When I was a child

Baia Baia was the coolestdisco when I was in high school. Now, "Let me dance" is the best nightclub of the area.

THEN

When I was a child

NOW

When I was a child

Some years ago, wearing leather jackets was the latest fashion. Now ripped jeans are the trendiest clothes.

THEN

When I was a child

NOW

When I was a child

Acapulco was the most beautiful beach years ago. Now, Cancun is the most attractive one.

THEN

When I was a child

NOW

When I was a child

A blackberry was the most modern cell phone years ago. Now, an iPhone is the most expensive one.

As you could see, we compare past and present.

Reading Listening

Read the examples. Then listen and repeat.

THEN

  • 🔊 Power Rangers was the most amazing TV program.
  • 🔊 Baia Baia was the coolest disco when I was in high school.
  • 🔊 Some years ago, wearing leather jackets was the latest fashion.
  • 🔊 Acapulco was the most beautiful beach years ago.
  • 🔊 Blackberry was the most modern cell phone years ago.

NOW

  • 🔊 Now "The Loud House" is the most popular TV program among children.
  • 🔊 Now "Let me dance" is the best disco in the area.
  • 🔊 Now ripped jeans are the trendiest clothes.
  • 🔊 Now, Cancun is the most attractive one.
  • 🔊 Now, an iPhone is the most expensive one.
Writing Exercise

Now, Mrs. Méndez is checking some of her students' posters. They didn't finish the sentences. Please, help them finish the ideas using the pictures and the words given.

When I was a child

When my father was a child, Chabelo was the most popular person some years ago.

When I was a child

Now, Acapulco is one of the dirtiest beaches in Mexico.

When I was a child

Years ago, Bill Gates was the richest man in the world.

When I was a child

Now, some people think reggaeton is the worst music in the world.

When I was a child

Today, Monterrey and Toluca are some of the most polluted cities in Mexico.

When I was a child

The Beatles and Queen were two of the biggest bands in the 20th century.