One of the best things in life is sharing good experiences with our friends. No matter what it is, when we are with our friends, it’s great to talk about a nice place we have just visited, a new crush we have just fallen in love with or even a new gadget we have just bought or want to buy. In those conversations we have to ask questions so that we can know about our friend’s new crush, new place or new gadget.
When we compare places/people/objects with our friends we usually ask questions like:
- Which place(s) is/are better?
- What is/are the best place(s) to go on vacation?
- Who is friendlier?
- Who are the most intelligent students in your class?
Questions usually follow this pattern:
Wh-word + is (singular) / are (plural) + comparative / superlative + ?
Read the following mini conversations to see those questions in context. Notice that when answering those questions, we compare the different places, people or objects. In other words, we interact to emphasize how different they are.
Conversation A.
A: I’d like to celebrate my birthday at a nightclub or maybe at home, with close friends. Which place is better?
B: I think your home is better because it’s cheaper. But in my opinion, if you really want to have an unforgettable birthday, the beach is the best option. It’s free and exciting.
Conversation B.
A: I’d like to go to the beach but as you know, I’m cold all the time. I prefer beaches where the sea is warm. Which is the warmest beach you know?
B: I guess Acapulco is the warmest beach in Mexico, but it is also the dirtiest. I think Cancun is a lot better. It is cleaner and the sand is softer and fresher. It won’t burn your feet!
Conversation C.
A: Hey dude, I really need your help. It’s Lupe’s birthday next week and I want to give her something special. What’s the best present? Chocolates? Flowers? Poems? Anything else?
B: Well, Flowers are more romantic than chocolates or poems. Maybe that’s the best option.
A: I know, but I don’t know anything about flowers. Which are the most beautiful?
B: Roses will do.
Now, think about this: What’s the difference between these two questions?
- Which place is better to celebrate a birthday? A nightclub or at home? (We compare only 2 places).
- What’s the best place to celebrate a birthday? (We compare 3 or more places).
Write the following words on the blank spaces matching their respective meanings.
Now, you will use all the previous questions in the following mini conversations. Read each context carefully and decide if they are comparing only 2 things/people/places or if they are comparing 3 or more things/people/places. That’s the key to answer the following exercise.
Read the following conversations and choose the correct answer. Pay special attention to what is compared in each conversation. Correct answers will be in green and the wrong ones in red.