I like to use this activity to promote the use of the comparative form. It is a fun guessing game that encourages creativity.

Preparation
Think of examples for the demonstration, and print/copy the student worksheets.

Procedure

1. Revise the use of the comparative form by writing some common pairs on the board. Examples could include:
   
   • a Rolls Royce and a Toyota/a giraffe and a mouse  
   You might want to add more personalised pairs such as:
   
   • English and the language of the country you are teaching in/two famous cities in the country of choice
   As students to use these pairs to make comparisons. Monitor to ensure that students are using the comparative form correctly. Provide feedback and error correction as and when the need may occur.
2. Now introduce the concept of a 'plip' and a 'plop'. Think of a pair of common things to be compared, for example, water and wine. The teacher then says I'm going to compare two things and you must guess what the things are. I’m obviously not going to say the name but will use the words plip and plop.
   The teacher then compares the two things by saying plip is more delicious than plop. Students are encouraged to guess what plip and plop are. If nobody is correct you can then provide further examples, such as plip is stronger than plop, plip is more expensive than plop, plip is usually more colourful than plop, plip is more alcoholic than plop. After five examples if nobody can guess you can tell the students and explain that you have won a point because nobody guessed.
3. Put the students into four groups and give out the worksheets. Provide sufficient time for them to work together to make comparative sentences.
4. Now ask the students to read them in turn to the class to see if the other groups can guess the plips and plops. Award points for correct guesses.  

Extension
Students could write similar plip and plop sentences for students in the class. 

By Derek Spafford

The worksheets are downloadable and in MS Word format - right click on the attachments below and save them on your computer.

Copyright - please read
All the materials on these pages are free for you to download and copy for educational use only. You may not redistribute, sell or place these materials on any other web site without written permission from the BBC and British Council. If you have any questions about the use of these materials please email us at: teachingenglish@britishcouncil.org

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