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Entry 2 ESOL • Two-hour interactive practice • UK English

Compare It Clearly

Emails, quick phone messages and everyday choices
Focus: comparatives and simple degree comparisonContext: local services, appointments, shopping and travelWorks on phone, tablet or PC

Today’s lesson: You will compare two or more everyday options, understand short emails and phone messages, correct common mistakes, and write a clear message using comparison language.

Teacher note: Learners should not practise grammar as isolated forms. Every task below uses a real message, email, note, or local situation.

1. Learning aims 🧭

By the end, learners can...

  • compare prices, places, times and services.
  • use -er than and more ... than.
  • use simple degree comparison: very, quite, too, not as ... as.
  • write a short email or phone message giving advice.

Lesson route: about 2 hours

  1. Starter quiz and vocabulary: 20 minutes
  2. Language input in context: 20 minutes
  3. Email reading and quizzes: 25 minutes
  4. Phone message listening/speaking: 20 minutes
  5. Accuracy: spelling, punctuation, correction: 25 minutes
  6. Final writing and speaking: 10 minutes

2. Diagnostic starter: What is being compared? 🔎

Read each short message. Choose the best answer.

3. Language focus in real messages 🧩

Short adjectives: add -er
“The 9 o’clock class is quieter than the 6 o’clock class.”
Long adjectives: use more
“The community centre is more comfortable than the old room.”
One thing compared with another: use than
“The bus is cheaper than the train.”
Simple degree: use very quite too
“The hall is too noisy for the meeting.”
Negative comparison: use not as ... as
“The later class is not as busy as the morning class.”

Mini email: notice the language

Subject: Which room is better for the class?

Hi Sam,

I visited both rooms today. Room A is larger than Room B, but Room B is quieter. Room A is more modern than Room B, but it is also too far from the bus stop.

I think Room B is better for our learners because it is not as noisy as Room A.

Thanks,
Mina

Think: Mina does not just say “Room B is good.” She gives reasons and compares the options.

Controlled practice: choose the correct comparison

4. Reading: email inbox practice 📧

Read the local message board emails. The topic is a small community event. Then answer the questions.

The Tottenham Community Noticeboard

Residents Compare Two Venues for Saturday Advice Morning

By Aisha Khan, community reporter • Monday edition

Email 1: From Nora to the community group
Hi everyone, I phoned two venues for our advice morning. The library room is cheaper than the hotel room. It is also nearer to the bus stop. However, the hotel room is larger and more comfortable.

Email 2: Reply from Jamal
I agree that the library is a good choice. The hotel is too expensive for a free community event. The library is not as modern as the hotel, but it is warmer than the church hall we used last year.

Email 3: Reply from Saira
I visited the library yesterday. The room is quite small, but it is bright and clean. The chairs are better than the old chairs at the church hall. The only problem is the kitchen. It is smaller than the hotel kitchen.

Email 4: Final message from Nora
Thank you for your comments. I think the library is the best option for us because it is cheaper, nearer and easier for most people. Please arrive earlier than usual on Saturday because we need time to move the chairs.

5. Listening and speaking: quick phone messages 📱

Phone messages

Message 1: Hi, it’s Ali. I checked the two repair shops. FixIt Fast is cheaper, but City Repairs is nearer to your flat.
Message 2: Thanks. Is City Repairs faster?
Message 3: Yes. City Repairs is faster than FixIt Fast, but it is more expensive. The staff were very helpful.
Message 4: OK. I’ll choose City Repairs because it is nearer and faster.

Listen

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Transcript

Speaking practice: Work with a partner. One learner asks about two places. The other compares them and gives advice.

Listening quiz

Speaking cards

Card A
Compare two shops: one is cheaper, one is nearer. Which one is better?
Card B
Compare two classes: one is quieter, one is more interesting. Which one do you prefer?
Card C
Compare two buses: one is faster, one is less crowded. Give advice.

6. Drag-and-drop: complete the quick messages 🧲

Drag a word into each space. On a phone, tap a word, then tap the space.

1. The morning class is than the evening class.

2. The train is than the bus, but it costs more.

3. This email is than the first one.

4. The new chairs are than the old chairs.

5. The library is the shopping centre.

7. Accuracy workshop: grammar, spelling and punctuation ✍️

A. Error correction: type the corrected sentence

Correct the comparison mistake. Use capital letters and punctuation.

B. Spelling in context

Complete the words from the emails and phone messages.

C. Punctuation and capitals

Choose the correctly punctuated message.

8. Writing task: reply to a message 📝

Situation

Hi. I need to choose a course. The morning course is cheaper and nearer. The evening course is more interesting, but it is later. Which one do you think is better for me?

Task: Write a short email or phone message giving advice. Compare the two courses.

Useful language

  • I think the ___ course is better because...
  • It is cheaper than...
  • It is not as late as...
  • The evening course is more interesting, but...
  • In my opinion, you should choose...
Opening
Say hello and answer the question.
Compare two courses
Reason 1
Compare price or distance.
Reason 2
Compare time or interest.
Advice
Say which course is better and why.
Check
Capital letters, full stops, commas, question marks.
Model answer

Hi. I think the morning course is better for you. It is cheaper than the evening course and it is nearer to your home. The evening course is more interesting, but it is later. In my opinion, the morning course is easier for you because you can save money and time.

9. Final review and reflection ✅

Learner self-check





Extension challenge

Write a second message comparing two local places you know: a park, shop, café, library, gym, school, or bus route.

Use at least four comparison phrases.

10. Teacher notes and answer key 👩‍🏫

Teacher notes
  • Level: Entry 2 ESOL Skills for Life.
  • Main grammar: comparatives and simple degree comparison in everyday communication.
  • Suggested grouping: individual starter, pair speaking, whole-class correction, independent final writing.
  • Differentiation: stronger learners add reasons using because and but; support learners use sentence frames.
  • Assessment: use final writing for evidence of comparison language, punctuation and spelling.
Answer key
Printable worksheet prompts
  1. Compare two shops near you.
  2. Write three sentences using cheaper than, nearer than, and more comfortable than.
  3. Correct: the evening class is more cheap than the morning class.
  4. Write a short phone message giving advice.