Comparative and superlative in proverbs

Comparative and superlative in proverbs

Look at the proverbs below and find at least one which:

• is similar to a proverb in your own language
• seems true and useful
• seems untrue and/ or useless
• is the opposite of another proverb or is the opposite to your own advice

 

• A chain is only as strong as its weakest link.
• A dog is a man's best friend.
• Actions speak louder than words.
• Better late than never.
• Better safe than sorry.
• Better the Devil you know than the Devil you don't.
• Blood is thicker than water.
• Half a loaf is better than none.
• He who laughs last laughs longest.
• Honesty is the best policy.
• Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.
• It is better to have loved and lost, than never to have loved at all.
• It's better to give than to receive.
• Laughter is the best medicine.
• Least said, soonest mended.
• Prevention is better than cure.
• Revenge is a dish (which is) best served cold.
• The best form of defence is offence.
• The best things in life are free.
• The bigger the better.
• The bigger they are, the harder they fall.
• The darkest hour is just before the dawn.
• The grass is always greener on the other side.
• The longest journey starts with a single step.
• The pen is mightier than sword.
• The rich get richer and the poor get poorer.
• Truth is stranger than fiction.
• Two heads are better than one.
• What doesn’t kill you, makes you stronger.

 

Ask about any you don’t understand, discussing how true or not they are each time. Then look at the next page.

 

Mixed comparatives and superlatives for open cloze and brainstorming proverbs

best                 better               darkest greener harder              longest

louder              mightier            richer               sincerest          soonest            stranger

stronger           thicker              weakest

Comparative and superlative in proverbs open cloze

First with no help, try to fill the gaps below with one comparative or superlative adjective.

• A chain is only as strong as its _____________________________________ link.
• A dog is a man's ______________________________________________ friend.
• Actions speak ____________________________________________ than words.
• _____________________________________________________ late than never.
• _____________________________________________________ safe than sorry.
• _______________________________ the Devil you know than the Devil you don't.
• Blood is __________________________________________________ than water.
• Half a loaf is _______________________________________________ than none.
• He who laughs last laughs ____________________________________________.
• Honesty is the _________________________________________________ policy.
• Imitation is the __________________________________________ form of flattery.
• It is ____________________ to have loved and lost, than never to have loved at all.
• It's _______________________________________________ to give than to receive.
• Laughter is the ________________________________________________ medicine.
• Least said, ____________________________________________________ mended.
• Prevention is _________________________________________________ than cure.
• Revenge is a dish (which is) ___________________________________ served cold.
• The ___________________________________________ form of defence is offence.
• The ________________________________________________ things in life are free.
• The bigger the ____________________________________________
• The bigger they are, the _________________________________________ they fall.
• The _________________________________________ hour is just before the dawn.
• The grass is always ______________________________________ on the other side.
• The _______________________________________ journey starts with a single step.
• The pen is __________________________________________________ than sword.
• The rich get _______________________________________ and the poor get poorer.
• Truth is ____________________________________________________ than fiction.
• Two heads are ________________________________________________ than one.
• What doesn’t kill you, makes you _________________________________________.

Use the mixed words on the first page to help.

Try to remember proverbs with each of the words in the mixed words list on the first page, without looking at this page.