Making Weather Comparisons in Conversation

Illustration

Niveau CECR : [B1]

Read/Listen first

Yesterday was boiling hot, but today feels much cooler and easier to breathe. In the morning the sky looked cloudy, and by midday a sea breeze made the air fresher. It isn’t as humid as yesterday, and the light is brighter near the coast. People check the forecast and compare days before choosing clothes or planning a walk. Friends say it is cooler than last week and not as windy as Monday. Small phrases like a bit, much, and far help us sound natural in comparisons. People compare days, notice small changes, and decide what to wear or bring. Simple observations turn into friendly talk, and practice grows naturally. The situation is easy to imagine and helps fluent, confident speaking. These everyday lines are useful at work, while travelling, or with neighbours. You can repeat key chunks and play with alternatives to build range. This keeps the language simple, natural, and easy to reuse. This keeps the language simple, natural, and easy to reuse.

⚡ Learning goals

  • Compare today’s weather with yesterday using comparatives and intensifiers.
  • Use not as … as to soften comparisons in small talk.
  • Plan simple actions based on forecasts (bring a jacket, go for a walk).

✨ Grammar Points — 4 Structures

1️⃣ Comparatives with -er
Rule: Add -er to short adjectives and use than to compare two things.
Examples: colder than yesterday → clearer near the coast → brighter this afternoon.
Practice prompt: Make a sentence with this pattern.
✅ It’s windier than yesterday.
Exercise: Choose the correct form: “Today is (cold / colder) than Monday.”
✅ Today is colder than Monday.
Common pitfall + fix: Avoid *more cold*; use *colder* for short adjectives.

1️⃣ More + adjective
Rule: Use more before longer adjectives or when -er is not used.
Examples: more comfortable now → more pleasant at the beach → more stable weather.
Practice prompt: Make a sentence with this pattern.
✅ It’s more comfortable near the sea.
Exercise: Pick the best option: “The breeze is (more strong / stronger / strong).”
✅ The breeze is stronger.
Common pitfall + fix: Don’t mix *more strong*; use *stronger* with short adjectives.

1️⃣ Not as … as
Rule: Use not as + adjective + as to show a weaker degree.
Examples: not as humid as yesterday → not as windy as Monday → not as bright as July.
Practice prompt: Make a sentence with this pattern.
✅ It isn’t as humid as last night.
Exercise: Complete: “The sky is not as ______ as yesterday.” (cloudy)
✅ The sky is not as cloudy as yesterday.
Common pitfall + fix: Don’t say *not so … than*; use *not as … as*.

1️⃣ Intensifiers (much, far, a bit)
Rule: Add intensifiers to strengthen or soften comparative statements.
Examples: much cooler today → far brighter now → a bit windier by the sea.
Practice prompt: Make a sentence with this pattern.
✅ It’s a bit warmer inland.
Exercise: Select: “It’s (far / a lot / a little) colder than last week.”
✅ It’s far colder than last week.
Common pitfall + fix: Use intensifiers before the comparative form.

✍️ Vocabulary (6 entries)

 breeze

Meaning: a light wind that feels gentle
Synonyms: wind, airflow, draft
Chunk/Idiom: ““a light sea breeze””
Example: A light breeze made the walk pleasant.
Morphology: noun; plural breezes; neutral register
Self-practice: Say it aloud with your own variation.

 humid

Meaning: warm and wet in the air
Synonyms: moist, damp, muggy
Chunk/Idiom: ““not as humid as yesterday””
Example: It’s not as humid as yesterday.
Morphology: adjective; comparative more humid; neutral
Self-practice: Say it aloud with your own variation.

 forecast

Meaning: a prediction of future weather
Synonyms: prediction, outlook, report
Chunk/Idiom: ““check the forecast before leaving””
Example: Check the forecast before leaving.
Morphology: noun/verb; plural forecasts; neutral
Self-practice: Say it aloud with your own variation.

 brighter

Meaning: with more light than before
Synonyms: lighter, sunnier, clearer
Chunk/Idiom: ““far brighter near the coast””
Example: It looks brighter near the coast.
Morphology: adjective comparative of bright; neutral
Self-practice: Say it aloud with your own variation.

 cooler

Meaning: less hot than before
Synonyms: colder, fresher, milder
Chunk/Idiom: ““much cooler today””
Example: It’s much cooler today.
Morphology: adjective comparative of cool; neutral
Self-practice: Say it aloud with your own variation.

 jacket

Meaning: a short coat for the upper body
Synonyms: coat, blazer, windbreaker
Chunk/Idiom: ““bring a light jacket””
Example: Bring a light jacket tonight.
Morphology: noun; plural jackets; neutral
Self-practice: Say it aloud with your own variation.

☁️ Examples (+ audio)

    • It’s much cooler than yesterday, but still bright enough for a walk.
    • There’s a light breeze, and the sky looks clearer near the coast.
    • If it gets colder tonight, I’ll grab a light jacket.
    • The forecast says temperatures will be a few degrees lower all week.

✏️ Exercises

1) Grammar

    1. Which sentence is correct?
      1) It’s more cold today. 2) It’s colder today. 3) It’s coldest than yesterday.
      ✔︎ Answer: It’s colder today. — Short adjectives use -er for comparatives.

    1. Choose the best option:
      1) It isn’t as humid as yesterday. 2) It isn’t so humid than yesterday. 3) It isn’t humid as yesterday.
      ✔︎ Answer: It isn’t as humid as yesterday. — Use not as … as for weaker degree.

    1. Fill with the best answer: It’s ______ than Monday. (windy)
      → Solution: windier — Short adjectives add -er.

  1. Fill with the best answer: Today is not as ______ as yesterday. (cloudy)
    → Solution: cloudy — Structure: not as + adj + as.

2) Vocabulary & Comprehension

    1. What does forecast mean?
      1) a strong wind 2) a weather prediction 3) a heavy jacket
      ✔︎ Answer: a weather prediction — Forecast = prediction/outlook.

    1. Pick the natural chunk:
      1) much bright 2) far cooler 3) more cold
      ✔︎ Answer: far cooler — Use intensifier + comparative.

    1. Fill with the best answer: Bring a light ______ if it gets colder.
      → Solution: jacket — Collocation: bring a jacket.

  1. Fill with the best answer: There’s a light sea ______ this evening.
    → Solution: breeze — Common weather noun.

⚙️ Integrated content

Mini-dialogue — Natural situation
A: It’s getting really cold today.
B: Yes, much colder than yesterday.
A: I might take a light jacket for the evening.

Why this matters
Weather small talk is common and polite; comparisons make your speech specific and natural.

Verb & Adjective Pack (ready-to-use chunks)
• feel chilly → “I feel chilly in the morning.”
• look cloudy → “The sky looks cloudy today.”
• be boiling hot → “It’s boiling hot this afternoon.”
• seem brighter → “It seems brighter near the coast.”

️ Try and compare — guided production + model answers
Exercise 1 — Fill the blank: “It’s _______ than yesterday.”
→ ✔︎ hotter
Exercise 2 — Self-correction: You said: “It more cold today.”
→ Better: “It’s colder today.” (Use -er for short adjectives.)
Exercise 3 — Practice aloud: Say three sentences comparing today with yesterday.