Learning English Grammar

Intermediate level

Stressful things

Episode 260210 / 10 Feb 2026

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Introduction

What's more stressful? Learning to drive or learning a new language? Listen to Pippa and Phil talking about stressful things and grammar guru Georgie explaining how to make comparative and superlative sentences.

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Grammar explanation

Comparative + than + finish the sentence

We usually make comparative adjectives by adding -er, -ier, or using 'more'. To complete the comparative sentence we follow a comparative adjective with 'than'.

  • Learning to drive is more stressful than doing a job interview.
  • The film was more exciting than I thought it would be.
  • Speaking English is harder than reading English.

Superlative + that + finish the sentence

We usually make superlative adjectives by adding -est, -iest, or using 'most'. The complete the sentence we use 'that' after a superlative adjective. But we can also skip the word 'that'.

  • Paris is the most beautiful city that I saw on my trip.
  • It was the slowest car that I ever drove.
  • Watching your favourite sport is the most stressful thing you can do.

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