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Activities: Comparatives and superlatives: How to form and use them in Japanese?

By: Mayumi Ito

Exercise 1: Comparisons

Let’s start with practicing constructing comparison sentences. Build each sentence according to the instruction. All the necessary words are given. You can use the same word multiple times when necessary in each case. Then add the English translation below the Japanese sentence.

  1. Let’s talk about A in comparison with B.

    Japanese:

    English:

  2. Let’s compare A and B (there is no topic in the sentence).

    Japanese:

    English:

  3. Let’s make a negative comparison sentence about A.

    Japanese:

    English:

  4. Let’s say there is not much difference between A and B (no topic, but in that order).

    Japanese:

    English:

  5. Let’s build a question that asks which ranks the highest among A, B, and C (in that order).

    Japanese:

    English:

Exercise 2: Multiple choice

Fill in each blank with the most appropriate answer among the options.

    • A: 遅かったですね。
      Osokatta desu ne.
      You are late, aren’t you?

    • B: すみません。でも木下さん       早かったでしょう？
      Sumimasen. Demo Kinoshita san ... hayakatta deshō?
      I’m sorry. But I arrived earlier than Ms. Kinoshita, right?
      Select your answer
    • A: ドーナツとケーキ、      を食べたい？
      Dōnatsu to kēki, ... o tabetai?
      Which do you want to eat, donuts or cakes?
      Select your answer

    • B: ケーキ・・・かな？
      Kēki…kana?
      I want…a cake, I guess.

    • A: 演劇部で      がいちばん演技がじょうずですか。
      Engekibu de ... ga ichiban engi ga jōzu desu ka.
      Who is the best at acting in the drama club?
      Select your answer

    • B: ああ、それは佐藤さんです。
      Ā, sore wa Satō san desu.
      Oh, that’s Ms. Sato.

    • A: 今日も暑いですね。
      Kyō mo atsui desu ne.
      It’s hot today, too, isn’t it!

    • B: ええ、でも今日はきのう      暑くないですよね。
      Ē, demo kyō wa kinō ... atsukunai desu yo ne.
      Yes, but today is not as hot as yesterday, don’t you agree?
      Select your answer

    • A: この店のラーメンはおいしいですね！
      Kono mise no rāmen wa oishii desu ne!
      The ramen here is tasty, isn’t it?!

    • B: ええ、たしかに。でもうちの近くの店のラーメンは      おいしいですよ。
      Ē. Demo uchi no chikaku no mise no rāmen wa ... oishii desu yo.
      Yes, for sure. But the ramen served at a restaurant near my house is much tastier, you know.
      Select your answer
    • A: アニメとホラーとSFのうちで、       をいちばん見たいですか。
      Anime to horā to esu efu no uchi de, ... o ichiban mitai desu ka.
      Which do you want to watch the most, an anime (movie), a horror (movie), or science fiction (movie)?
      Select your answer
    • B: うーん、      もあまり見たくないです。ラブコメはありませんか。
      Ūn, ... mo amari mitakunai desu. Rabukome wa arimasen ka.
      Hmmm, I don’t want to watch either of them. Don’t you have a romantic comedy?
      Select your answer

    • A: 冬と夏とどちらが好きですか。
      Fuyu to natsu to dochira ga suki desu ka.
      Which do you like better, winter or summer?

    • B: 夏のほうが      好きです。寒いのは苦手ですが、暑いのは大好きですから。
      Natsu no hō ga ... suki desu. Samui no wa nigate desu ga, atsui no wa daisuki desu kara.
      I like summer much more. I’m not a huge fan of cold weather, but I love hot weather.
      Select your answer

Exercise 3: Write your own comparisons!

The following questions are just for you! The answers, therefore, vary. The translations are not given, but you can refer to the word bank to figure out the meaning of each question. You can spice up your answers by adding an adverb of degree such as ずっと transcribed zuttomeaning much, かなり transcribed kanarimeaning fairly, and すこし transcribed sukoshimeaning a little if you like!

  1. 今、すしとピザとどちらが食べたいですか。
    Ima, sushi to piza to dochira ga tabetai desu ka.
    Which do you want to eat now, sushi or pizza?

    Word Bank
    今
    Transcription: ima
    Translation: now
    すし
    Transcription: sushi
    Translation: sushi
    ピザ
    Transcription: piza
    Translation: pizza
    食べたいです
    Transcription: tabetai desu
    Translation: want to eat

  2. ひらがなとかたかなとどちらがむずかしいですか。
    Hiragana to katakana to dochira ga muzukashii desu ka.
    Which is more difficult, hiragana or katakana?

    Word Bank
    ひらがな
    Transcription: hiragana
    Translation: hiragana
    かたかな
    Transcription: katakana
    Translation: sushi
    むずかしいです
    Transcription: muzukashii desu
    Translation: is difficult

  3. 今、どこへいちばん旅行に行きたいですか。
    Ima, doko e ichiban ryokō ni ikitai desu ka.
    Where would you most like to travel now?

    Word Bank
    今
    Transcription: ima
    Translation: now
    旅行に
    Transcription: ryokō ni
    Translation: for travel
    行きたいです
    Transcription: ikitai desu
    Translation: want to go

  4. テニスとゴルフと水泳のうちで、どれをいちばんやりたいですか。
    Tenisu to gorufu to suiei no naka de, dore o ichiban yaritai desu ka.
    Which of the two do you care to do the most, tennis, golf, or swimming?

    Word Bank
    テニス
    Transcription: tenisu
    Translation: tennis
    ゴルフ
    Transcription: gorofu
    Translation: golf
    水泳
    Transcription: suiei
    Translation: swimming
    やりたいです
    Transcription: yaritai desu
    Translation: want to play/do

  5. ともだちの中でだれがいちばんのんき者ですか。
    Tomodachi no naka de dare ga ichiban nonkimono desu ka.
    Who is the most carefree of your friends?

    Word Bank
    ともだち
    Transcription: tomodachi
    Translation: friend
    のんき者
    Transcription: nonkimono
    Translation: easygoing person