EnglishGrade 5ages 10–11
📐 bigger / smaller
Hebrew compares two things by adding a separate word for 'more' in front of the adjective, so a child applying that pattern to English says 'more big' instead of moving the comparison inside the word itself, as bigger does.
Try this lesson freeNo card needed. The first lesson is free.
Download on the App StoreWhat your child learns
- big → bigger than. small → smaller than.
- tall → taller than. Not more tall.
- more big is a slip. big already took er.
- Hebrew says more big, in two words. In English the more moves inside the word itself.
The mistake most kids make here
Saying more big instead of bigger.
Try one question
A box versus a cup. Which is right?
Box versus cup
- The box is more big than the cup
- The box is bigger than the cup
- The box is big than the cup
Answer
The box is bigger than the cup — That's it. bigger than — the comparison moved inside the word.
How Maya teaches it
Your child tells Maya what they did in class. She teaches this topic at her desk, asks questions with tappable answers, and when the answer is wrong she explains why that answer was tempting instead of saying “try again”. She remembers what did not land and comes back to it.
Your child has it when they can: Say bigger than and taller than.
How to help at home
For short describing words, English adds er to compare: big becomes bigger, small becomes smaller, tall becomes taller.
'More big' is a direct translation of the Hebrew pattern, but in English the comparison is built into the word itself with er, not added as a separate word in front.
Practice a few pairs out loud: 'The box is bigger than the cup. The tree is taller than the bush.' Notice how than always follows the er word.
A good sign they've got it: they add er directly onto short words without reaching for a separate 'more' in front.
Questions parents ask
- Why does my child say 'more big' instead of 'bigger'?
- Hebrew adds a separate word meaning 'more' in front of the adjective to compare things. English instead builds the comparison into the word itself with er for short words, so the direct translation lands wrong.
- Which words take er and which take more?
- Short words usually take er: bigger, smaller, taller. Longer words use more instead, like more beautiful. At this age, starting with the short, common words is enough.
- What word usually follows the comparison?
- Than: bigger than, taller than. The comparison and than work together as a pair.
- How does Maya teach this?
- Maya presents two things being compared, like a box and a cup, and asks the child to choose the correctly formed comparison, so they practice building the word directly rather than translating word for word.
No card needed. The first lesson is free.
Download on the App StoreMore English lessons
- yesterday + edGrade 5
- was / wereGrade 5
- going toGrade 5
- many / muchGrade 5
- There is a chairGrade 4
- A room sentenceGrade 4
- I am eatingGrade 4
- a big catGrade 4
Sources: English Curriculum 2020 for elementary school – Israeli Ministry of Education