Use increase, decrease, stable, dramatically accurately in context
Read and discuss a topic-specific article at A2 level
Practise speaking fluently on numbers and change over time
Complete written exercises with vocabulary in context
Teaching Notes
Warm-up: allow 8-10 min, let personal answers develop
Article: read together or have students read silently first
Vocabulary match: good for pair work
Speaking: encourage full sentences, not one-word answers
Exit questions: 5-min closer, no prep needed
Timing Guide
Warm-up: 8 min
Article + comprehension: 12 min
Vocabulary + match: 10 min
Exercises: 10 min
Speaking + discussion: 15 min
Exit + recap: 5 min
Teacher Question Bank
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A2 · Lesson 35 · Numbers and Change Over Time
Describing Trends
Numbers and Change Over Timeincreasedecreasestable
Getting started
Warm-Up Questions
Click the button to get your first question
Read & Understand
Article
Describing Trends
Describing trends clearly is an essential business skill. The key is combining a precise verb with an adverb that shows speed or degree. 'Revenue rose dramatically in Q1' — fast and large. 'Costs fell gradually over the year' — slow and steady. 'Complaints remained stable at around 20 per month' — no change. When you want to add a number: 'Profits increased by 30%' shows the change. 'Profits increased to €2 million' shows the new level. 'Profits increased from €1.5 million to €2 million' shows both. Avoid simply saying numbers: tell the story. 'There was a sharp recovery in Q3 after a difficult Q2' is far more communicative than '€1.8 million, then €1.2 million, then €1.9 million.'
💡 Did you know? The word 'trend' originally meant a path along a riverbank — the direction water flows. It entered business language in the 1960s. Today 'trending' has a completely new meaning thanks to social media.
Topic: Numbers and Change Over Time
Key words
Vocabulary
01
increase
to become larger in number or amount
02
decrease
to become smaller in number or amount
03
stable
not changing, staying at the same level
04
dramatically
very significantly and noticeably
05
gradually
slowly and steadily over time
06
sharp
sudden and large in change
07
recover
to return to a previous level after a fall
08
double
to multiply by two / to become twice as large
09
halve
to reduce by half
010
plateau
to reach a level and stop changing
Match the Words
Click a word on the left, then click its definition on the right.
increase
decrease
stable
dramatically
gradually
sharp
recover
double
halve
plateau
to multiply by two / to become twice as large
very significantly and noticeably
not changing, staying at the same level
to reduce by half
sudden and large in change
to return to a previous level after a fall
to reach a level and stop changing
slowly and steadily over time
to become larger in number or amount
to become smaller in number or amount
Say it right
Pronunciation
increase
IN-cr-ease
decrease
DE-cr-ease
stable
STA-ble
dramatically
DRAM-atic-ally
gradually
GRA-dua-lly
sharp
SH-arp
Read & Discuss
Short Dialogue
A:
Hi! Can I ask you about increase?
B:
Of course! I think increase is very important.
A:
What about decrease? Do you use it often?
B:
Yes, I do. Decrease helps me a lot at work.
A:
And stable? Is that difficult for you?
B:
Sometimes. But I practise every day.
A:
That is great. What is your advice?
B:
Just be consistent. Small steps every day!
Comprehension
What does person A ask about first?
How does person B feel about decrease?
What is person B's advice?
Practice
Exercises
Gap Fill
Complete each sentence using vocabulary from today's lesson.
1. Sales d by 15% last quarter.
2. Costs d significantly after the reorganisation.
3. Prices have remained for six months.
4. Productivity improved after the new system.
5. The team adapted to the new process.
Error Correction
Find and correct the mistake in each sentence.
She is know a lot about increase.
We was discussing decrease yesterday.
He don't have enough stable.
They have spoke about dramatically before.
Speaking practice
Speaking Prompts
Discuss with your partner
Describe a trend at your company using: rose, fell, remained stable, recovered.
Practise: 'Revenue increased FROM ___ TO ___ — a rise OF ___.' Use real or invented figures.
What trend do you expect in your industry over the next year? Use will + trend verb.
Summarise today's topic in 3 sentences using vocabulary from this lesson.
Grammar focus: Describing trends: Noun + verb: Sales increased. Verb forms: rose, fell, grew, d... — can you give an example?
Open discussion
Discussion Generator
More Questions
Use with pairs or whole class · Encourage full answers
Write a trend report (8 sentences) about your company or industry over the past year. Use a variety of trend verbs, adverbs, and by/to/from structures.
