Friday, June 19, 2015

Writing - 25 simple ways to make your life happier

Perhaps there’s no such person in the world, who wouldn’t like to be happy. We all aim at it, but not everyone succeeds. Today, I present to you 25 ways to make your life at least a little bit happier.

25 simple ways to make your life happier

  1. Massage. Who wouldn’t mind receiving a pleasant massage? No matter whether it’s performed by a professional or by your spouse, gentle touches make everyone feel happy and good. Especially if it concerns women, who like massages most of all.
  2. Talking with friends. When you talk to somebody who understands you very well and who can support you and help you whenever you need – this is true happiness.
  3. Walking. You need to spend time outdoors at least an hour a day. Walking outdoors can greatly improve your mood, helps you to keep fit and remain healthy, thus making you a little bit happier.
  4. Music. You should listen to music everyday. It can be classics or just a slow and calming melody, which will help you to relax and feel good.
  5. Avoid negativeness. Stop thinking only of bad things, get rid of your fears, try to be an optimist. Avoid negative topics for discussing. Don’t watch bad news on TV all the time. All this can make you depressed and not happy at all.
  6. Relaxing bath. Prepare a relaxing bath with rose petals and oils (if you want). Giving a little relaxation to your body will make you feel much happier.
  7. Meditation, as with other relaxation practices, raises the level of your energy. Try to meditate at least once a day. It’s also very useful to meditate when out in the nature.
  8. Shopping. Women love it! But it can be a good thing for men as well. I’m not talking only of clothes, everything counts. Don’t you like to buy something new for yourself? We all like it, don’t we?
  9. Dancing. Any kind of dancing is a great thing to raise your mood, express your sexuality, and become happier.
  10. Yoga. Yoga practice can soothe your mind and give you more energy. Doing it regularly can be a great step to a happier life.
  11. Providing help. No matter how strange it may seem, helping others is a great way to become happier. When doing this you feel positiveness inside you. You know that you’re doing something good.
  12. Reading. Read a good book. It’s especially useful to read stories about people’s lives. Studying their fate, you can better understand your own personality.
  13. Cooking. It’s a good thing when done together with your beloved. Doing something together will help you both to feel happier.
  14. Home. It’s not only a place where you sleep, it;s where you spend most of your time, you relax there, bring up your kids, etc. So do something for your home. Make it as comfortable and nice as you can.
  15. Plans. Making plans for your future is a powerful thing. There are no guarantees that all of them will be fulfilled, but the more you plan the bigger are the chances that you’ll succeed in your life.
  16. Picnic. Go on a picnic with your family or friends. Spend some time outdoors, enjoying nature, breathing fresh air, having fun.
  17. Water is a great generator of a good mood. Starting with a bath or a shower and ending with pools, lakes or seas – this is a great way to relax, feel happy and enjoy your life.
  18. Physical activity will not only help you to keep fit and remain healthy but will also improve your mood and will help you to get rid of stress.
  19. Healthy lifestyle. Bad habits negatively influence your life. And it’s not only smoking, it may be laziness, spending too much time watching TV, etc. And believe me, if you’re not healthy you are far from being happy.
  20. Diary. Keeping a diary will help you to analyze yourself, your failures and success, your relationship, work, etc. It’s a great way to understand yourself.
  21. Personal photos. Having a photo album is a great way to recollect on life, think of the happiest moments, thus being happy right now.
  22. Love. Yeah, love hurts, but it also gives wings. If you love and you’re loved, then you’re the happiest person is the world, aren’t you?
  23. Staying alone. Spend some time alone. It’s a good chance to think over your problems, to analyze your work, make plans for the future.
  24. Kids. What can be better than watching your kids grow, playing with them and making them smile and laugh? Isn’t it true happiness?
  25. Dignity. Be sure of your uniqueness, only then you’ll find your place in this world.
Remember, happiness isn’t a myth. It’s just all up to you. You build your own fate… and only YOU can do it.

Source: http://www.lifehack.org/articles/lifestyle/25-simple-ways-to-make-your-life-happier.html

Task 6 - Definition of Relative Clause and Examples

Relative clauses

What is a relative clause?

We can use relative clauses to join two English sentences, or to give more information about something.
I bought a new car. It is very fast.
→ I bought a new car that is very fast.
She lives in New York. She likes living in New York.
→ She lives in New York, which she likes.

Defining and Non-defining

defining relative clause tells which noun we are talking about:
  • I like the woman who lives next door.
    (If I don't say 'who lives next door', then we don't know which woman I mean).
non-defining relative clause gives us extra information about something. We don't need this information to understand the sentence.
  • I live in London, which has some fantastic parks.
    (Everybody knows where London is, so 'which has some fantastic parks' is extra information).

Defining relative clauses:

1: The relative pronoun is the subject:
First, let's consider when the relative pronoun is the subject of a defining relative clause.
We can use 'who', 'which' or 'that'. We use 'who' for people and 'which' for things. We can use 'that' for people or things.
The relative clause can come after the subject or the object of the sentence. We can't drop the relative pronoun.
For example (clause after the object of the sentence):
  • I'm looking for a secretary who / that can use a computer well.
  • She has a son who / that is a doctor.
  • We bought a house which / that is 200 years old.
  • I sent a letter which / that arrived three weeks later.
More examples (clause after the subject of the sentence):
  • The people who / that live on the island are very friendly.
  • The man who / that phoned is my brother.
  • The camera which / that costs £100 is over there.
  • The house which / that belongs to Julie is in London.
2: The relative pronoun is the object:
Next, let's talk about when the relative pronoun is the object of the clause. In this case we can drop the relative pronoun if we want to. Again, the clause can come after the subject or the object of the sentence. Here are some examples:
(Clause after the object)
  • She loves the chocolate (which / that) I bought.
  • We went to the village (which / that) Lucy recommended.
  • John met a woman (who / that) I had been to school with.
  • The police arrested a man (who / that) Jill worked with.
(Clause after the subject)
  • The bike (which / that) I loved was stolen.
  • The university (which / that) she likes is famous.
  • The woman (who / that) my brother loves is from Mexico.
  • The doctor (who / that) my grandmother liked lives in New York.

Non-defining relative clauses:

We don't use 'that' in non-defining relative clauses, so we need to use 'which' if the pronoun refers to a thing, and 'who' if it refers to a person. We can't drop the relative pronoun in this kind of clause, even if the relative pronoun is the subject of the clause.
(Clause comes after the subject)
  • My boss, who is very nice, lives in Manchester.
  • My sister, who I live with, knows a lot about cars.
  • My bicycle, which I've had for more than ten years, is falling apart.
  • My mother's house, which I grew up in, is very small.
(Clause comes after the object)
  • Yesterday I called our friend Julie, who lives in New York.
  • The photographer called to the Queen, who looked annoyed.
  • Last week I bought a new computer, which I don't like now.
  • I really love the new Chinese restaurant, which we went to last night.

Prepositions and relative clauses

If the verb in the relative clause needs a preposition, we put it at the end of the clause:
For example:
  • listen to
The music is good. Julie listens to the music.
→ The music (which / that) Julie listens to is good.
  • work with
My brother met a woman. I used to work with the woman.
→ My brother met a woman (who / that) I used to work with.
  • go to
The country is very hot. He went to the country.
→ The country (which / that) he went to is very hot.
  • come from
I visited the city. John comes from the city.
→ I visited the city (that / which) John comes from.
  • apply for
The job is well paid. She applied for the job.
→ The job (which / that) she applied for is well paid.

Whose

'Whose' is always the subject of the relative clause and can't be left out. It replaces a possessive. It can be used for people and things.
The dog is over there. The dog's / its owner lives next door.
→ The dog whose owner lives next door is over there.
The little girl is sad. The little girl's / her doll was lost.
→ The little girl whose doll was lost is sad.
The woman is coming tonight. Her car is a BMW.
→ The woman whose car is a BMW is coming tonight.
The house belongs to me. Its roof is very old.
→ The house whose roof is old belongs to me.

Where / when / why

We can sometimes use these question words instead of relative pronouns and prepositions.
I live in a city. I study in the city.

→ I live in the city where I study.
→ I live in the city that / which I study in.
→ I live in the city in which I study.
The bar in Barcelona is still there. I met my wife in that bar.

→ The bar in Barcelona where I met my wife is still there.
→ The bar in Barcelona that / which I met my wife in is still there.
→ The bar in Barcelona in which I met my wife is still there.
The summer was long and hot. I graduated from university in the summer.

→ The summer when I graduated from university was long and hot.
→ The summer that / which I graduated from university in was long and hot.
→ The summer in which I graduated was long and hot.

Source: http://www.perfect-english-grammar.com/relative-clauses.html

Task 5 - Exercise 37-39

EXERCISE 37

Relative Clause

1. The last record which produced by this company became a gold record
2. Checking accounts that require a minimum balance are very common now
3. The professor whom you spoke yeterday is not here today
4. John whose grades are the highest in the school has received a scholarship
5. Felipe bought a camera which has three lenses
6. Frank is the man who we are going to nominate for the office or treasurer
7. The doctor is with a patient whose leg was broken in an accident
8. Jane is the women who is going to China next year
9. Janet wants a typewriter that self-corrects
10. The book which i found last week contains some useful information
11. Mr. Bryant whose team has lost the game looks very sad
12. James wrote an article which indicated that he disliked the president
13. The director of the program who graduated from Harvard University is planning retire next year
14. This is the book that i have been looking for all year
15. William whose brother is a lawyer wants to become judge

EXERCISE 38

Relative Clause Reduction

1. George is the man chosen to represent to committeat the convention
2. All the money accepted has already been released
3. The papers on the table belong to Patricia
4. The man brought to the police station confessedto the crime
5. The girl dringking coffe is Mary Allen
6. Jhon's wife, a professor, has written several papers on this subject
7. The man talking to the policeman is my uncle
8. The book on the top shelf is the one that i need
9. The number of students counted is quite hight
10. Leo Evans, a doctor, eats in this restaurant every day

EXERCISE 39

Subjunctive

1. The teacher demanded  the student to leave the room
2. Correct
3. It was very important that we delayed discussion
4. Correct
5. The king decreed the new laws to take effect the following months
6. Correct
7. Correct
8. His father prefers him to attend a different university
9. The faculty stipulated the rule to be abolished
10. She urged us to find another alternative

Sunday, May 17, 2015

8 Things You Should Know about Acro Yoga

It's very possible you've seen a few students playing around after class or watched a few videos online. Maybe you've seen some epic photos in a yoga magazine of two smiling yogis balancing effortlessly on each other's feet and/or hands in some exotic location. Perhaps, upon seeing this, you've thought to yourself, "That's impossible! I could never do that."
Please allow me to let you in on a little secret: Yes, you can!
My name is Daniel Scott, and I teach the Yoga of Trust. For the past six years, I have been blessed to teach thousands of people worldwide to literally turn their lives upside down while loving every second. As a certified AcroYoga instructor and movement therapist, my life is dedicated to helping others answer the question: Are you moving or being moved?
Like any physical practice, yoga or otherwise, AcroYoga is a dynamic offering that can seem both simple and complex. My journey didn’t begin with gymnastics or circus arts. Wandering aimlessly in the labyrinth of corporate life, I ran marathons and partied ruthlessly in my "free" time in hopes of an escape before finding yoga as a true way out. I didn’t do my first free handstand until I was 27, and even then, I was better at falling down then getting up.
Upon truly embracing the practice of AcroYoga, my understanding and appreciation of yoga—and through that, life—has deepened with immense passion and gratitude. Whether you've tried it or not, please enjoy these following tips as guides for the path towards building trust ... within the body, the community, and the true blessing of divine partnership.
1. AcroYoga combines yoga, healing arts, and acrobatics.
It's good to mix things up, even if it sounds like an odd recipe. All three styles truly balance each other out (pun intended). Let's drink straight from the source at AcroYoga.org: "AcroYoga blends the wisdom of yoga, the dynamic power of acrobatics, and the loving kindness of healing arts. These three lineages form the foundation of a practice that cultivates trust, playfulness, and community.” Who can say no to that?
2. You don't need a partner to find partnership.
Flying solo? No worries—you’ll find someone to soar with once when you arrive! While you are welcome to train with a dedicated partner, there is much knowledge to be gained in mixing it up from time to time. This partner-based practice develops your skills to work with a wide variety of people... no matter the personality, shape, size, or skill.
3. AcroYoga is for Every Body.
You need not be a master gymnast, circus acrobat, or seasoned yogi to enjoy. Can’t do a handstand, or even touch your toes? No big deal. AcroYoga is a practice of substance, not flash. You’ll learn necessary building blocks to literally take whatever physical skills you have to new heights.
4. Size matters not.
You may think big people do the lifting, and tiny people do the flying. This is not the case.AcroYoga doesn't defy gravity, it honors it. Technique is more important than strength. You’ll quickly learn that muscles tire while bones don’t—whether lifting someone above your head, pouring weight through hands for a healing touch, or counterbalancing someone twice your size.
5. One must give to receive… and vice versa.
When was the last time you let someone else physically move you? A good AcroYoga class creates a safe container in which participants learn the art of allowing movement. Depending on the material taught, this could mean total engagement, utter release, or some degree of both. Everyone in class goes through the same experience. As you learn to support others, you end up allowing yourself to be supported. This is a fundamental of trust: take control by letting go.
6. Get what you need by asking for what you want.
Unlike practicing alone, where we spend a lot of time in our head, partner work is deeply rooted the shared experience. In addition to honing the skill of sharing a physical practice, AcroYoga helps to develop open, direct, and compassionate verbal communication with whomever we’re paired with. Try giving someone directions while in handstand. Up becomes down. Left becomes right. Things can get mixed up when life gets flipped asanaover tea kettle. Work together or fall apart. You decide.
7. In order to know one, you must truly experience the other.
The practice of AcroYoga is split into two parts, Acrobatic (Solar) and Therapeutic (Lunar). Each side explores the relationship between the mover and those being moved. In the dynamic Solar practice, participants learn three different roles: Base (mover), Flyer (being moved), and Spotter (knowledge of both). Lunar theraputics embraces the deeply healing connection to metta—loving kindness. Here, the Giver is the mover, and the Receiver is the one being moved. Balance is the midpoint between extremes, so it's best to explore this practice from all sides to know where your grounded passion truly lies.
8. Trust Communication = Community.
Amazing things happen when one steps outside the box, and there is no coincidence that a yoga mat is rectangular. Don't confine yourself to the soft routine of this non-slip comfort zone.AcroYoga creates a tangible sense of tribe and celebration which is hard to find anywhere else. Remember, it is entirely up to you how high you want to soar or how slow you want to enjoy the process of getting there. May these tips help further your existing practice or inspire you to give it at try... with love, light, and flight.
Source: http://www.mindbodygreen.com/0-7723/8-things-you-should-know-about-acroyoga.html

Task 4 : Causative Verbs Article

Causative Verbs in English: Let, Make, Have, Get, Help

The English verbs let, make, have, get, and help are called causative verbs because they cause something else to happen.
Here are some specific examples of how causative verbs work in English sentences.

How to use causative verbs in English

LET = permit something to happen

Grammatical structure:
  • LET + PERSON/THING + VERB (base form)
Examples:
  • I don’t let my kids watch violent movies.
  • Mary’s father won’t let her adopt a puppy because he’s allergic to dogs.
  • Our boss doesn’t let us eat lunch at our desks; we have to eat in the cafeteria.
  • Oops! I wasn’t paying attention while cooking, and I let the food burn.
  • Don’t let the advertising expenses surpass $1000.
Remember: The past tense of let is also let; there is no change!
Note: The verbs allow and permit are more formal ways to say “let.” However, with allow and permit, we use to + verb:
  • I don’t allow my kids to watch violent movies.
  • Our boss doesn’t permit us to eat lunch at our desks.

MAKE = force or require someone to take an action

Grammatical structure:
  • MAKE + PERSON + VERB (base form)
Examples:
  • After Billy broke the neighbor’s window, his parents made him pay for it.
  • My ex-boyfriend loved sci-fi and made me watch every episode of his favorite show.
  • The teacher made all the students rewrite their papers, because the first drafts were not acceptable.
Note: When using the verbs force and require, we must use to + verb.
  • The school requires the students to wear uniforms.
    “Require” often implies that there is a rule.
  • The hijacker forced the pilots to take the plane in a different direction.
    “Force” often implies violence, threats, or extremely strong pressure

HAVE = give someone else the responsibility to do something

Grammatical structure:
  • HAVE + PERSON + VERB (base form)
  • HAVE + THING + PAST PARTICIPLE OF VERB
Examples of grammatical structure #1:
  • I’ll have my assistant call you to reschedule the appointment.
  • The businessman had his secretary make copies of the report.
Examples of grammatical structure #2:
  • I’m going to have my hair cut tomorrow.
  • We’re having our house painted this weekend.
  • Bob had his teeth whitened; his smile looks great!
  • My washing machine is broken; I need to have it repaired.
Note: In informal speech, we often use get in these cases:
  • I’m going to get my hair cut tomorrow.
  • We’re getting our house painted this weekend.
  • Bob got his teeth whitened; his smile looks great!
  • My washing machine is broken; I need to get it repaired.

GET = convince/encourage someone to do something

Grammatical structure:
  • GET + PERSON + TO + VERB
Examples:
  • How can we get all the employees to arrive on time?
  • My husband hates housework; I can never get him to wash the dishes!
  • I was nervous about eating sushi, but my brother got me to try it at a Japanese restaurant.
  • The non-profit got a professional photographer to take photos at the event for free.

HELP = assist someone in doing something

Grammatical structure:
  • HELP + PERSON + VERB (base form)
  • HELP + PERSON + TO + VERB
After “help,” you can use “to” or not – both ways are correct. In general, the form without “to” is more common:
  • He helped me carry the boxes.
  • He helped me to carry the boxes.
  • Reading before bed helps me relax.
  • Reading before bed helps me to relax.
Source: http://www.espressoenglish.net/causative-verbs-in-english-let-make-have-get-help/

Task 3 - Exercise 31-36

Exercise 31 
1. Twelve
2. Language
3. Three acts
4. Two days
5. 79 pieces
6. Five shelves
7. 16 ounces each
8. Six quarts
9. Bricks
10. Ten speeds

Exercise 32 : Enough
1. Enough people
2. Enough French
3. Enough time
4. Fast enough
5. Soon enough
6. Early enough
7. Hard enough
8. Slowly enough
9. Enough flour
10. Enough books
Exercise 33 : Because/Because Of
1. Because
2. Because
3. Because of
4. Because
5. Because of
6. Because
7. Because of
8. Because
9. Because
10. Because of
Exercise 34 : So/Such
1. So
2. Such
3. Such
4. Such
5. So
6. So
7. Such
8. So
9. So
10. Such
11. So
12. So
13. Such
14. So
15. So
Exercise 35 : Passive Voice
1. The president is called by somebody everyday.
2. The other members are being called by Jhon.
3. Mr. Watson will be called by somebody tonight.
4. Considerable damage has been caused by the fire.
5. The suppliers should be bought by the teacher for this class.

Exercise 36 : Causative Verbs

  1.  Leave
  2. Repaired
  3. To type
  4. Call
  5. To paint
  6. Write
  7. Lie
  8. To send
  9. To cut
  10. Sign
  11. Leave
  12. To wash
  13. Fixed
  14. Published
  15. To find

Tuesday, April 21, 2015

Writing 2 : Degrees of Comparison Article

Degrees of Comparison


This material describes degrees of comparison of adjectives and adverbs, general rules of adding the suffixes "er, est", using "more, most, less, least", and typical constructions expressing comparison. A shorter description of these questions in Russian can be found in an answer to a visitor's question in the subsection Messages about Grammar of the section Messages or by searching this site for the phrase Degrees of comparison of adjectives.

Degrees of comparison of adjectives


Most descriptive adjectives can show degree of quality or quantity by forming two degrees of comparison: the comparative degree and the superlative degree. These degrees are formed from the positive degree, which is the usual form of adjectives. The comparative and superlative forms can be simple (bigger, biggest) or compound (more attentive, most attentive).
The comparative degree and the superlative degree are formed by adding the suffixes ER and EST to the positive form of the adjective or by using MORE and MOST before the positive form of the adjective. The choice of ER, EST or MORE, MOST depends mostly on the number of syllables in the adjective.
Positive degree: bright; important.
Comparative degree: brighter; more important.
Superlative degree: brightest; most important.
An adjective in the comparative or superlative form can stand before the noun that it modifies or after the verb BE in the predicative. For example: Try an easier exercise. This exercise is easier.
As a rule, the definite article is required before the superlative form of the adjective: the nearest hospital; the largest room.

Monosyllabic adjectives


One-syllable adjectives form the comparative and superlative degrees by adding the suffixes ER, EST: black, blacker, blackest; cheap, cheaper, cheapest; clear, clearer, clearest; cold, colder, coldest; green, greener, greenest; high, higher, highest; large, larger, largest; long, longer, longest; loud, louder, loudest; new, newer, newest; nice, nicer, nicest; poor, poorer, poorest; rich, richer, richest; short, shorter, shortest; slow, slower, slowest; soft, softer, softest; sweet, sweeter, sweetest; tall, taller, tallest; tough, tougher, toughest; warm, warmer, warmest; wise, wiser, wisest.
Anna is tall. Ella is taller than her sister. Maria is the tallest girl in her class.
Anatoly is older than Tatiana. Katya is the youngest of my students.
My house is smaller than your house. Your car is larger than mine. Moscow is the largest city in Russia.
The highest peak in Africa is Mount Kilimanjaro. The Himalayas are the highest mountains in the world.

Disyllabic adjectives


Most two-syllable adjectives, including adjectives ending in the suffixes "al, ant, ent, ish, ive, ic, ous, ful, less", form the comparative and superlative degrees with the help of MORE, MOST: active, more active, most active; careless, more careless, most careless; distant, more distant, most distant; eager, more eager, most eager; famous, more famous, most famous; foolish, more foolish, most foolish; formal, more formal, most formal; modern, more modern, most modern; private, more private, most private; recent, more recent, most recent; secure, more secure, most secure; tragic, more tragic, most tragic; useful, more useful, most useful.
Laura is more selfish than Anita.
A more distant object seems to be smaller than a closer object.
The Taj Mahal is one of the most famous buildings in the world.
Two-syllable adjectives ending in "y, er, ow" usually form the comparative and superlative degrees by adding ER, EST: angry, angrier, angriest; busy, busier, busiest; crazy, crazier, craziest; dirty, dirtier, dirtiest; easy, easier, easiest; early, earlier, earliest; funny, funnier, funniest; happy, happier, happiest; heavy, heavier, heaviest; lucky, luckier, luckiest; noisy, noisier, noisiest; pretty, prettier, prettiest; silly, sillier, silliest; sunny, sunnier, sunniest; ugly, uglier, ugliest; clever, cleverer, cleverest; narrow, narrower, narrowest.
Your repair work will be much easier if you use a good set of tools.
My dog is the cleverest dog in the whole world.
The narrowest of the three tunnels leads to a small chamber under the engine room.
Two-syllable adjectives ending in "y, er, ow" often have variants with MORE, MOST: lazy, lazier / more lazy, laziest / most lazy; fancy, fancier / more fancy, fanciest / most fancy; friendly, friendlier / more friendly, friendliest / most friendly; lovely, lovelier / more lovely, loveliest / most lovely; risky, riskier / more risky, riskiest / most risky; clever, cleverer / more clever, cleverest / most clever; slender, slenderer / more slender, slenderest / most slender; tender, tenderer / more tender, tenderest / most tender; shallow, shallower / more shallow, shallowest / most shallow; yellow, yellower / more yellow, yellowest / most yellow.
The choice of ER, EST or MORE, MOST in the case of disyllabic adjectives ending in "y, er, ow" depends to some extent on preferences in usage, on what sounds better or more natural to an English speaker in the given sentence. On the whole, variants formed with the help of ER, EST are more traditional and more widely used than those with MORE, MOST.
There are some other disyllabic adjectives which have variant forms with ER, EST or MORE, MOST, for example, quiet, simple, stable, noble, gentle, common, polite, pleasant, handsome. Though both variants are considered correct, the following comparative and superlative forms seem to be more frequently used for these adjectives at present: quieter, quietest; simpler, simplest; gentler / more gentle, gentlest / most gentle; more stable, most stable; more noble, most noble; more common, most common; more polite, most polite; more pleasant, most pleasant; more handsome, most handsome.
These questions are simpler than those.
She is more polite than her sister.

Spelling note


If an adjective ends in a single consonant preceded by a single vowel, the consonant is doubled before adding ER, EST: big, bigger, biggest; fat, fatter, fattest; hot, hotter, hottest; red, redder, reddest; sad, sadder, saddest; thin, thinner, thinnest; wet, wetter, wettest.
If an adjective ends in mute E, the letter E is dropped before adding ER, EST: blue, bluer, bluest; brave, braver, bravest; close, closer, closest; fine, finer, finest; pale, paler, palest; rude, ruder, rudest; simple, simpler, simplest; wide, wider, widest.
If an adjective ends in Y preceded by a consonant, Y is changed to I before adding ER, EST: busy, busier, busiest; dry, drier, driest; happy, happier, happiest; lucky, luckier, luckiest; sleepy, sleepier, sleepiest; scary, scarier, scariest. Note: sly, slier, sliest OR slyer, slyest.
If final Y is preceded by a vowel, Y doesn't change before adding ER, EST: gray, grayer, grayest.

Adjectives of three or more syllables


Adjectives consisting of three or more syllables form the comparative and superlative degrees by using MORE, MOST before the adjective: beautiful, more beautiful, most beautiful; comfortable, more comfortable, most comfortable; curious, more curious, most curious; dangerous, more dangerous, most dangerous; difficult, more difficult, most difficult; expensive, more expensive, most expensive; important, more important, most important; intelligent, more intelligent, most intelligent; interesting, more interesting, most interesting; successful, more successful, most successful.
This book is interesting. This book is more interesting than that one. This book is the most interesting of all the books that I have read recently. This is the most interesting book I have ever read.
John has a difficult task. My task is more difficult than John's task. I have a more difficult task. The most difficult task will be discussed tomorrow.
The accident, bad enough in itself, resulted in an even more terrible event.

Adjectives formed from participles


Adjectives formed from participles form the comparative and superlative forms with the help of MORE, MOST irrespective of the number of the syllables: annoying, more annoying, most annoying; boring, more boring, most boring; hurt, more hurt, most hurt; pleased, more pleased, most pleased; surprised, more surprised, most surprised; tired, more tired, most tired; worried, more worried, most worried.
I can't think of a more boring subject of conversation.
She seems more worried today.
He is the most annoying person I know.

Notes


1. The comparative degree indicates one of two objects, while the superlative degree singles out one of three or more objects. Compare these examples:
Alex is strong. Tom is stronger than Alex. Tom is the stronger of the two boys.
Alex, Tom, and John are strong. John is the strongest of the three boys. John is the strongest in his class.
Gina is more attentive than Ella. Gina is the more attentive of the two girls. Vera is the most attentive pupil in my English class.
2. MOST + adjective is not always the superlative degree. MOST may have the meaning "very, extremely, highly". In such cases, a singular noun is used with the indefinite article, and a plural noun is used without an article. In this meaning of MOST, monosyllabic and disyllabic adjectives are used with MOST.
She is a most beautiful woman.
They are most interesting people.
Yesterday I had a most strange dream.
I'm most pleased to see you here.
In most of such cases, the meaning will be clearer if you use "very" instead of "most": a very beautiful woman; very interesting people; a very strange dream; very pleased.
3. The definite article before the superlative form may be omitted in some cases, for example, in those cases where the adjective is used in the predicative after the verb BE (or other linking verbs), and there is no noun or defining phrase after the adjective. Compare these examples:
She felt like the happiest girl in the whole wide world. She is happiest when she is alone with her books.
She is the prettiest of his three daughters. She is prettiest when she lets her hair down and puts on a white dress.

Uncomparable adjectives


Some adjectives should not be used in either the comparative or the superlative degree because, logically, their meaning does not admit of comparison. Such adjectives are sometimes called absolute adjectives.
Examples of uncomparable adjectives: absent, absolute, chief, complete, contemporary, daily, dead, essential, eternal, excellent, empty, full, entire, fatal, final, honest, impossible, infinite, inevitable, ideal, junior, meaningless, perfect, main, major, minor, round, sufficient, supreme, senior, square, unique, universal, utmost, vital, weekly, whole, wooden, worthless, wrong.
If it is necessary for you to make some kind of comparison of such adjectives, use "almost, nearly, quite" with them, for example, "almost perfect; almost empty; nearly full; quite sufficient". You can also use the constructions "as...as" or "not as...as" described at the end of this article.
Note: In everyday speech, phrases like "emptier than; more complete than; more correct than; more honest than; more perfect", etc., are sometimes used. Examples: He looks more dead than alive. Karl is more honest than Bart. Now you are more wrong than ever.

Predicative adjectives


Some adjectives, such as "afraid, alike, alive, alone, ashamed, asleep, awake, aware", are used only predicatively after linking verbs (i.e., they are not used in the position before a noun). Predicative adjectives can form the comparative degree with the help of MORE, but are hardly ever used in the superlative degree.
As time passed, he became more and more ashamed of himself.
She is more afraid of him than of his father.

Irregular adjectives


Several adjectives have irregular forms of the comparative and superlative degrees: good, better, best; bad, worse, worst; many/much, more, most; little, less (lesser), least; far, farther, farthest; far, further, furthest. "Less" can be an adjective or an adverb; "lesser" is only an adjective; "farther, farthest" refer to distance; "further, furthest" refer to distance or addition.
The hotel was better than we expected. This is the best layer cake I've ever had.
His health is becoming worse. Her examination paper was the worst in class.
I bought many books. Mike bought more books than I did. Nick bought the most books.
I don't have much work today. Mike has more work than I do. Nick has the most work to do today.
He spent less money than you. She has the least time of all of them.
All of them are suffering from an allergy, to a greater or lesser degree. Choose the lesser of two evils.
His house is farther down the street. It is the farthest house on the opposite side of the street.
I have no further questions. Further information can be obtained at our office.
The adjective "less" is used with uncountable nouns; the adjective "fewer" is used with plural countable nouns.
He has less time than she does. She has fewer books than he does.
The adjectives "ill" and "well" (referring to health) have the same comparative and superlative forms as the adjectives "bad" and "good": ill, worse, worst; well, better, best.
Is he well? Is he ill? He felt worse yesterday. He feels better today.

Set expressions


There are quite a few set expressions containing the comparative or superlative forms of irregular adjectives. For example: a change for the better; a change for the worse; at best / at the best; at most / at the most; at worst / at the worst; get the worst of it; go from bad to worse; if worst comes to worst / if the worst comes to the worst; last but not least; more or less; none the less; not in the least; prepare for the worst; so much the better; so much the worse.
If he leaves, so much the better.
If he doesn't want to obey the rules, so much the worse for him.
Many companies sustained losses during that period, but small companies got the worst of it.

Degrees of comparison of adverbs


Adverbs (mostly adverbs of manner and some adverbs of other types) can form degrees of comparison in the same way as adjectives. The comparative degree of adverbs is used more widely than the superlative degree. The definite article before the superlative form of adverbs is often omitted.
(Types of adverbs are described in Adverbs in the section Miscellany.)

Monosyllabic adverbs


One-syllable adverbs and the adverb "early" form the comparative and superlative degrees by adding ER, EST: fast, faster, fastest; hard, harder, hardest; high, higher, highest; late, later, latest; long, longer, longest; loud, louder, loudest; low, lower, lowest; near, nearer, nearest; soon, sooner, soonest; early, earlier, earliest.
Please hang the picture higher.
She bent lower to kiss the sleeping baby.
Tom arrived later than Jim. Jim arrived earlier than Tom. Anton arrived (the) earliest of all.
I expected her to respond sooner.

Adjectives and adverbs in the same form


One-syllable adverbs mentioned above (except "soon") are in the same form as adjectives. Their position in the sentence indicates whether they are used as adverbs or as adjectives: adverbs usually stand after the main verb, while adjectives stand before the noun that they modify or after the linking verb (be, become, get, feel, look, seem). Compare these sentences:
Adverb "fast": Jim, Rosa, and Phil can run very fast. Rosa runs faster than Jim. Phil runs (the) fastest of them all.
Adjective "fast": I would like to have a faster car. His reaction was faster than mine.
Adverb "hard": Tom works harder than Don. Pete works (the) hardest of anyone I know.
Adjective "hard": Her work is becoming harder and harder. It is the hardest work she has ever done.

Adverbs of two or more syllables


Adverbs of two or more syllables (usually with the suffix "ly") form the comparative and superlative degrees by placing MORE, MOST before the adverb: easily, more easily, most easily; formally, more formally, most formally; loudly, more loudly, most loudly; often, more often, most often; quickly, more quickly, most quickly; simply, more simply, most simply; slowly, more slowly, most slowly; comfortably, more comfortably, most comfortably.
Please speak more slowly.
He pushed the door much more strongly than was necessary.
Note: MOST + adverb is not always the superlative degree. MOST before an adverb often means "very, extremely". For example: She articulated her ideas most clearly. He listened to her most attentively.

Irregular adverbs


Irregular adverbs "well, badly, much, little, far" have the following degrees of comparison: well, better, best; badly, worse, worst; much, more, most; little, less, least; far, farther, farthest; far, further, furthest.
Tanya speaks Spanish better than you do. Who writes best of all in your class? He works best in the evening.
His brother treated him badly. His father treated him even worse. His classmates treated him worst of all.
The doctor told him to eat less and to exercise more.
He went too far. Do not go farther than that tree. It's pointless to discuss it further.

Lower degree: LESS and LEAST


LESS and LEAST are used with adjectives and adverbs in the same way as MORE and MOST. LESS indicates a lower degree; LEAST indicates the lowest degree. LESS with adjectives and adverbs is used more widely than LEAST. LESS and LEAST are rarely used with monosyllabic adjectives and adverbs.
LESS, LEAST with adjectives: attentive, less attentive, least attentive; common, less common, least common; costly, less costly, least costly; difficult, less difficult, least difficult; important, less important, least important; interesting, less interesting, least interesting; likely, less likely, least likely; obvious, less obvious, least obvious; serious, less serious, least serious; tired, less tired, least tired; useful, less useful, least useful; worried, less worried, least worried.
The first question is less difficult than the second. The last exercise is the least difficult of the four exercises.
I am less interested in football than he is.
LESS, LEAST with adverbs: clearly, less clearly, least clearly; easily, less easily, least easily; efficiently, less efficiently, least efficiently; formally, less formally, least formally; often, less often, least often; sincerely, less sincerely, least sincerely; typically, less typically, least typically; willingly, less willingly, least willingly; wisely, less wisely, least wisely.
She remembers the day of the car accident less clearly now. She remembers least clearly what happened after the accident.
He does his work less willingly and less efficiently than before. He works least efficiently when he is alone.

Constructions of comparison


In the material above, the use of the comparative degree of adjectives and adverbs has been illustrated with the help of constructions containing "more, less, than". Such constructions express a greater or lesser degree (longer than; more difficult than; more slowly than; less important than; less quickly than).
There are some other commonly used constructions of comparison that you need to know and use in your speech and writing.

Constructions "as...as; not as...as"


The construction "as...as" indicates approximately the same degree. The constructions "not as...as; not so...as" indicate a lesser degree and are less formal than the constructions with "less". Compare:
Lena is as tall as her father. Lena is as attractive as her mother.
Mike is not as tall as his father. (Mike is shorter than his father. Mike's father is taller than Mike.)
The remake of the film is not so interesting as the original version.
This ring is not as expensive as that one. (This ring is less expensive than that one. That ring is more expensive than this one.)
Bella does not type as fast as Linda. (Bella types more slowly than Linda. Linda types faster than Bella.)
The constructions "as...as; not as...as; not so...as" can also be used with some of the adjectives that do not form degrees of comparison or have limitations in their formation.
I'm as aware of the consequences as you are.
This phenomenon is not as unique as you think.
Idioms containing the construction "as...as" (e.g., as cold as ice; as wise as an owl) are listed in Idioms of Comparison in the section Idioms.

Parallel constructions


The comparative degree is also used in parallel constructions of the type "the more...the more". For example:
The sooner the better.
The longer she stayed there, the better she felt.
The more I think about this project, the less I like it.

Qualities of one and the same person or thing


Generally, the qualities of two different people or things are compared with the help of the comparative degree. But it is also possible to compare the qualities of one and the same person or thing. Examples:
Laura is more stubborn than Rita. Laura is more stubborn than persevering.
The leaves of this plant are more oblong than round.
I was more asleep than awake.
She was more afraid to stay than to leave.
His job is not so difficult as it is boring.
When comparing the qualities of one and the same person or thing, the comparative degree of adjectives (including monosyllabic adjectives) is formed with the help of MORE.
His eyes are more blue than gray.
She is more lazy than incapable.

Numerals in comparisons


The superlative degree of adjectives may be used in combination with the ordinal numerals "second, third, fifth", etc., to indicate the size of an object (especially about geographical places).
Saturn is the second-largest planet in the solar system.
Canada is the world's second-largest country.
Geneva is the third-largest city in Switzerland.
Madagascar is the fourth-largest island in the world.
Constructions like "twice as large; three times as large; half as large" are widely used for comparing size, quantity, amount, speed, and other measurable characteristics.
Your house is twice as large as my house.
Their car is three times as large as our car.
He is twice as old as she is.
Her bag is five times as heavy as your bag.
His report is half as long as her report.
She pays half as much for water and electricity as I do.
His house is five times the size of your house.
My house is half the size of your house.
She is half your age.
Constructions like "three times larger; four times bigger; four times smaller; five times faster" are also used quite often. Some manuals of style object to such use in formal writing.
Your collection of coins is several times larger than mine.
His computer is ten times faster than my computer.
These light bulbs are five times brighter than those.
Note the following constructions which emphasize the amount or quantity indicated in the sentence.
This box weighs as much as fifty kilograms.
The new hotel can accommodate as many as a thousand people.
I bought this vase for as little as ten dollars.

Intensifiers and modifiers


Various adverbs may be used in constructions of comparison in order to emphasize, specify, or clarify comparisons.
The adverbs "much, a lot, a little, even" are used with the comparative degree; "almost, nearly" are used with the construction "as...as"; "by far" is used with the superlative degree of adjectives.
Your report will be much better (a little better; a lot better; even better) if you make it shorter.
She would be a lot happier if you visited her more often.
The book that I wanted to buy turned out to be much more expensive than I thought.
The second part of the book is almost as interesting as the first part.
This device is not nearly as good as the one you showed me yesterday.
This film is by far the funniest that I have seen recently.
She is by far the most efficient manager in our company.

Note: "very" and "much"


"Very" is used with the positive degree of adjectives and adverbs. For example:
It was very warm yesterday. He was very serious. This film is very interesting. He will do it very quickly.
"Much" is used with the comparative degree of adjectives and adverbs. For example:
It is much warmer today. He was much more serious at that time. This film is much more interesting than that film. He will do it much more quickly next time.
"Very" may be used with the superlative degree of some adjectives (for example, best, worst, first, last) to emphasize the superlative adjective: the very best quality; on the very first day.

Sources: http://usefulenglish.ru/miscellany/degrees-of-comparison
Accessed: April, 21st 2015. 16.00PM