Comparatives and Superlatives

FORMS

Regular one-syllable adjectives:
- add -er and -est to the adjective: cheap(Adjective)-cheaper(Comparative)-the cheapest(Superlative)
- add -r and -st to adjectives ending in -e: late(Adjective)-later(Comparative)-the latest(Superlative)
- double the consonant of adjectives ending in a short vowel and a consonant, and add -er and -est: thin(Adjective)-thinner(Comparative)-the thinnest(Superlative)

Regular adjectives with more than one syllable:
- use more and most in front of the adjective: sincere(Adjective)-more sincere(Comparative)-the most sincere(Superlative)
- change -y to -i and add -er and -est to adjectives ending in -y after a consonant: happy(Adjective)-happier(Comparative)-the happiest(Superlative)
- a limited number of two-syllable adjectives can form the comparative and superlative in two ways:  stupid(Adjective)-stupider/more stupid(Comparative)-the stupidest/the most stupidest(Superlative) 
- most adverbs form their comparative and superlative with more and most: quietly(Adverb)-more quietly(Comparative)-the most quietly(Superlative)

Irregular forms:
- adjectives: good/better/the best - bad/worse/the worst - far/further/the further - old/older/the oldest
- adverbs: well/better/the best - badly/worse/the worst - little/less/the least - much/more/the most
- determiners: little/less/the least - few/fewer/the fewest - much/more/the most


USE

To talk about people or things that are different in some way we use:
- Comparative forms of adjectives/adverbs + than: I think listening is more difficult than reading.
- Superlative forms of adjectives/adverbs: That's the nicest thing you've said to me all day.
- Less...than and the least: That's my least favourite track on the album.

As .. as
For people or things that are the same in some way we use as + adjective/adverb + as: She's as intelligent as her brother.
So can replace the first as in negative sentences: It's not so difficult as I thought it would be.
The same + noun + as: My mum's the same age as my dad.

The + comparative, the + comparative:
We use this structure for things which occur together: The more money I have, the faster I spend it.

Sounds and spelling

Here are two files where you can see the 44 english phonemes. Then, I recommend you open the web site down here, write the different words from these files and finally listen the correct pronunciation.

http://www.howjsay.com/

Writing Skills

Word order:
-Word order is very important in English. The usual order ir: Subject + Verb + Object + Additions
-If a sentence has both a direct and an indirect object, there are often two possibilities:
I gave you the box./I gave the box to you.
-Many time expressions can come at the beginning or the end of the sentence.
-Never separate the verb from its object(s): We don't have today any homework.
-Adverbs of manner can come in several positions, but not between the verb and the object.
-Adverbs of frequency come before the main verb. Some can come at the beginning and/or the end of a sentence as well.

Subject-Verb agreement:
-The verb is singular or plural, depending on the subject.
-Singular nouns that refer to groups can have either singular or plural verbs.
-Amounts and quantities usually have singular verbs.
-Words like anyone, everybody,nobody have singular verbs.
-Most uncountable nouns have got singular verbs.
-Some uncountable nouns have got plural verbs.

Use of adjectives:
-Adjectives come before nouns and after certain verbs.
-The adjective form for singular and plural nouns is the same.
-Adjectives foloww a specific order: opinion + size or age + colour + origin + material.

Connectors:
-Connectors are linking words which join ideas and show how those ideas are related to one another.
-They also help us to organise our writing and make it easy for the reader to follow.

- To add points on the same topic: and, in addition, furthermore, moreover, what's more, besides, also, too, as well as, ...
- To express a contrast: but, however, nevertheless, yet, still, although, even if, even though, in spite of, despite, ...
- To describe a cause or reason: because (of), since, due to, as, as a result of, one, another reason for...is..., ...
- To describe a result: so, therefore, consequently, thus, as a result, as a consequence, for this reason, that is why, ...
- To show purpose: in order to, so as to, so that, to, ...
- To describe similarity: similary, likewise, in the same way, ....
- To express personal opinions: in my opinion, I (strongly) believe (that), I think, feel (that), in my view, it seems to me (that), personally, as I see it, ...
- To introduce facts: in fact, as a matter of fact, actually, the truth is (that), ...
- To make general statements: in general, generally, as a rule, on the whole, ...
- To list points: to begin/start with, in the first place, first of all, for one thing, firstly, secondly, thirdly, finally, lastly, ...
- To give examples: for example, for instance, such as, like, particulary, in particular, especially, (more) specifically, ...
- To introduce opposing points: on the one hand, on the other hand, in contrast, contrary to, it can also be argued that, but there are people who say/think (that), ...
- To show sequence: first, at first, in the beginning, before, next, then, soon, meanwhile, later, after that, afterwards, at last, eventually, finally, in the end, during, when, ...
- To show time: when, while, before, after, until, as soon as, by the time, ...
- To conclude: in conclusion, to sum up, in short, all in all, ...

Superlative (+ever+present perfect)

Superlative (+ever+present perfect)
Adjective	Comparative	Superlative
cold	colder	the coldest
hot	hotter	the hottest
pretty	prettier	the prettiest
beautiful	more beautiful	the most beautiful
good bad far	better worse further	the best the worst the furthest

Use the + superlative adjectives to say which is the biggest, etc. in a group.
It's the biggest building in the city.
We often use a superlative with the present perfect.
Russia is the coldest place we've ever been to.
It's the most beautiful performance I've ever seen.

Comparative adjectives/adverbs

Comparative adjectives
Adjective	Comparative	Adds & changes
short	shorter	one syllable: +er
big	bigger	one vowel + one consonant: double final consonant
busy	busier	consonant +y: y +ier
relaxed	more relaxed	two or more syllables: more + adjective
good bad far	better worse further	Irregular

Comparative adverbs
Adverb	Comparative	Adverb	Comparative
Regular		Irregular
quickly	more quickly	hard	harder
slowly	more slowly	well	better
		badly	worse

Use comparative adjectives to compare people and things. My brother's shorter than me.
Use comparative adverbs to compare actions. He runs more slowly than me.
You can also use (not) as + (adjective/adverb) + as. I'm not as shorter as my brother.

"There is/are" and "I can"

The future of there is/are = "THERE WILL BE".

The future of I can = "I'LL BE ABLE TO".

Spelling rules (Verbs in Past Simple and Past Participle)

To make the Past Simple or Past Participle for regular verbs:

work-worked: add -ed.
stay-stayed: add -ed.
like-liked: verbs that finish in -e, just add -d.
study-studied: consonant+y - remove y and add -ied.
stop-stopped: if verb finishes in consonant-vowel-consonant, double the final consonant.

Spelling rules, Present Simple & Present Continuous

For a 3rd person singular in Present Simple:

work-works: add -s.
study-studies: consonant+y - remove y and add -ies
finsh-finishes: sh, s, ch, x: add -es
go-goes; do-does; have-has


For the -ing form:

cook-cooking
study-studying
live-living
run-running