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What is degree of comparison and kinds of Degree?

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Most of the adjectives in English have three forms of degree. So to say there are three forms of an adjectives. The Positive degree, the comparative degree and the superlative degree. This is the chapter that is generally asked in the ssc and other state board exams. Before starting this section you must know how to make sentences. English Grammar Degree of Comparison Rules

Definition of three degrees?

1. What is Positive Degree?

An adjective is said to be in the positive degree when no comparison is made. The positive degree adjective is put under As………….As or So………….As. Always mind that only the positive degree adjective is put between As………….As or So………….As.

My house is big.
She is a tall student.
That flower was beautiful.
He is an intelligent boy.
He is a tall student.
This flower is beautiful.
He is an intelligent boy.

In this sentence only one noun “My house” is talked about.

Each sentence mentioned above talks about only one noun or pronoun.

2. What is Comparative Degree?

An adjective is said to be in the comparative degree when the quality of one person or thing is compared to another person or thing. Generally ‘Than’ is used after the comparative degree adjective.

Sometimes the comparison is made with the help of As………As and So………….As.

She is better than Mohan is.
This house is bigger than that one.
Mohan is not as good as she is.
This flower is more beautiful than that.
I am better than he is.
He is more intelligent than this boy.
He is taller than Mr. Mohan.

3. What is Superlative Degree?

An adjective is said to be in the superlative degree when one is compared to all. Generally ‘In or Of’ is used with the superlative degree. Article ‘The’ is used before superlative adjectives.

She is the best singer in our city.
This flower is the most beautiful one in this garden.
He is one of the most famous teachers of our school.
This is the biggest house in this street.
She is the tallest student in this class.
He is the most intelligent in this class.

English Grammar Degree of Comparison Rules

How to Make Comparative and Superlative

Rule 1.

One syllable adjectives generally form the comparative by adding -er and the superlative by adding -est.

Positive Degree	Comparative Degree	Superlative Degree
Small	Smaller	Smallest
Tall	Taller	Tallest
Sweet	Sweeter	Sweetest
Bright	Brighter	Brightest
Young	Younger	Youngest
Dark	Darker	Darkest
Bold	Bolder	Boldest
Fine	Finer	Finest
High	Higher	Highest
Kind	Kinder	Kindest
Brave	Braver	Bravest
White	Whiter	Whitest
Hard	Harder	Hardest
Fine	Finer	Finest
Long	Longer	Longest
Poor	Poorer	Poorest
Wise	Wiser	Wisest
Strong	Stronger	Strongest
Soon	Sooner	Soonest
Clever	Cleverer	Cleverest
Red	Redder	Reddest
Big	Bigger	Biggest
Fat	Fatter	Fattest
Sad	Sadder	Saddest
Thin	Thinner	Thinnest
Hot	Hotter	Hottest

Note:

That if a one-syllable adjective ends in a single vowel letter followed by a single consonant letter, the consonant letter is doubled, e.g. thin – thinner/thinnest, big – bigger/biggest.
If an adjective ends in -e, this is removed when adding -er/-est, e.g. wide – wider/widest.

Rule 2.

If an adjective ends in a consonant followed by -y, -y is replaced by -i when adding -er/-est.

Positive Degree	Comparative Degree	Superlative Degree
Happy	Happier	Happiest
Dry	Drier	Driest
Heavy	Heavier	Heaviest
Holy	Holier	Holiest
Silly	Sillier	Silliest
Merry	Merrier	Merriest
Easy	Easier	Easiest
Wealthy	Wealthier	wealthiest
Pretty	Prettier	Prettiest

Rule 3.

There are some adverbs that end in Ly, More is used before them to make them comparative and Most is used to make them superlative.

Positive Degree	Comparative Degree	Superlative Degree
Swiftly	More swiftly	Most swiftly
Frequently	More frequently	Most frequently
Carefully	More carefully	Most carefully
Skillfully	More skillfully	Most skillfully
Beautifully	More beautifully	Most beautifully
Wisely	More wisely	Most wisely

Rule 4.

Adjectives which have three or more syllables always form their comparative and superlative by adding more and most.

Positive Degree	Comparative Degree	Superlative Degree
Laborious	More laborious	Most laborious
Proper	More proper	Most proper
Dangerous	More dangerous	Most dangerous
Intelligent	More intelligent	Most intelligent
Beautiful	More beautiful	Most beautiful

Rule 5.

Some adjectives or adverbs have irregular comparative and superlative so it is up to you how you memorize them.

	ADJECTIVES
Positive Degree	Comparative Degree	Superlative Degree
Good	Better	Best
Bad	Worse	Worst
Much/Many	More	Most
Little	Less	Least
Far	Farther/Further	Farthest/Furthest
Old	Older/Elder	Oldest/Eldest
Late	Later	Latest
	ADVERBS
Far	Farther/Further	Farthest/Furthest
Badly	Worse	Worst
Well	Better	Best
Much	More	Most
Little	Less	Least