What is degree of comparison and kinds of Degree?
Table of Contents
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 |
Important Blog to Read
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English Grammar Degree of Comparison Rules
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