Degrees of Comparison

Degrees of Comparison
As you know, adjectives are used to describe a noun or a pronoun. However, degrees of comparison are used
when we compare one person or one thing with another.
Read the following sentences.
 John is a strong man.
 Rameez is stronger than John.
 Ricky is the strongest man.
All the three highlighted words are adjectives.
The first sentence tells us about a quality that John possesses.
We are not told how strong he is. The word strong is in the positive degree.
In the second sentence, the adjective stronger tells us that Rameez’s strength, when compared to that of John,
is more.
The word stronger is in the comparative degree: It is used to compare two people or things with each other.
In the third sentence, we get to know that Ricky has the greatest amount of strength.
The word strongest is in the superlative degree. It denotes the highest degree of the quality, and is used when
more than two people or things are compared with one another.
There are some rules which govern the formation of the comparative and superlative degrees of adjectives.
 Most adjectives form their comparative degree by adding -er, and their superlative degree by adding -
est to the positive degree.
Positive Comparative Superlative

small smaller Smallest
kind kinder Kindest
dark darker Darkest
quiet quieter quietest
 If the positive degree ends in -e, we add only -r and -st to form the comparative degree and superlative
degree.

able abler Ablest
dense denser Densest
white whiter whitest
safe safer Safest
noble nobler noblest
 When the positive degree ends in -y preceded by a consonant, the -y is changed into -i before adding -er
and -est.
happy happier happiest
holy holier holiest
noisy noisier noisiest
silly sillier Silliest
busy busier Busiest
dirty dirtier dirtiest
 To form the comparative degree and superlative degree of adjectives having a single syllable and
ending in a single consonant preceded by a vowel, the consonant is doubled before adding -er or -est.

big bigger biggest
fat fatter fattest
wet wetter Wettest
sad sadder saddest
hot hotter hottest
thin thinner thinnest
 Many adjectives of more than three syllables form their comparatives by adding the word more, and
their superlatives by adding the word most.

difficult More difficult Most difficult
enjoyable more enjoyable Most enjoyable
Forgetful More forgetful Most forgetful
wonderful more wonderful most wonderful
 Some adjectives form their comparatives and superlatives in an irregular way. They do not follow any
rule.

good better best
many (number) more most
much (quantity) more most
bad worse Worst
late later, latter Latest, last
old Older, elder Oldest, eldest
Note the difference in application of some of these.
 Later and latest refer to time whereas latter and last refer to position. For example,
• I will come later
• I do not have the latest news.
• The last chapter is not very well written
• The former is efficient, but the latter is not.
 Elder and eldest are used only for persons (mostly with reference to members of the same family).
Older and oldest can be used with reference to both persons and things. For example,
• I will speak to my elder brother
• Ravi is the eldest son
• You are older than me.
• This is the oldest church in the city.
• Karan is the oldest member of the group.
 Farther denotes distance between two points while further means additional. Note the difference.
• Let us walk a little farther.
• We will have to further discussion on this.
 Nearest denotes nearness in space or distance, while next denotes order or position. Look at the
sentences below.
• I walked to the nearest post office.
• She sat next to me.
A. Fill in the blanks with the appropriate form of the adjectives given in the brackets.
1. This is the ______________problem of this exercise. (difficult)
2. Which of the three boys is the______________ ? (tall)
3. Tina was the ______________ of the three girls. (old)
4. That is the______________Joke I have ever heard. (funny)
5. He was______________ than any other man. (strong)
6. There is no animal ______________than a tiger (ferocious)
7. Lead is the ______________of all metals. (heavy)
8. He was ______________ than any other boy in his class. (clever)
9. it was the ______________moment of my life. (proud)
10. He has ______________ money than brains. (much)
11. Is honey______________ than candy? (sweet)
12. I think we should go ______________ down the road. (far)
 Some comparatives such as inferior, superior, junior and senior that end in -or are followed by to
instead of than in a sentence. We cannot add the word more before these words. For example,
• The quality of this material is inferior to the one we bought yesterday.
• These books are superior to those published last year.
• He is junior to all his colleagues.
• All his colleagues are senior to him.
 When a comparison is made between two people or things of equal value, we use as...as in the
sentence. For example,
• This girl is as hard working as the other girl.
• She is as bright as her mother.
 When two people or things are compared with each other, we use the word other to exclude the
former For example,
• Solomon was wiser than any other king. (correct)
• Solomon was wiser than any king. (incorrect)
 When one person or thing is said to surpass all other people or things of the same kind, we use the
superlative degree in the following manner.
• This pupil is the most intelligent of all.
The superlative degree can also be expressed by using the comparative form in this way.
• This pupil is more intelligent than all other pupils in the class.
B. Identify the errors in these sentences and rewrite the correct sentences in your notebook.
1. He is eldest of the two siblings.
2. Lead is the heaviest than any other metal.
3. This cloth is the superior than that one.
4. Gold is most precious than any metal.
5. He is more inferior than you in wit.
6. May is the hotter month of the year.
7. He is the smarter than the two.
8. This is the more better thing to do.
9. Napoleon was the braver of all generals.
10. I will finish this without farther delay.
11. This is the latter news.
12. The former is an artist, the later a singer.
It is possible to change the degree of comparison of a sentence without changing its meaning. For
example,
 This tree is as big as that. (positive)
That tree is not bigger than this. (comparative)
 Karuna is the best student in the school. (superlative)
Karuna is better than any other student in the school. (comparative)
 Very few auto-drivers are as honest as Randhir. (positive)
Randhir is one of the most honest auto-drivers. (superlative)
 No other fruit is as nutritious as the banana. (positive)
Banana is the most nutritious fruit. (superlative)
C. Change the degree of comparison of each of these sentences as instructed. The meaning should
remain unaltered. (One has been done for you.)
1. China is the most populated country in the world. (comparative)
China is more populated than any other country in the world.
2. Asia is the largest continent in the world. (positive)
3. I am taller than her. (positive)
4. He is older than all other member in the club. (superlative)
5. The teacher said that my painting was the best. (positive)
6. The knife is sharper than that. (positive)
7. No other soldier is as courageous as he. (superlative)
8. This is the best book. (comparative)
9. Mangoes are not as nutritious as apples. (comparative)
10. The Himalayas are higher than all other mountains in the world (superlative)
11. Kate is the most intelligent pupil of the class. (comparative)
12. He believes he is wiser than his friend. (positive)
D. Fill in the blanks in these sentences with words from the box. Also, name their degrees of
comparison.
wisest elder experienced useful
important costlier difficult funniest
worse brightest longest better
1. The old lady has seen ___________________ days.

2. They have taken the___________________ route.
3. Mr. Lal is the most___________________ lecturer.
4. The situation is___________________ that I thought.
5. This dress is ___________________ than that one.
6. He is my___________________ brother.
7. He is the _________ ______ of all the clowns.
8. He is the___________________ student.
9. Iron is more___________________ than zinc.
10. Learning Chinese is more___________________ than learning English.
11. He is the___________________ of all in the office.
12. No other invention is as ___________________ as the invention of the wheel.
brother of all the student.
clowns
11.
12.
than zin
c.
than
invention is as of the wheel
of all in the tovvb
office.
as the
E. Complete these sentences by filling in the blanks with many, much, more and most as required.
1. That is the delicious cake I have ever eaten.
2. I have told you S&tLQ14j times to write your name on bk
3. Physical punishment does =xr == harm than good.
4. The candidate who gets the AM&4LZ. votes enters Parliament.
5. The child appears 21/ energetic after taking the
tonic.
6. Honour is valuable to him than life.
7. Arjun was the =ifl. skilful of all the brothers in the art of warfare.
8. Platinum is =iXL&t. expensive than gold.
9. Platinum is the 19S&CL expensive metal.
10. This sofa is fl2Z_ comfortable than that one.
F. Use the correct degree of comparison of the words given in the brackets and complete the sentences.
1. What is the news? (late)
2. Amit is the ikIQ\iofthefourbrothers. (old)
3. Amit is . than me. (old)
4. Today is the - day of submitting the forms. (late)
5. The part of the film seemed to drag on. (late)
The encyclopaedia contains ‘1 t¾t’kAt_information. (much)
SC— There is citement on the last day of the term.
(much)
8. I have two brothers. (old)
9. I promise to do - next time. (good)
10. My brother is - both at studies and at games.
(good)
ii
.
.

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Degrees of Comparison

Positive Comparative Superlative

Positive Comparative Superlative

Positive Comparative Superlative

Positive Comparative Superlative

Positive Comparative Superlative

important costlier difficult funniest

worse brightest longest better

1. The old lady has seen ___________________ days.

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