TOPIC: DEEGREES OF COMPARISON

What Do You Mean by Degrees of Comparison? –

Definition
In the English language, a degree of comparison is a form of adjective that is used to
compare a person or thing possessing the same quality with another. It is related to
the adjective or adverb in a sentence. The Collins Dictionary defines the ‘degree of
comparison’ as “the listing of the positive, comparative, and superlative forms of an
adjective or adverb.” In other words, it can be said that one can use the degree of
comparison to make a comparison between nouns having comparable quality or
qualities.

The Three Degrees of Comparison in English

Grammar
As you have already seen, the degrees of comparison are used to make
comparisons. In English grammar, there are three degrees of comparison and they
are,

 Positive Degree of Comparison

 Comparative Degree of Comparison
 Superlative Degree of Comparison

Let us now look at each of the above-mentioned degrees of comparison in detail.

Positive Degree of Comparison

The positive degree of comparison is basically the original form of the adjective. This
degree does not allow you to make any comparison. It only gives the audience the
information about a particular quality possessed by a noun.

For example:

 Lisa is happy.
 This dress is pretty.
 He looks handsome.
 Meena is tired.
 The sun is bright.

Comparative Degree of Comparison

The comparative degree of comparison is used to compare between two nouns that
have the same quality or the particular quality of a noun at two different times. It
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shows which one of the two has the greater or lesser degree of the particular quality
being referred to.

For example:

 Tina looks sadder than Katie.

 This bed is more comfortable than the other bed.
 The sun is brighter than yesterday.
 Your hair is longer than hers.
 My brother is taller than me.

Superlative Degree of Comparison

The superlative degree of comparison is the highest degree of comparison. It is used
to compare the similar qualities shared by more than two nouns. It shows which of
these nouns being compared has the greatest or least degree of the mentioned
quality or qualities.

For example:

 We climbed the highest mountain.

 The last group was the best of all.
 The Himalayas are the longest mountain ranges.
 Sanjana is the tallest girl in our gang.
 Adharsh is the most silent boy in class.

How Do You Use Degrees of Comparison? – Rules

and Points to Remember
Like every other grammatical component in English, there are some rules and points
you will have to remember when using the degrees of comparison. Take a look at
the following.

 The first thing that you should remember about degrees of comparison is that they are
used to compare adjectives and adverbs.
 The positive degree of comparison is the base form of the adjective or adverb and does
not allow any comparison.
 The comparative degree of comparison is used to compare two nouns that possess or do
not possess the same qualities. It is mostly indicated by the addition of ‘-er’ to the end of
the adjective.
 The comparative degree of comparison is always indicated by the addition of ‘than’ after
the comparative form of the adjective.
 The superlative degree of comparison is used to show which of the nouns possess the
greatest or least of the quality or qualities. It is indicated by the use of the article ‘the’
before the adjective and the addition of ‘-est’ to the end of the adjective.
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 Make sure you retain the adjuncts that are there in the sentence when you are using the
comparative or superlative degree of comparison.

Examples of Degrees of Comparison

Take a look at the following examples of how degrees of comparison can be used.

Positive Degree of Comparative Degree of Comparison Superlative Degree of

Comparison Comparison

Santana is tall. Santana is taller than Brittany. Santana is the tallest of all
the girls.

She is pretty. She is prettier than her sister. She is the prettiest.

Sam is intelligent. Sam is more intelligent than Tina. Sam is the most
intelligent kid in class.

The food here is as good The food here is better than the other The food here is the best of
as the other restaurants in the restaurants in the city. all the restaurants in the city.
city.

He is smart. He is smarter than Geetha. He is the smartest.

This book is interesting. This book is more interesting than the other This book is the most
books I have read. interesting book I have read.

Rinita has a big house. Rinita has a bigger house than Seena. Rinita has the biggest house.

The dresses in this boutique The dresses in this boutique are more The dresses in this boutique
are expensive. expensive than the boutiques in the city. are the most expensive.

The weather today is bad. The weather today is worse than yesterday. The weather today is the
worst.

My friend, Bindhu, My friend, Bindhu, looks happier than my My friend, Bindhu, looks the
looks happy. other friends. happiest.

List of Degrees of Comparison

Before you look at examples, just keep in mind that the rule to add ‘-er’ and ‘-est’ to
form the comparative and superlative degree of comparison does not remain the
same with every adjective. The different types include,

 Type 1 – Doubling the final consonant of a monosyllabic adjective and adding ‘-er’ and ‘-
est’.
 Type 2 – Adding ‘-er’ and ‘-est’ to monosyllabic adjectives in which the last consonant is
preceded by another consonant or two vowels.
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 Type 3 – Adding ‘-r’ and ‘-st’ to adjectives ending in ‘e’.
 Type 4 – Adding -ier’ and ‘-iest’ to adjectives ending in ‘y’.
 Type 5 – Adding ‘more’ and ‘most’ to polysyllabic adjectives.
 Type 6 – Irregular adjectives

Here is a list of 100 examples of degrees of comparison that you can refer to.

Type 1
Positive Comparative Superlative

Big Bigger Biggest

Thin Thinner Thinnest

Fat Fatter Fattest

Dim Dimmer Dimmest

Hot Hotter Hottest

Sad Sadder Saddest

Slim Slimmer Slimmest

Red Redder Reddest

Type 2
Positive Comparative Superlative

Bright Brighter Brightest

Short Shorter Shortest

Weak Weaker Weakest

Long Longer Longest

Smart Smarter Smartest

Cool Cooler Coolest

Dark Darker Darkest

Small Smaller Smallest

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Bold Bolder Boldest

Clever Cleverer Cleverest

High Higher Highest

Tall Taller Tallest

Sweet Sweeter Sweetest

Deep Deeper Deepest

Rich Richer Richest

Fast Faster Fastest

Thick Thicker Thickest

Great Greater Greatest

Kind Kinder Kindest

Cheap Cheaper Cheapest

Young Younger Youngest

Fast Faster Fastest

Stout Stouter Stoutest

Black Blacker Blackest

Slow Slower Slowest

Tight Tighter Tightest

Quick Quicker Quickest

Narrow Narrower Narrowest

Broad Broader Broadest

Type 3
Positive Comparative Superlative

Large Larger Largest

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Close Closer Closest

Dense Denser Densest

Humble Humbler Humblest

Simple Simpler Simplest

Fine Finer Finest

Noble Nobler Noblest

Brave Braver Bravest

Pale Paler Palest

Nice Nicer Nicest

Type 4
Positive Comparative Superlative

Funny Funnier Funniest

Happy Happier Happiest

Dry Drier Driest

Lazy Lazier Laziest

Easy Easier Easiest

Heavy Heavier Heaviest

Wealthy Wealthier Wealthiest

Healthy Healthier Healthiest

Costly Costlier Costliest

Busy Busier Busiest

Cosy Cosier Cosiest

Dirty Dirtier Dirtiest

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Type 5
Positive Comparative Superlative

Comfortable More comfortable Most comfortable

Beautiful More beautiful Most beautiful

Sensible More sensible Most sensible

Ignorant More ignorant Most ignorant

Attractive More attractive Most attractive

Important More important Most important

Courageous More courageous Most courageous

Faithful More faithful Most faithful

Elegant More elegant Most elegant

Active More active Most active

Popular More popular Most popular

Awesome More awesome Most awesome

Loyal More loyal Most loyal

Fantastic More fantastic Most fantastic

Wonderful More wonderful Most wonderful

Splendid More splendid Most splendid

Famous More famous Most famous

Difficult More difficult Most difficult

Careful More careful Most careful

Brilliant More brilliant Most brilliant

Enthusiastic More enthusiastic Most enthusiastic

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Suitable More suitable Most suitable

Spacious More spacious Most spacious

Devoted More devoted Most devoted

Proper More proper Most proper

Patient More patient Most patient

Amazing More amazing Most amazing

Intelligent More intelligent Most intelligent

Likely More likely Most likely

Careless More careless Most careless

Threatening More threatening Most threatening

Magnificent More magnificent Most magnificent

Depressed More depressed Most depressed

Excited More excited Most excited

Amusing More amusing Most amusing

Type 6
Positive Comparative Superlative

Good Better Best

Bad Worse Worst

Far Further/Farther Furthest/Farthest

Late Later(time)/Latter(position) Latest(time)/Last(position)

Much More Most

Little Less Least

Many More Most

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Old Elder/Older EldestOldest

Check Your Understanding of Degrees of

Comparison
Fill in the blanks with the most appropriate degree of comparison in the following
sentences.

1. Thiya is ________ (smart) than most of her friends.

2. Nobody is _____________ (good) you.

3. Princy was _____________ (elegant) of all.

4. Haritha is _________ (tall) her brother.

5. ___________ (recent) movie was excellent.

6. Mount Everest is ___________ (high) peak.

7. F.R.I.E.N.D.S. is ___________ (watched) series.

8. Sam is _________ (happy) Tina.

9. Artie is a _____________ (patient) kid.

10. These maths problems are _______ (easy).

Check out if you have used the right form of the adjective from the answers given
below.

1. Thiya is smarter than most of her friends.

2. Nobody is as good as you.

3. Princy was the most elegant of all.

4. Haritha is taller than her brother.

5. The most recent movie was excellent.

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6. Mount Everest is the highest peak.

7. F.R.I.E.N.D.S. is the most watched series.

8. Sam is happier than Tina.

9. Artie is a patient kid.

10. These maths problems are easy.