Degree of comparison

Degree:

An English adjective has three forms – positive, comparative and superlative.

An adjective can exist in three forms – positive, comparative and superlative. The positive form is the base form of the adjective. The comparative form expresses a higher degree of some quality. The superlative form expresses the highest degree.

Comparison can be made using the three forms of the adjective.

Adjective is a word and it qualifies a noun. It gives more information about the noun.

eg. The lion is a strong animal. Rita is a beautiful girl.
Adjectives are of three degrees. (1) Positive (2) Comparative (3) Superlative 

eg. David is a rich man. 

eg. Cancel is more dreadful than cholera. 

eg. Mount Everest is the highest peak in the world.

Study the following models.

Positive	Comparative	Superlative
Very few boys in the class are astall as John.	John is taller than any other boys in the class.	John is the tallest boy in the class.
	John is taller than most other boys in the class.	John is one of the tallest boy in the class.

Adjective and Adverbs have three degrees, Positive, Comparative and Superlative.

The Positive Degree is used to denote the mere existence of quality.

The Positive Degree of an adjective in comparison is the adjective in its simple form. It is used to denote the mere existence of some quality of what we speak about. It is used when no comparison is made.

·         It is a tall building.

·         Apple is sweet to taste.

The Comparative Degree is used to compare the qualities of two persons or things.

The Comparative Degree denotes the existence of a higher degree of the quality than the positive. It is used when two things (or two sets of things) are compared.

·         This building is taller than any other building.

·         Apple is sweeter than pear.

The Superlative Degree denotes the existence of the highest degree of the quality. It is used when more than two things are compared.

·         This is the tallest building.

·         Apple is the sweetest fruit.

The Superlative Degree is used when more than two nouns or things are compared.

·         Johns is kind (Positive Degree)

·         Johns is kinder than Rosy (Comparative Degree)

·         Johns is the kindest of all (Superlative Degree)

By adding ‘er’ and ‘est’
POSITIVE	COMPARATIVE	SUPERLATIVE
bright	brighter	brightest
black	blacker	blackest
bold	bolder	boldest
clever	cleverer	cleverest
cold	colder	coldest
fast	faster	fastest
great	greater	greatest
high	higher	highest
kind	kinder	kindest
long	longer	longest
small	smaller	smallest
strong	stronger	strongest
sweet	sweeter	sweetest
tall	taller	tallest
young	younger	youngest

By adding ‘r’ and ‘st’
POSITIVE	COMPARATIVE	SUPERLATIVE
brave	braver	bravest
fine	finer	finest
large	larger	largest
nice	nicer	nicest
noble	nobler	noblest
pale	paler	palest
simple	simpler	simplest
wise	wiser	wisest
white	whiter	whitest

By deleting the final ‘y’ and adding ‘ier’ and ‘iest’
POSITIVE	COMPARATIVE	SUPERLATIVE
costly	costlier	costliest
dry	drier	driest
easy	easier	easiest
happy	happier	happiest
heavy	heavier	heaviest
lazy	lazier	laziest
mercy	mercier	merciest
wealthy	wealthier	wealthiest

By doubling the final consonats
POSITIVE	COMPARATIVE	SUPERLATIVE
big	bigger	biggest
dim	dimmer	dimmest
fat	fatter	fattest
hot	hotter	hottest
thin	thinner	thinnest

By using more and most
POSITIVE	COMPARATIVE	SUPERLATIVE
active	more active	most active
attractive	more attractive	most attractive
beautiful	more beautiful	most beautiful
brilliant	more brilliant	most brilliant
careful	more careful	most careful
courageous	more courageous	most courageous
cunning	more cunning	most cunning
difficult	more difficult	most difficult
famous	more famous	most famous
faithful	more faithful	most faithful
proper	more proper	most proper
popular	more popular	most popular
splendid	more splendid	most splendid

Irregular Comparisons
POSITIVE	COMPARATIVE	SUPERLATIVE
bad	worse	worst
evil	worse	worst
good	better	best
ill	worse	worst
far	farther	farthest
well	better	best
late	later	latest
little	less	least
much	more	most
many	more	most
near	nearer	nearest
old	older	oldest
old	elder	eldest

Comparison between two things.

Positive	Comparative
Johns is as clever as Rosy	Rosy is not clever than Johns
Benjamin is atleast as tall as Jane	Jane is not taller than Benjamin

Comparative	Positive
Lazar is brighter than Stalin	Stalin is not so bright as Lazar

Superlative	Comparative	Positive
Author is the richest man in Kanpur	Author is richer than any other man in Kanpur	No other man in Kanpur is so rich as Author

Superlative	Comparative	Positive
London is one of the biggest city in England	London is bigger than most other city in England	Very few cities in England are so big as London

Superlative	Comparative	Positive
Shakespeare is the greatest of all dramatists	Shakespeare is greater than all other dramatists	No other dramatist is so great as Shakespeare

Positive	Comparative
Lazar is as strong as Lenin	Lenin is not less strong than Lazar

Positive	Comparative	Superlative
Some boys in our class are at least as intelligent as Benjamin	Some boys in our class are not intelligent than Benjamin	Benjamin is not the most intelligent boy in our class

1. When we compare two objects, persons, qualities, degrees etc. tha tare some respects equal, we may use the comparison of equality. This is formed by the use of

as... adjective / adverb... as
e.g. Your house is as large as mine.

2. When we compare unequal, we may use the comparative degree of the adjective or adverb with than

e.g. His new book is more interesting than his earlier books

3. When the comparison is negative, we use

so... adjective / adverb... as
e.g. Your house is not quite so large as mine.

4. In some adverbial clauses of comparison both subject and verb are dropped.

e.g. He is more shy than (he is) unsocial.
Some people think more about their rights than (they do) about their duties.

5. In clauses of comparison introduced by than that ‘should’ is used.

e.g. I am already to do the work myself rather than that you should have to do it.

6. Comparison and contrast are also expressed by the use of

The...the...with comparatives.
eg. The sooner you start, the sooner you’ll finish.
The more he read, the less he understood.

Superlative	Comparative	Positive
Iron is the most useful of all metals.	Iron is more useful than any other metal.	No other metal is so useful as iron.

Superlative	Comparative	Positive
Tom is the cleverest of all boys in the class.	Tom is cleverer than any other boy in the class.	No other boy in the class is so clever as Tom.

Superlative	Comparative	Positive
Rain water is the purest water.	Rain water is purer than any other water.	No other water is so pure as rain water.

Superlative	Comparative	Positive
Paris is one of the busiest cities in England.	Paris is busier than most other cities in England.	Very few cities in England are as busy as Paris.

Positive	Comparative	Superlative
Very few animals are as fast as cheetah.	Cheetah is faster than most other animals.	Cheetah is one of the fastest animals.

Superlative	Comparative	Positive
Food ball is one of the most interesting games.	Foot ball is more interesting than most other games.	Very few games are as interesting as foot ball.

Comparative	Positive
Paris is hotter than England.	England is not so hot as Paris.

Positive	Comparative
John is as tall as David.	David is not taller than John.

Comparative	Positive
The Blue Mountain Express runs faster than the Green Express.	The Green Express does not run so fast as the Blue Mountain Express.

Complete the following sentences using the appropriate form of the adjective.
1. She is …………………… than her sister.

a) pretty
b) prettier
c) prettiest

2. Martha is a …………………….. girl.

a) Nice
b) nicer
c) nicest

3. Supriya is the ……………………… girl in the class.

a) Intelligent
b) more intelligent
c) most intelligent

4. Martin speaks English …………………..

a) Well

b) Better
c) best

5. Russia is the ……………………. country in the world.

a) Big
b) bigger
c) biggest

6. China is a ……………….. Country.

a) Big
b) bigger
c) biggest

7. China is …………………… than India.

a) Big
b) bigger
c) biggest

8. This is the …………………… book I have ever read.

a) Interesting
b) more interesting
c) most interesting

9. I am …………………. than you.

a) Smart
b) smarter
c) smartest

10. Take the ………………….. of the two routes.

a) Short
b) shorter
c) shortest

Answers

1. She is prettier than her sister.

2. Martha is a nice girl.

3. Supriya is the most intelligent girl in the class.

4. Martin speaks English well.

5. Russia is the biggest country in the world.

6. China is a big country.

7. China is bigger than India.

8. This is the most interesting book I have ever read.

9. I am smarter than you.

10. Take the shorter of the two routes.

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Some Examples On Degrees of Comparison and Tips,English Grammar

Some examples of Positive, Comparative and Superlative Degrees of Comparison.

Positive Comparative Superlative

Good Better Best

Hot Hotter Hottest

Sharp Sharper Sharpest

Tall Taller Tallest

Short Shorter Shortest

Large Larger Largest

Small Smaller Smallest

Dry More dry (drier) most dry (driest)

Cold More cold (colder) Most cold (coldest)

Proud More proud (prouder) Most proud (proudest)

High Higher Highest

Legible More legible Most legible

Great Greater Greatest

Cut Cut Cut

Put Put Put

Useful More useful Most useful

Ferocious More ferocious Most ferocious

Nutritive More nutritive Most nutritive

Pretty More pretty (prettier) Most pretty (Prettiest)

We should remember that we have two things to compare in Comparative degrees. We can say one is better than the other.

In cases, when we have to make comparison between more than two Persons / Objects, we have to say one or one group is better or worse than the other.

Ex: A, B, C and D are compared.

A is taller than B

B is taller than C

D is of the same height of C

B is taller than C and D, but, shorter than A.

Changing the Degrees of Comparison

– POSITIVE Degree occurs when we make a statement or a matter of fact without comparison.

– COMPARITIVE Degree occurs when we compare two things / place / persons.

– SUPERLATIVE Degree occurs when more than two things / place / persons are involved. Remember, beyond Superlative there is nothing more to be compared. If only two persons / places need to be compared, then one can use the Superlative.

– When forming comparative degree, normally add

a) ‘er’ to positive

Ex: tall – taller sharp – sharper

Old – older short – shorter

Young – younger long – longer

large – larger high – higher

b) For superlative, add ‘est.’ to positive.

Tall – taller – tallest sharp – sharper – sharpest

Old – older – oldest short – shorter – shortest

Young – younger – youngest long – longer – longest

Large – larger – largest high – higher – highest

c) for word ending with ‘ y ’ remove ‘ y ‘ from positive and add ‘ier’ for comparative and ‘iest’ for superlative.

Heavy – heavier – heaviest lucky – luckier – luckiest

Pretty – prettier – prettiest dirty – dirtier – dirtiest

Merry – merrier – merriest dirty – more dirty – most dirty

The Adjectives which have two syllables will have ‘more’ for comparative and ‘most’ for superlative.

Ex: beautiful – more beautiful – most beautiful

Honest – more honest – most honest

Popular – more popular – most popular

Reliable – more reliable – most reliable

Pretty – more pretty (prettier) – most pretty

(Prettiest)

Some form themselves into comparative and superlative in an irregular pattern.

Positive Comparative Superlative

Good / well better best

Bad / ill worse worst

High higher highest

Little less least

Much / many more most

Far farther farthest

fore former foremost / first

You will become familiar with more words to use in Degrees of comparison by reading.

For changing from one degree to another.

From Positive to Comparative.

a) Find out the comparative form of positive and place it in the place of positive adjective and follow it with ‘than’ or ‘to’ and follow it with the object.

Rama is elder (comparative) to Lakshmanan

To change into superlative, you should make sure or ensure that all the persons / places / things compared are taken into account. In superlative, you should leave nothing out of comparison.

In the above example, in comparative, we have taken only two persons ; Rama and Lakshmanan

If we are certain that we have to make a statement involving Rama and Lakshmanan to indicate who is elder of the two, comparative degree will do. But, if we have more than two people, if we say, ‘Rama is elder to Lakshmanan’, when two others namely, Bharata and Shatrugana are involved, if we say Rama is elder to Lakshmana, we will not know if Bharata or Shatrugana is elder to Rama. So, if we say, Rama is the eldest of four brothers, we have taken into account Bharata and Shatrugana. We get the clear picture that Rama is the eldest of the four.

Let us see another example for changing from one degree to another.

Madurai is the oldest town in Tamil Nadu (Superlative).

The meaning is that there is no other city in Tamil Nadu which is older than Madurai. So, to convert the above into superlative and convey the same meaning, we should say ‘Madurai is older than any other city in Tamil nadu’. We can also express the same in another way.

No other city in Tamil Nadu is older than Madurai.

However, the emphasis we want to give on Madurai is slightly different or varied. This, we shall discuss later.

Shakespeare is greater than any other English poet. (Comparative)

Shakespeare is the greatest of English Poets (superlative).

As a rule, make sure the meaning in various degrees remain the same, instead of blindly following hints. In fact, while dealing with grammar, we should pay more attention to the meaning conveyed, whatever be the circumstances.

Change the degree of comparison without changing the meaning.

1) The pen is mightier than the sword.

2) Cow is more useful than any other animal.

3) Mount Everest is the highest peak in the World.

4) Mariana Trench is the deepest point in the ocean

5) It is better to have loved and lost than to have not loved at all.

6) Mango is sweeter than Lime.

7) Very few Nations are as materialistic as the USA.

8) Samudra Gupta was greater than any other King in India.

9) No other orator was more powerful as Demosthenes.

10) I have more books than you.

ADJECTIVES USED AS NOUNS

‘The rich do not know the condition of the poor’

The adjectives are ‘rich’ and ‘poor’.

What do we mean by these adjectives?

Rich – people who are rich or rich people.

Poor – people who are poor or poor people.

The nouns ‘People’ are not stated openly. They are implied or hidden behind the adjectives. So, when we say rich or poor in the above sentences, we mean rich (adjective) people (noun – collective noun), do not to know the sufferings of the poor (adjective) people (noun – collective noun). In practice, we use rich and poor. Hence, adjective is used as Plural Nouns.

The future is happy. Here, future means futurity. It is an Abstract Noun. In such cases, the adjective (future) becomes Noun. It is in Singular.

Some other adjectives derived from Proper Nouns become adjectives. They may relate to proper ethnicity – Indians, Americans, Tamilians.

Some adjectives indicating persons also become Nouns. They may belong to particular profession or an activity that is common to all of them – juniors, seniors, Criminals.

Yet some other adjectives denoting quantity / things in general become Nouns. It can be both in Singular and Plural.

– Secrets, total, solids, liquids, gases, valuables.

Some adjectives like sweet are used as Nouns in Plural and not in Singular. We can say sweets, it, that is, in a many eatables that are sweet.

Some phrases also become Nouns whenever this makes appear into the sentence below the proceeding one. In short, before long, Ere long, At Best, At the very least, in black and white.

In general, to identify an adjective functioning as a Noun, look for Plural Nouns, Singular Nouns of quality, and derivatives of Nouns (means Adjectives formed of Noun). Or some phrases that indicate Nouns implicitly.

Also, ‘the’ appears before adjective functioning as Noun (in general).

Remember the above guidelines are only indicative. Best way is to look for the meaning. i.e. what we speak about Persons / Places / Things and what we add to give more meaning to the forms and decide if the Noun is implied.

Sometimes we use Noun as adjectives as well.

I am a city boy.

He always plays computer games.

Adjective is normally placed before the Noun.

He is a great man.

In poetry, the adjective may appear after the Noun – ‘Men’, of great valour never die more than once’.

We place adjectives after Noun in Prose also, when we have more than one adjective to emphasis.

Lord Krishna was a great King, Philosopher and Leader.

He was a kind man, patient, forbearing and of compassion.

We also place adjectives after a Noun when we join some words or phrases to adjectives. This is to place emphasis.

MS Dhoni is fertile in imaginative tactics..

In some cases, in some phrases, Adjectives come after the Noun.

God Almighty, time immemorial.

In some instances, the adjectives are more of explanatory in nature or indicate a specific quality which we want to emphasis.

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Change degrees of comparison

Rewrite the following sentences as directed.

An example is given below.

The dog is the most faithful animal. (Use ‘faithful’ instead of ‘most faithful’.)

No other animal is as faithful as the dog.

Exercise

1. Kochi is the best port in Kerala. (Use ‘better’ instead of ‘best’.)

2. Mount Everest is higher than any other peak in the world. (Use ‘highest’ instead of ‘higher’.)

3. Mount Everest is the highest peak in the world. (Use ‘high’ instead of ‘highest’.)

4. The Nile is longer than the Amazon. (Use ‘long’ instead of ‘longer’.)

5. Greenland is the largest island. (Use ‘large’ instead of ‘largest’.)

6. Oranges are cheaper than apples. (Use ‘cheap’ instead of ‘cheaper’.)

7. James is not as intelligent as Mark. (Use ‘more intelligent’ instead of ‘intelligent’.)

8. I don’t eat as much chocolate as you do. (Use ‘more’ instead of ‘much’.)

9. She is the richest woman in the country. (Use ‘rich’ instead of ‘richest’.)

10. Africa is hotter than any other continent. (Use ‘hottest’ instead of ‘hotter’.)

Answers

1. Kochi is better than any other port in Kerala.

2. Mount Everest is the highest peak in the world.

3. No other peak in the world is as high as Mount Everest.

4. The Amazon is not so long as the Nile.

5. No other island is as large as Greenland.

6. Apples are not as cheap as oranges.

7. Mark is more intelligent than James.

8. You eat more chocolate than I do.

9. No other woman in the country is as rich as her.

10. Africa is the hottest continent in the world.