ADJECTIVES : Degree of Comparison
Adjective change in form when they show comparison.
Positive Degree: An adjective is said to be in the positive degree when there is no comparison.
Comparative Degree: An adjective is said to be in the comparitive degree when it is used to compare two nouns/pronouns.
Superlative Degree: An adjective is in superlative degree when it is used to compare more than two nouns/pronouns. We use the article 'the' before the superlative degrees.
Formation of Comparative & Superlative Degrees of Adjectives
Adjectives usually form their comparative and superlative degrees:
1) by addition of '-er' and '-est' to the positive degree
| 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 |
| rich | richer | richest |
| small | smaller | smallest |
| strong | stronger | strongest |
| sweet | sweeter | sweetest |
| tall | taller | tallest |
| thick | thicker | thickest |
| young | younger | youngest |
2) by addition of '-r' and '-st' to the positive degree ending in 'e'
| 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 |
3) When the positive ends in 'y' and has a consonant before it, we change 'y' into 'i' and then add 'er' and 'est'.
| 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 | lasier | lasiest |
| mercy | mercier | merciest |
| wealthy | wealthier | wealthiest |
4) when the positive degree ends in a consonant with a vowel before it, we double the consonant & then add '-er' and '-est'
| POSITIVE | COMPARATIVE | SUPERLATIVE |
|---|---|---|
| big | bigger | biggest |
| dim | dimmer | dimmest |
| fat | fatter | fattest |
| hot | hotter | hottest |
| thin | thinner | thinnest |
5) by addition of '-er' and '-est' to the positive degree when it ends in '-y'
| POSITIVE | COMPARATIVE | SUPERLATIVE |
|---|---|---|
| gay | gayer | gayest |
| grey | greyer | greyest |
5) by placing 'more' and 'most' before the positive form
| 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 |
| important | more important | most important |
| proper | more proper | most proper |
| popular | more popular | most popular |
| splendid | more splendid | most splendid |
| suitable | more suitable | most suitable |
Some adjectives do not follow any of the rules explained earlier. They are compared irregularly. Here are the different forms of such adjectives.
| POSITIVE | COMPARATIVE | SUPERLATIVE |
|---|---|---|
| bad | worse | worst |
| evil | worse | worst |
| good | better | best |
| ill | worse | worst |
| far | farther | farthest |
| well | better | best |
| late | later | latest (time) |
| late | later | last (position) |
| little | less | least |
| much | more | most |
| many | more | most |
| near | nearer | nearest |
| old | older | oldest |
| old | elder | eldest |
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