Degrees of Comparison

When we want to compare two or more nouns (people, places, things) using adjectives, we use different forms of the adjective to show how they are different. These forms are called the Degrees of Comparison. They help us describe how one noun is related to another.

Types of Degrees of Comparison

1. Positive Degree

The positive degree is the base form of the adjective. It describes a quality without making any comparison.

• Adjective: tall
• Sentence: Naina is a tall girl.

In this sentence, we are simply stating that Naina has the quality of being tall, but we are not comparing her to anyone else.

2. Comparative Degree

The comparative degree is used when comparing two things. It shows that one has more (or less) of a quality than the other.

• Adjective: taller
• Sentence: Jolly is taller than Naina.

Here, the adjective "taller" shows that Jolly has more height than Naina.

3. Superlative Degree

The superlative degree is used when comparing more than two things. It shows that one has the most or the least of a quality among all.

• Adjective: tallest
• Sentence: Saumya is the tallest of the three.

In this case, Saumya has the highest degree of height among the three.

Let us understand better by using this example:

1. Positive Degree:

   Adjective: slow

   Sentence: The tortoise is slow.

2. Comparative Degree:

   Adjective: slower

   Sentence: The tortoise is slower than the rabbit.

3. Superlative Degree:

   Adjective: slowest

   Sentence: The tortoise is the slowest of all the animals in the race.

Regular Forms of Adjectives

1. For one- and two-syllable adjectives

• Positive Degree: the base form of the adjective with no change. Examples: big, strong
• Comparative Degree: add -er to the base adjective. Examples: bigger, stronger
• Superlative Degree: add -est to the base adjective. Examples: biggest, strongest

2. For adjectives of three or more syllables

• Positive Degree: the base form remains unchanged. Examples: comfortable, understandable
• Comparative Degree: use more before the adjective. Examples: more comfortable, more understandable
• Superlative Degree: use most before the adjective. Examples: most comfortable, most understandable

3. Adverbs ending in "ly"

• Comparative Degree: use more before the adverb. Examples: more quickly, more carefully
• Superlative Degree: use most before the adverb. Examples: most quickly, most carefully

Formation of Degrees of Comparison

Comparative and superlative degrees are formed in several common ways. Follow these rules and examples.

1. (i) By adding -er and -est to the positive degree

   

2. (ii) By adding only -r and -st when the positive ends in e

   

3. (iii) By changing y into i and adding -er and -est if the positive ends in y preceded by a consonant

   

4. Note: If the y of a positive degree is preceded by a vowel, then the y remains intact and -er and -est are added to make the comparative and superlative.

   

5. (iv) By doubling the final consonant before adding -er and -est if the positive ends in one consonant preceded by a vowel

   

6. (v) By placing more and most before all adjectives of more than two syllables and many adjectives of two syllables

   

7. (vi) Some adjectives form their comparative and superlative in an irregular way

   

   Common irregular forms (these are important to remember):

   • good → better → best
   • bad → worse → worst
   • little → less → least
   • many/much → more → most
   • far → farther/further → farthest/furthest

(vii) Double comparative and double superlative should be avoided.

Incorrect: This is more safer place.
Correct: This is a safer place.

Incorrect: He is the most busiest man in the office.
Correct: He is the busiest man in the office.

(viii) Words like senior, junior, superior, and inferior are followed by to instead of than.

Incorrect: Mr. Sharma is more inferior than me.
Correct: Mr. Sharma is inferior to me.

Incorrect: I am junior than you.
Correct: I am junior to you.

Incorrect: Mr. Sinha is the most superior of all.
Correct: Mr. Sinha is superior to all.

How to Choose the Right Form

To decide which form to use, ask yourself these simple questions:

• Am I not comparing anyone? Use the positive degree.
• Am I comparing two people or things? Use the comparative degree.
• Am I comparing three or more people or things? Use the superlative degree.
• Does the adjective have one or two syllables? Consider adding -er/-est or follow spelling rules (y → i, double consonant, etc.).
• Does the adjective have three or more syllables? Use more/most before the adjective.
• Is the adjective irregular? Learn and remember its irregular forms (for example, good → better → best).

Final note: Practice by forming comparisons from words you already know. Pay attention to spelling changes and irregular forms. Using comparisons correctly makes your writing and speaking clearer and more precise.