Degrees of Comparison (Adjectives)

Degrees of Comparison

Degrees of Comparison are used when we compare one person or one thing with another. Adjective and Adverbs have three Degrees of Comparison in English. They are:

1.      Positive degree.

2.      Comparative degree.

3.      Superlative degree.

Positive Degree:

The positive form is used to denote the mere existence of quality. It is used when we speak about only one person or thing (e.g. he is a tall boy).

Comparative Degree:

The comparative form of an adjective is used for comparing two people or things (e.g. he is taller than me).

Superlative Degree:

The superlative form is used for comparing one person or thing with every other member of their group (e.g. he was the tallest boy in the class).

Adjectives make their comparative and superlative forms in different ways, depending on the base adjective itself. Here’s a quick-reference guide to the spelling of comparative and superlative adjectives:

ONE SYLLABLE ADJECTIVES

Adjectives with one syllable

In general, if the adjective has one syllable, then the letters -er or -est are added:

One-Syllable Adjective	Comparative Form	Superlative Form
warm	warmer	warmest
quick	quicker	quickest
tall	taller	tallest
old	older	oldest
long	longer	longest

 Adjectives with one syllable ending in e

 If the adjective has one syllable and ends in -e, just add -r or -st:

One-Syllable Adjective	Comparative Form	Superlative Form
late	later	latest
nice	nicer	nicest
large	larger	largest
wise	wiser	wisest

 Adjectives with one syllable ending with a single consonant with a single vowel before it

If the adjective has one syllable and ends with a single consonant and with a single vowel before it (e.g. big, wet, sad, fat), then double this consonant before adding -er or -est:

One-Syllable Adjective	Comparative Form	Superlative Form
big	bigger	biggest
wet	wetter	wettest
sad	sadder	saddest
thin	thinner	thinnest
fat	fatter	fattest

TWO SYLLABLE ADJECTIVES

Adjectives with two syllables

 If the adjective has two syllable, then form comparative with ‘more’ and superlative with ‘most’.

One-Syllable Adjective	Comparative Form	Superlative Form
peaceful	more peaceful	most peaceful
pleasant	more pleasant	most pleasant
careful	more careful	most careful
thoughtful	more thoughtful	most thoughtful
famous	more famous	most famous

Adjectives with two syllables ending in y

If the adjective has two syllable and ends with -y, then change the y to an i and add -er for comparative form or -est for superlative form.

One-Syllable Adjective	Comparative Form	Superlative Form
happy	happier	happiest
greedy	greedier	greediest
tidy	tidier	tidiest
angry	angrier	angriest
busy	busier	busiest

Adjectives with two syllables ending in er, le, ow

If the adjective has two syllable and ends with -er, -le or -ow, then add -r for comparative form or -st for superlative form.

One-Syllable Adjective	Comparative Form	Superlative Form
narrow	narrower	narrowest
feeble	feebler	feeblest
gentle	gentler	gentlest

THREE OR MORE SYLLABLE ADJECTIVES

Adjectives with three syllables or more

 If the adjective has three syllables or more, then form comparative with ‘more’ and superlative with ‘most’.

One-Syllable Adjective	Comparative Form	Superlative Form
interesting	more interesting	most interesting
attractive	more attractive	most attractive
generous	more generous	most generous
important	more important	most important
intelligent	more intelligent	most intelligent

IRREGULAR ADJECTIVES

 Some adjectives change their spelling when forming the comparative and superlative.

Positive	Comparative	Superlative
bad	worse	worst
evil	worse	worst
good	better	best
ill	worse	worst
well	better	best
late	later	latest
little	less	least
much	more	most
many	more	most
near	nearer	nearest
old	older	oldest
old	elder	eldest
far	further	furthest

COMPOUND ADJECTIVES

Some compound adjectives have a first element consisting of an adjective which would normally form a comparative or superlative in one word, either by adding -er/-est, or by an irregular form. Such compound adjectives can therefore form a comparative/superlative by using these changes to the first adjective, rather than by using more/most.

Adjective	Comparative	Superlative
good-looking	better-looking	the best-looking
long-lasting	longer-lasting	the longest-lasting
low-paid	lower-paid	the lowest-paid