Degrees of comparison are used when we compare one person or one thing with another.
There are three degrees of comparison in English;
- Positive Degree
When we speak about only one person or one thing, we use the positive degree. it's the simplest form.
Examples ;
- this house is big
- this flower is beautiful
- he is an intelligent boy
- her blue hat was brilliant
each sentences above talks about only one noun.
2. Comparative Degree
When we compare two persons or two things with each other.
Examples ;
- this house is bigger than that one
- this flower is more beautiful than yours
- he is more intelligent than that boy
- he is taller than Mr. Hulas
3. Superlative Degree
when we compare more than two persons or things with another.
Examples ;
- this flower is the most beautiful one in this garden
- he is the most intelligent in this class
- he is the tallest student in this class
- this is not the best solution to the problem
NOTE :
- Degrees of Comparison are applicable only to "Adjective and Adverb". Noun and Verb do not have Degrees of Comparison.
- Examples of;
Adjective : he is the tallest student in this class. (Tallest is adjective)
Adverb : Mr. Clinton speaks most effectivelly. (Effectivelly is adverb)
- Few Adjectives and Adverbs get their comparative form by simply getting "more" before them, and their Superlative terms, by getting "most" before them. it means that we put "more/most" in front of longer adjectives (with two or more syllable) .
Examples : beautiful more beautiful most beautiful
enjoyable more enjoyable most enjoyable
different more different most different
- Few Adjectives and Adverbs get their comparatives form by simply getting "er" after them and their Superlative terms, by getting "est" after them. it means that we add "er" or "est" to short adjective of one syllable.
Examples : hard harder hardest
tall taller tallest
big bigger biggest
short shorter shortest
- Irregular Comparison
a few of the comparatives and superlatives in English do not follow the unusual pattern.
Here is a list of common exceptions;
positive comparative superlative
bad/ill worse worst
badly worse worst
good/well better best
late later latest/last
little less least
many/much/some more most
- some adjectives cannot be compared because the positive (simplest) form expresses the only degree possible.
List of incomparable adjectives:
Perfect, unique, fatal, universal, dead, wrong, straight, blind, final, vertical, right, left, horizontal.
Exercises:
Analysis the wrong sentences bellow!!
- Alaska is largest state in the United State.
- old shoes are usually more comfortable that new shoes.
- Mr Molina writes the most clearly than Ms. York
- Texas is the larger from france in Land area.
- I have one sister and one brother, my sister is younger in the family.