Degrees of Comparison

What is a comparison degree?

Degrees of Comparison are used when we compare one person or one thing with another. The Degrees of Comparison in English grammar are made with the Adjective and Adverb words to show how big or small, high or low, more or less, many or few, etc., of the qualities, numbers and positions of the nouns (persons, things and places) in comparison to the others mentioned in the other part of a sentence or expression. Comparison was used to compare two objects or people who have the same trait. Both of these objects can be the same or different.

An Adjectivec is a word which qualifies (shows how big, small, great, many, few, etc.) a noun or a pronoun is in a sentence. An adjective can be attributive (comes before a noun) or predicative (comes in the predicate part):

e.g.  He is a tall man. (‘tall’ —  adjective – attributive)

This man is tall.  (‘tall’ —  adjective – predicative)

An Adverb is a word which adds to the meaning of the main verb (how it is done, when it is done, etc.) of a sentence or expression. It normally ends with ‘ly’, but there are some adverbs that are without ‘ly’:

e.g.  She ate her lunch quickly.   He speaks clearly.  They type fast.

Kinds of comparison:

1. Positive degree
2. Comparative degree
3. Superlative degree

1. Positive Degree

The term positive degree relates to adjectives and adverbs. An adjective or adverb that does not make a comparison is said to be in the positive degree. (In other words, the positive degree is the normal form of an adjective or adverb). Is used to express the comparison, positive degree, must be used with the word as. Positive degree has a standard form without changes.

FORMULA:

Subject + verb + as + adjective / adverb + as + noun / pronoun

EXAMPLE:

The brown cat is as beautiful as the grey cat

The task is not as difficult as you imagine

2. Comparative Degree

is used to compare two persons or things having the same quality.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.

FORMULA:

For one or two syllables

Subject + verb + adjective / adverb + er + than + noun

For three or more syllables

Subject + verb + more + adjective / adverb + than +   pronoun

EXAMPLE:

This building is taller than any other building.

Apple is sweeter than pear.

Cancer is more dreadful than cholera.

3. Superlative Degree

To compare three or more different objects or people. The superlative degree denotes the existence of the highest degree of the quality. It is used when The Superlative Degree is used when more than two nouns or things are compared.

FORMULA:

For one or two syllables

Subject + verb + the + adjective / adverb + est 

For three or more syllables

Subject + verb + the + most  + adjective / adverb 

EXAMPLE:

That is the flimsiest excuse I’ve ever heard.Katie wore the prettiest dress she owned.Some say Elizabeth Taylor was the most famous film star of all time.

List of comparison:

1. Adjectives which consists of one syllable , only coupled with the suffix –er, 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

2. Adjective that ends with the letter e the add ‘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

3. Adjective that ends with the letter y and begins one or two letters off, then replaced with -y -i and then add -er or -est .

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.The adjectives which consists of one syllable and ends with a consonant ( consonants ) that begins with the letter (vocals ) , plus the suffix -er . One final consonant is doubled.

POSITIVE	COMPARATIVE	SUPERLATIVE
big	bigger	biggest
dim	dimmer	dimmest
fat	fatter	fattest
hot	hotter	hottest
thin	thinner	thinnest

5. For three or more syllables by using more and the 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

6. 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

Task 1

Fill in the blanks with the comparative or superlative form of the adjective given in the brackets.

1. How is your mother today? Is she any ……………………………………..? (Good)

2. In India May is ………………………………………  June. (Hot)

3. Julie is …………………………………… her sister. (Pretty)

4. Who is the …………………………………… girl in your class? (Beautiful)

5. Which is the …………………………………….. of all metals. (Precious)

6. Her husband is ten years …………………………………………  her. (Old)

7. All of us are bad singers, but I sing the …………………………………….. of all. (Bad)

8. I think you require a …………………………………….. diet. (Nutritious)

9. Which is the …………………………………… part of India? (Dry)

10. It was the ………………………………….. moment of my life. (Proud)

Task 2

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

Answer Task 1

1. Is she any better?

2. In India May is hotter than June.

3. Julie is prettier than her sister.

4. Who is the most beautiful girl in your class?

5. Which is the most precious of all metals?

6. Her husband is ten years older than her.

7. All of us are bad singers, but I sing the worst of all.

8. I think you require a more nutritious diet.

9. Which is the driest part of India?

10. It was the proudest moment of my life.

Answer Task 2

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.

Write the appropriate form of the adjective in the brackets 1. The town is just  (large)  my native one.2. The road was  (long)  we had expected.3. The girl is very  (intelligent).4.As soon as they understood that the second book was  (boring)  the first one, they changed their mind.5. The shop is  (far)  the school.6. Ventspils is  (far) town in Latvia I have been to.7. Tim is  (intelligent)  Pat.8. The heat is less  (harmful)  the cold.9. This song is  (beautiful) one in the world!

10. They are as  (stubborn) as donkeys!

11. The weather today is  (bad) than the weather yesterday but not  (bad) it was four days ago.

12. The story was  (exciting) one I have ever heard.

13. They were less  (tired)  we.

14. George bought a  (new) car  he could ever imagine.

15. The mark is a  (good)  I expected.

16. They are very  (upset) with the results.

17. She is  (polite)  me.

18. The boy is  (fast) runner of all.

19. It is as  (pleasant) as a greeting card.

20.The movie was  (interesting) than the book.

21. The price will be less  (aggressive) than the previous time.

22.The nature is  (important) than making profit.

23.The cake is just as  (sweet) as the ice-cream.

24.Sometimes friends are  (devoted)  relatives.

25.Planes are  (convenient) means of travelling of all.

26.Some cars are  (expensive)  others.

27.The jeans are very  (dirty) in fact they are  (dirty) than the trousers.

28.Acandle gives  (little)  a lamp.

29.This blanket is  (warm)  that blanket.

30.The dog is  (angry)  its master.

Degrees of comparison

Degrees of Comparison are used when we compare one person or one thing with another.  Comparison was used to compare two objects or people who have the same trait. Both of these objects can be the same or different.

Kinds of comparison:

1. Positive Degree

Is used to express the comparison, positive degree, must be used with the word as. Positive degree has a standard form without changes.

FORMULA:

Subject + verb + as + adjective / adverb + as + noun / pronoun

2. Comparative Degree

is used to compare two persons or things having the same quality.

FORMULA:

For one or two syllables

Subject + verb + adjective / adverb + er + than + noun

For three or more syllables

Subject + verb + more + adjective / adverb + than +   pronoun

3. Superlative Degree

to compare three or more different objects or people.

FORMULA:

For one or two syllables

Subject + verb + the + adjective / adverb + est 

For three or more syllables

Subject + verb + the + most  + adjective / adverb