Comparison of Adjectives

Adjectives change in form to show comparison . They are called the three Degrees of comparison. Let's learn it in this chapter.

1. Mary's bag is big.
2. Sheela's bag is bigger than Mary's.
3. Reeta's bag is the biggest of all.

In the above sentences the underlined adjectives show the degree of the quality of the thing. The adjective 'big' shows just the quality without saying 'how much' Hence, it is positive degree. Adjective 'bigger' shows a higher degree of quality. Hence it is comparative degree. The adjective 'biggest' shows the greatest or highest degree of quality. Hence it is called superlative degree.

There are different ways of forming these abjectives of comparison. Let's see some examples now:

By adding-er-est:

POSITIVE	COMPARATIVE	SUPERLATIVE
small	smaller	smallest
sweet	sweeter	sweetest
young	younger	youngest
bold	bolder	boldest
clever	cleverer	cleverest
great	greater	greatest
short	shorter	shortest
kind	kinder	kindest
strong	stronger	strongest
long	longer	longest

By adding- 'r',-'st':

POSITIVE	COMPARATIVE	SUPERLATIVE
Large	longer	largest
brave	braver	bravest
noble	nobler	noblest
wise	wiser	wisest
fine	finer	finest
simple	simpler	simples

By changing-'y' into-'i' and adding-er, -est.:

POSITIVE	COMPARATIVE	SUPERLATIVE
happy	happier	happiest
wealthy	wealthier	wealthiest
healthy	healthier	healthiest
heavy	heavier	heaviest
sickly	sicklier	sickliest
funny	funnier	funniest
puny	punier	puniest

By doubling the consonant and adding- 'er',-'est':

POSITIVE	COMPARATIVE	SUPERLATIVE
big	bigger	biggest
red	redder	reddest
fat	falter	fattest
hot	hotter	hottest
thin	thinner	thinnest
sad	sadder	saddest

By adding more ant most:

POSITIVE	COMPARATIVE	SUPERLATIVE
beautiful	more beautiful	most beautiful
courageous	more courageous	most courageous
difficult	more difficult	most difficult
faithful	more faithful	most faithful
dangerous	more dangerous	most dangerous
industrious	more industrious	most industrious

Some irregular comparisons:

POSITIVE	COMPARATIVE	SUPERLATIVE
good, well	better	best
bad, ill, evil	worse	worst
little	less, lesser	least
much (uncountable)	more	most(quantity)
many (countable)	more	most(number)
late	later, latter	latest, last
old	older, elder	oldest, eldest
far	father	farthest

Exercises

Identify the adjectives and have their degree of comparison:

1. I will not buy such things.
2. This is a good book.
3. This child has less problems.
4. The singer has sweet voice.
5. He is the wealthiest person here.
6. This subject is the most difficult one, I think.
7. We need a bigger house.
8. She has written same answer again.
9. I believe he is a clever boy.
10. He is a nobler man in this group.

Answers

1. I will not buy such things (has no degree of comparison.)
2. This is a good book.(positive degree)
3. This child has less problems(comparative degree)
4. The singer has sweet voice. (positive degree)
5. He is the wealthiest person here (superlative degree)
6. This subject is the most difficult one, I think (superlative degree)
7. We need a bigger house (comparative degree)
8. She has written same answer again.(has no degree of comparison)
9. I believe he is a clever boy (positive degree)
10. He is a nobler man in this group (comparative degree)