What is the meaning and definition of degrees of comparison?
A degree of comparison is a form of adjective that is used to compare a person or thing possessing
the same quality with another. It is related to the adjective or adverb in a sentence. The Collins
Dictionary defines the ‘degree of comparison’ as “the listing of the positive, comparative, and
superlative forms of an adjective or adverb.” In other words, it can be said that one can use the
degree of comparison to make a comparison between nouns having comparable quality or qualities.
As you have already seen, the degrees of comparison are used to make comparisons. In English
grammar, there are three degrees of comparison and they are,
Positive Degree of Comparison
Comparative Degree of Comparison
Superlative Degree of Comparison
Positive Degree of Comparison
The positive degree of comparison is basically the original form of the adjective. This degree does
not allow you to make any comparison. It only gives the audience the information about a particular
quality possessed by a noun.
For example:
Lisa is happy.
This dress is pretty.
He looks handsome.
Meena is tired.
The sun is bright.
Comparative Degree of Comparison
The comparative degree of comparison is used to compare between two nouns that have the same
quality or the particular quality of a noun at two different times. It shows which one of the two has
the greater or lesser degree of the particular quality being referred to.
For example:
Tina looks sadder than Katie.
This bed is more comfortable than the other bed.
The sun is brighter than yesterday.
Your hair is longer than hers.
My brother is taller than me.
Superlative Degree of Comparison
The superlative degree of comparison is the highest degree of comparison. It is used to compare the
similar qualities shared by more than two nouns. It shows which of these nouns being compared has
the greatest or least degree of the mentioned quality or qualities.
For example:
We climbed the highest mountain.
The last group was the best of all.
The Himalayas are the longest mountain ranges.
Sanjana is the tallest girl in our gang.
Adharsh is the most silent boy in class.
List of Degrees of Comparison
Before you look at examples, just keep in mind that the rule to add ‘-er’ and ‘-est’ to form the
comparative and superlative degree of comparison does not remain the same with every adjective.
The different types include,
Type 1 – Doubling the final consonant of a monosyllabic adjective and adding ‘-er’ and ‘-est’.
Type 2 – Adding ‘-er’ and ‘-est’ to monosyllabic adjectives in which the last consonant is
preceded by another consonant or two vowels.
Type 3 – Adding ‘-r’ and ‘-st’ to adjectives ending in ‘e’.
Type 4 – Adding -ier’ and ‘-iest’ to adjectives ending in ‘y’.
Type 5 – Adding ‘more’ and ‘most’ to polysyllabic adjectives.
Type 6 – Irregular adjectives
Check out if you have used the right form of the adjective from the answers given below.
1. Thiya is smarter than most of her friends.
2. Nobody is as good as you.
3. Princy was the most elegant of all.
4. Haritha is taller than her brother.
5. The most recent movie was excellent.
6. Mount Everest is the highest peak.
7. F.R.I.E.N.D.S. is the most watched series.
8. Sam is happier than Tina.
9. Artie is a patient kid.
10. These maths problems are easy.
