Definition:
In the English Language, a degree of comparison is a form of adjective this is used for the comparison of someone or thing possessing the same quality as any other. It is associated with the adjective or adverb in a phrase. Degree of comparison is defined by the Collins Dictionary as “the list of the positive, comparative, and superlative form of an adverb or adjective.” Moreover, it may be said that you possibly can use the degree of comparison to compare nouns having similar quality or characteristics.
The Degrees of Comparison in English Grammar:
As you have already understood, the degrees of comparison refers to making comparisons. There are three degrees of comparison in English grammar and they are following:
- Positive Degree of Comparison
- Comparative Degree of Comparison
- Superlative Degree of Comparison
Let’s now take a look at each of the above-mentioned degrees of comparison in detail.
Positive Degree of Comparison:
The positive degree of comparison is the main form of the adjective. This degree does not let you do any comparison. It only provides the audience the information about a specific quality possessed by a noun.
Example Sentences:
- Mona is happy.
- This costume is pretty.
- He looks very handsome.
- My mother is tired.
- The moon is bright.
Comparative Degree of Comparison:
The comparative degree of comparison is utilized to compare two nouns that have a similar quality or the specific quality of a noun at two dissimilar times. It demonstrates which of the two has the greater or lesser degree of the specific quality being mentioned.
Example Sentences:
- Mona looks weaker than Lisa.
- This couch is more comfortable than the other couch.
- The moon is brighter than the last day.
- Your nails are longer than hers.
- I am taller than my friends.
Types of degree of comparison and example sentences
Superlative Degree of Comparison:
The superlative degree of comparison is the uppermost degree of comparison. It is used to compare the comparable qualities that are shared by more than two nouns. It depicts which of these nouns being linked has the highest or smallest degree of the stated quality or qualities.
Example Sentences:
- They climbed the highest peak.
- The previous group was the best of the rest.
- The Burj Khalifa is the longest building ever.
- Maya is the tallest girl in our team.
- Burana is the most silent boy in the classroom.
Rules and Points to Remember to use Degrees of Comparison:
Same as every other grammatical section in English, there are some rules and points described you must have to keep in mind when using the degrees of comparison. Take a look at the following:
- The very first thing that you must remember regarding degrees of comparison is that they are commonly used to compare adjectives and adverbs.
- The positive degree of comparison is the original form of the adjective or adverb and does not permit any comparison.
- The comparative degree of comparison refers to comparing two nouns that have or do not have the same qualities. It is generally specified by the addition of ‘-er’ to the end of the adjective.
- The comparative degree of comparison is always specified by adding ‘than’ right after the comparative form of the adjective.
- The superlative degree of comparison shows which of the nouns has the highest or smallest of quality or qualities. It is specified by the use of an article ‘the’ earlier the adjective and the addition of ‘-est’ to the end of the adjective.
Examples of Degrees of Comparison:
Let’s have a look at the following examples of how degrees of comparison can be used in a sentence.
|
Positive Degree of Comparison |
Comparative Degree of Comparison | Superlative Degree of Comparison |
| Lisa is tall. | Lisa is taller than Britan. | Lisa is the tallest of all the girls in the class. |
| Mona is pretty. | Mona is prettier than her younger sister. | Mona is the prettiest. |
| Ali is intellectual. | Ali is more intellectual than Agha. | Ali is the most intellectual kid in class. |
| She is clever. | She is cleverer than Anna. | She is the cleverest. |
| This novel is interesting. | This novel is more interesting than the other novel I have read. | This novel is the most interesting novel I have read. |
| Anita has a big family. | Anita has a bigger family than Tom. | Anita has the biggest family. |
| The dresses of this brand are expensive. | The dresses of this brand are more expensive than the other brand in the city. | The dresses of this brand are the most expensive. |
| The climate today is bad. | The climate today is worse than yesterday. | The climate today is the worst. |
Degree of Comparison with example sentences
List of Degrees of Comparison:
- Type 1 – Doubling the final consonant of a single syllable adjective and adding ‘-er’ and ‘-est’.
- Type 2 – Adding ‘-er’ and ‘-est’ to a single syllable adjective in which the last consonant is headed by another consonant or two vowels.
- Type 3 – Add ‘-r’ and ‘-st’ to adjectives that are ending in ‘e’.
- Type 4 – Add -ier’ and ‘-iest’ to adjectives that are ending in ‘y’.
- Type 5 – Adding ‘more’ and ‘most’ to the adjectives that have many syllables.
- Type 6 – Irregular adjectives
Here, we have a list of more than 100 examples of degrees of comparison that you can state to.
Type 1
| Positive Degree | Comparative Degree | Superlative Degree |
| Big | Bigger | Biggest |
| Thin | Thinner | Thinnest |
| Fat | Fatter | Fattest |
| Dim | Dimmer | Dimmest |
| Hot | Hotter | Hottest |
| Sad | Sadder | Saddest |
| Slim | Slimmer | Slimmest |
| Red | Redder | Reddest |
Type 2
| Positive Degree | Comparative Degree | Superlative Degree |
| Bright | Brighter | Brightest |
| Short | Shorter | Shortest |
| Weak | Weaker | Weakest |
| Long | Longer | Longest |
| Smart | Smarter | Smartest |
| Cool | Cooler | Coolest |
| Dark | Darker | Darkest |
| Small | Smaller | Smallest |
| Bold | Bolder | Boldest |
| Clever | Cleverer | Cleverest |
| High | Higher | Highest |
| Tall | Taller | Tallest |
| Sweet | Sweeter | Sweetest |
| Deep | Deeper | Deepest |
| Rich | Richer | Richest |
| Fast | Faster | Fastest |
| Thick | Thicker | Thickest |
| Great | Greater | Greatest |
| Kind | Kinder | Kindest |
| Cheap | Cheaper | Cheapest |
| Young | Younger | Youngest |
| Fast | Faster | Fastest |
| Stout | Stouter | Stoutest |
| Black | Blacker | Blackest |
| Slow | Slower | Slowest |
| Tight | Tighter | Tightest |
| Quick | Quicker | Quickest |
| Narrow | Narrower | Narrowest |
| Broad | Broader | Broadest |
Type 3
| Positive Degree | Comparative Degree | Superlative Degree |
| Large | Larger | Largest |
| Close | Closer | Closest |
| Dense | Denser | Densest |
| Humble | Humbler | Humblest |
| Simple | Simpler | Simplest |
| Fine | Finer | Finest |
| Noble | Nobler | Noblest |
| Brave | Braver | Bravest |
| Pale | Paler | Palest |
| Nice | Nicer | Nicest |
Type 4
| Positive Degree | Comparative Degree | Superlative Degree |
| Funny | Funnier | Funniest |
| Happy | Happier | Happiest |
| Dry | Drier | Driest |
| Lazy | Lazier | Laziest |
| Easy | Easier | Easiest |
| Heavy | Heavier | Heaviest |
| Wealthy | Wealthier | Wealthiest |
| Healthy | Healthier | Healthiest |
| Costly | Costlier | Costliest |
| Busy | Busier | Busiest |
| Cozy | Cozier | Coziest |
| Dirty | Dirtier | Dirtiest |
List of Degrees
Type 5
| Positive Degree | Comparative Degree | Superlative Degree |
| Comfortable | More comfortable | Most comfortable |
| Beautiful | More beautiful | Most beautiful |
| Sensible | More sensible | Most sensible |
| Ignorant | More ignorant | Most ignorant |
| Attractive | More attractive | Most attractive |
| Important | More important | Most important |
| Courageous | More courageous | Most courageous |
| Faithful | More faithful | Most faithful |
| Elegant | More elegant | Most elegant |
| Active | More active | Most active |
| Popular | More popular | Most popular |
| Awesome | More awesome | Most awesome |
| Loyal | More loyal | Most loyal |
| Fantastic | More fantastic | Most fantastic |
| Wonderful | More wonderful | Most wonderful |
| Splendid | More splendid | Most splendid |
| Famous | More famous | Most famous |
| Difficult | More difficult | Most difficult |
| Careful | More careful | Most careful |
| Brilliant | More brilliant | Most brilliant |
| Enthusiastic | More enthusiastic | Most enthusiastic |
| Suitable | More suitable | Most suitable |
| Spacious | More spacious | Most spacious |
| Devoted | More devoted | Most devoted |
| Proper | More proper | Most proper |
| Patient | More patient | Most patient |
| Amazing | More amazing | Most amazing |
| Intelligent | More intelligent | Most intelligent |
| Likely | More likely | Most likely |
| Careless | More careless | Most careless |
| Threatening | More threatening | Most threatening |
| Magnificent | More magnificent | Most magnificent |
| Depressed | More depressed | Most depressed |
| Excited | More excited | Most excited |
| Amusing | More amusing | Most amusing |
Type 6
| Positive Degree | Comparative Degree | Superlative Degree |
| Good | Better | Best |
| Bad | Worse | Worst |
| Far | Further/Farther | Furthest/Farthest |
| Late | Later(time)/Latter(position) | Latest(time)/Last(position) |
| Much | More | Most |
| Little | Less | Least |
| Many | More | Most |
| Old | Elder/Older | Eldest/Oldest |
