Degrees of Comparison in English Grammar

Degrees Of Comparison

• There are three degrees of comparison:
  1. Positive (base form): used to describe a noun or pronoun
  2. Comparative (more/most): used to compare two nouns or pronouns
  3. Superlative (most): used to compare three or more nouns or pronouns

Comparative Forms

• Regular comparative forms:
  • Formed by adding -er to the base form (e.g. big → bigger)
  • Use more before the base form if the adjective has two or more syllables (e.g. beautiful → more beautiful)
• Comparative forms of short adjectives (one syllable):
  • Usually formed by adding -er (e.g. fast → faster)
  • Some exceptions: good → better, far → farther/further
• Comparative forms of long adjectives (two or more syllables):
  • Use more before the base form (e.g. interesting → more interesting)

Irregular Adjectives

• Adjectives that do not follow the regular comparative forms:
  • good → better → best
  • far → farther/further → farthest/furthest
  • old → older → oldest
  • many/much → more → most

Superlative Forms

• Regular superlative forms:
  • Formed by adding -est to the base form (e.g. big → biggest)
  • Use most before the base form if the adjective has two or more syllables (e.g. beautiful → most beautiful)
• Superlative forms of short adjectives (one syllable):
  • Usually formed by adding -est (e.g. fast → fastest)
  • Some exceptions: good → best, far → farthest/furthest
• Superlative forms of long adjectives (two or more syllables):
  • Use most before the base form (e.g. interesting → most interesting)

Degrees of Comparison

• There are three degrees of comparison: positive, comparative, and superlative
• Positive degree is used to describe a noun or pronoun
• Comparative degree is used to compare two nouns or pronouns
• Superlative degree is used to compare three or more nouns or pronouns

Comparative Forms

• Regular comparative forms are formed by adding -er to the base form (e.g. big → bigger)
• Use more before the base form if the adjective has two or more syllables (e.g. beautiful → more beautiful)
• Comparative forms of short adjectives (one syllable) are usually formed by adding -er (e.g. fast → faster)
• Exceptions to regular comparative forms: good → better, far → farther/further

Irregular Adjectives

• Good → better → best
• Far → farther/further → farthest/furthest
• Old → older → oldest
• Many/much → more → most

Superlative Forms

• Regular superlative forms are formed by adding -est to the base form (e.g. big → biggest)
• Use most before the base form if the adjective has two or more syllables (e.g. beautiful → most beautiful)
• Superlative forms of short adjectives (one syllable) are usually formed by adding -est (e.g. fast → fastest)
• Exceptions to regular superlative forms: good → best, far → farthest/furthest