Degree of Comparison in Detail for all Classes

Degree of Comparison

The degree of comparison relates to adjectives and adverbs in English grammar.

We can write all adjectives and adverbs in one of three degrees (Positive/ comparative and superlative degree).

Classification of Degree of Comparison:

The degree of comparison is three kinds.

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

Definition and examples of degree of comparison

Positive: In this degree, we speak about a thing and do not find any comparison. For example-

The child is small.

Jim is not so intelligent as Bill.

Comparative:  In this degree, we speak about two and compare. For example- 

Germany is more civilized than Japan.

This tree is not so taller than that tree.

Superlative: In this degree, we speak more than two same things and compare.

John is the best boy of the class.

Rohit is one of the best cricketers of the class.

Degree of comparison   Rule no 01

If we find a one-syllable positive adjective, we make it a comparative degree by adding ”Er” and superlative degree with “Est”

Positive	Comparative	Superlative
Black	Blacker	Blackest
High	Higher	Highest
Strong	Stronger	Strongest
Tall	Taller	Tallest
Short	Shorter	Shortest
Quick	Quicker	Quickest
Light	Lighter	Lightest
old	Older	Oldest
Cold	Colder	Coldest
Small	Smaller	Smallest
Bold	Bolder	Boldest
Hard	Harder	hardest
Rich	Richer	Richest
Kind	Kinder	Kindest
long	Longer	Longest

 

Rule no 02 Degree of Comparison

If we find the last letter consonant of one syllable positive adjective and a vowel before that consonant, we make it a comparative degree with a double consonant and add”Er” and superlative degree with “Est”

Positive	Comparative	Superlative
Big	Bigger	Biggest
Fat	Fatter	Fattest
Hot	Hotter	Hottest
Red	Redder	Reddest
sad	Sadder	Saddest
Thin	Thinner	Thinnest

Rule no 03 Degree of Comparison Positive, Comparative and Superlative

If we find the last letter consonant of one syllable positive adjective and more than a vowel before that consonant, we make it a comparative degree by adding “Er” and superlative degree with “Est”

Positive	Comparative	Superlative
Weak	Weaker	Weakest
Cool	Cooler	Coolest
Soon	Sooner	Soonest
Poor	Poorer	Poorest
Deep	Deeper	Deepest
Great	Greater	Greatest

 

Rule no 04 

If we find the last letter “Y” of one syllable positive adjective and a consonant before that letter ”Y”, we make it a comparative degree with the double consonant and add”Ier” in stade of “Y” and superlative degree with “Est”

Positive	Comparative	Superlative
Happy	Happier	Happiest
Easy	Easier	Easiest
Heavy	Heavier	Heaviest
Merry	Merrier	Merriest
Wealthy	Wealthier	Wealthiest
Pretty	Prettier	Prettiest
Tiny	Tinier	Tiniest
Lively	Livelier	Liveliest
Gloomy	Gloomier	Gloomiest
Dry	Drier	Driest
Busy	Busier	Busiest

Rule no 05

If we find the last letter consonant of one syllable positive adjective and a vowel before that consonant, we make it a comparative degree with the double consonant and add”er” and superlative degree with “Est”

Positive	Comparative	Superlative
Gray	Grayer	Grayest

 

Rule No 06 Degree of Comparison

If we find the last letter “E” of one syllable positive adjective, we make it a comparative degree by adding ”R” and superlative degree with “St”

Positive	Comparative	Superlative
Fine	Finer	Finest
Brave	Braver	Bravest
Wise	Wiser	Wisest
Large	Larger	Largest
Pale	Paler	Palest
Able	Abler	Ablest
Gentle	Gentler	Gentlest
Noble	Nobler	Noblest
Free	Freer	Freest
True	Truer	Truest

Rule no.07 Comparison of Degree By Prakash Sir

If we find more than one syllable positive adjective we make it comparative degree with “More”, “Less” and superlative degree with “Most”, ” Lest”.

Positive	Comparative	Superlative
Expensive	More/less expensive	Most/lest expensive
Active	More active	Most active
Beautiful	Less beautiful	Lest beautiful
Careful	More careful	Lest careful
Dutiful	Less dutiful	Lest dutiful
Hopeful	Less hopeful	Lest hopeful
Useful	More useful	Most useful
Difficult	More difficult	Most difficult
Faithful	Less faithful	Lest faithful
Interesting	More interesting	Most interesting
Dangerous	Less dangerous	Lest dangerous
Industrious	More industrious	Most industrious
Courageous	Less courageous	Lest courageous
Generous	More generous	Most generous
Populous	More populous	Most populous
Honest	Less honest	Lest honest
Famous	More famous	Most famous
Important	More important	Most important
Intelligent	Less intelligent	Lest intelligent
Comfortable	More comfortable	Most comfortable
Civilized	Less civilized	Lest civilized

 

Exception Rule no.8 

Some positive adjectives can not follow the above rules. Some examples have been given below.   

 

Positive	Comparative	Superlative
Good	Better	Best
Bad	Worse	Worst
Late	Later/latter	Last/latest
Little	Less	Lest
Many	More	Most
Much	More	Most
Well	Better	Best

Structure of all Degree  

Positive Degree:

1. Sub1 + be verb + as + positive adj + as + sub2.

Example: Ratan is as rich as Mr. Dutta.

2. Sub1 + be verb + not + so + positive adj + as Sub2.

Example: Gopal is not so difficult as Soumen.

3. No other + Noun (singular) + in/of + (other word) + be verb + so/as positive adj + as + Sub.

Example: No other state of India is so hot as Rajasthan.

4. Very few + noun (Plural) + extra word + be verb + as + positive adj + as Subj.

Example: Very few cities of Asia are as populous as Calcutta.

5. Some other (Plural) extra word + plural noun + be verb + as positive adjective as sub.

Example: Some other boys in the class are not so good as Ram.

6. As soon as + Sub + verb + other, sub + verb-2 + o.

Example: As soon as the man saw a tiger, he ran away.

Comparative degree:

1. Sub + be verb + comparative adj + than + sub.

Example: I am stronger than Gopal.

2. Sub + be verb + not comparative adj + than + sub.

Example: Tapan is cleverer than you.

3. Sub + be verb + comparative adj + than + any other + Noun (Singular).

Example: Rajasthan is hotter than any other state of India.

4. Sub + be verb + comparative adj + than + many/most other + Noun (plural).

Example: Chennai is busier than most other ports of India.

5. Sub + be verb + not + comparative adj + some other + Noun (Plural) + Extra word.

Example: Some other memorials in India is not older than the Tajmahal.

 

6. No sooner had + sub + V-3 + than + sub + verb + obj.

Example: No sooner had I entered the room than the boys stood up.

 

Structure of superlative degree

1. Sub + be verb + one of the + sup.adj + noun (Plural) + extra word.

Example: Rabin is one of the best boys in the class.

2. Sub + be verb + the + superlative adj + noun (singular) + extra word.

Example: Arjun is the best character in the Mahabharata.

3. Sub + be verb + the + superlative adj + of all + noun (Plural).

Example: Iron is the most useful of all metals.

Read more Article:

1. All Conditional Sentences
2. Transformation of Sentences [Affirmative to Negative]
3. Assertive to Exclamatory
4. Capitalization
5. Transformation of sentences [Simple, Complex and Compound]
6. Joining of Sentences with Infinitive
7. Degree Change