Discover the Degrees of Comparison Rules – the forms of adjectives and adverbs used to compare one person, thing, or idea to another.
Learn about positive, comparative, and superlative forms, as well as the proper use of comparative and superlative adjectives and adverbs in sentences.
Get a thorough understanding of when to use “more,” “most,” “er,” and “est” to form comparisons. and how to construct meaningful and accurate comparative and superlative sentences.
What are Degrees of Comparison
Degrees of Comparison are the comparisons between two or more persons or things according to their Quantity, and Number or Quality. Those are also called the Degrees of Comparison of Adjectives.
Types of Degrees of Comparison
There are three degrees in English.
For example
Positive: Two persons or things are said to be equal in respect of some quality.
Comparative: When two persons or things are said to be unequal in respect of some quality.
Superlative: The superlative degree is used when the comparison is intended between more than two things or persons.
Degrees of Comparison Rules and Examples for Positive Degree
When two persons or things are said to be equal in respect of some quality, we use the positive degree. The positive degree is the simplest form of the adjective. It is used when no comparison is meant. Study the following pictograph.
Positive Degree Rules
(i) No suffix ( such as -er, -est ) will be added to the adjective in the positive degree.
(ii) Basically, if there is “ as ….. as”, “ so ……. as”, or “ as …..” in the sentence, we use the positive degree which is the simplest form of the adjective.[ there is nothing like “than” or “ the ….. of ”]
Example: This boy is as ………. (clever) as she is. [Fill in the blanks with the proper form of the adjective]
Ans: This boy is as clever as she is.
Degrees of Comparison Rules and Examples for Comparative Degree
When two persons or things are said to be unequal in respect of some quality, we use the comparative degree. Learn the pictograph given below.
Comparative Degree Rules
(i) In Comparative Degree generally [ -er ] is added to the adjectives. As
taller = tall + er; sweeter = sweet + er; cleverer = clever + er, if the adjective is of one syllable [ mono-syllabic word].
(ii) If the adjective is of more than one syllable, [ more ] is added before the adjective in the Comparative Degree. As Iron is more useful than any other metal. [ Here ‘use – ful’ is a di-syllabic word]
(iii) If the word [ than ] is used in a sentence, we use Comparative Degree.
Example: Rishita is ………. than Riya (tall). [ Fill in the blanks with the proper form of adjectives ]
Ans: Rishita is taller than Riya.
Degrees of Comparison Rules and Examples for Superlative Degree
The superlative degree is used when the comparison is intended between more than two things or persons or between two sets of things or persons surpassing all other persons or things of the same kind. Get the following pictograph for a better understanding.
Superlative Degree Rules
(i) In Superlative Degree generally [ -est ] is added to the adjectives. As
tallest = tall + est; sweetest = sweet + est; laziest= lazy + est, if the adjective is of one syllable [ mono-syllabic word].
(ii) If the adjective is of more than one syllable, [ most ] is added before the adjective in the Superlative Degree. As Ram is the most intelligent boy in the class. [ Here in-te-lli-gent is a quadri-syllabic (4) word]
(iii) Basically, if there are “ the …….. of ”, “ the …….”, and “…….. of ” in a sentence, we use Superlative Degree.
Example: This is the ……….. of all the mangoes. (sweet). [ Fill in the blanks with the proper form of adjectives ]
Ans: This is the sweetest of all the mangoes.
(iv) The superlative with most is sometimes used when there is no idea of comparison but merely an intention to show the position of quality to a very high degree; This is a most useful book. He was most polite to me. Your news is most interesting. This is most unfortunate.
Latin Comparatives
There are some comparatives that have been taken directly from the Latin language. All of these end in or and not in er and all are followed by to instead of than in the comparative degree of adjective. For examples,
- His strength is superior to mine
- His strength is inferior to mine.
- Ram is junior to Shyam.
- Bimal is senior to Shyamal
- This event is prior to that.
But Latin comparatives like ‘interior‘, ‘exterior‘, ‘major‘, and ‘minor‘ are now never followed by to but are used as if they were adjectives in the positive degree. For examples,
- A fact of minor importance.
- The interior parts of the building.
Confused Meaning in Degree of Adjectives
(i) Elder, Eldest; Older, Oldest: Elder and Eldest are used only for persons and refer to the members of the same family. Older and oldest are used for both persons and things and “than” is followed by older. For examples,
- Ram is my elder brother.
- Johnny is his eldest brother.
- He is older than his sister.
- Ram is the oldest boy in the class.
(ii) Later, Latest; Latter, Last: Later and latest refer to time; latter and last refer to position.
- He is later than I expected.
- I have not seen the latest movies.
- The latter chapters are unintelligible.
- The last chapter is very good.
(iii) Nearest, Next:
Nearest denotes space or distance: This street is the nearest to my house.
Next denotes order or position: This house is next to mine.
(iv) Farther, Further:
Farther denotes a greater distance between two points: Chennai is farther from Calcutta than Mumbai is.
Further denotes something additional or something more in advance:
- The further end of the room.
- A further reason exists.
Degrees of Comparison Rules and Examples for Formation of Words
Rule 1
Adjectives of one syllable, and some of more than one, form by adding er and the Superlative by adding est to the Positive.
| Positive | Comparative | Superlative |
| Sweet | sweeter | sweetest |
| Small | smaller | smallest |
| Tall | taller | tallest |
| Bold | bolder | boldest |
| Clever | cleverer | cleverest |
| Kind | kinder | kindest |
| Young | younger | youngest |
| Great | greater | greatest |
Rule 2
When the Positive ends in e, only r and st are added.
| Positive | Comparative | Superlative |
| Brave | braver | bravest |
| Fine | finer | finest |
| White | whiter | whitest |
| Large | larger | largest |
| Able | abler | ablest |
| Noble | nobler | noblest |
| Tall | taller | tallest |
| Wise | wiser | wisest |
Rule 3
When the Positive ends in preceded by a consonant, the y is changed into i before adding er and est
| Positive | Comparative | Superlative |
| Happy | happier | happiest |
| Easy | easier | easiest |
| Heavy | heavier | heaviest |
| Merry | merrier | merriest |
| Wealthy | wealthier | wealthiest |
| Heavy | Heavier | Heaviest |
Rule 4
When the Positive is a word of one syllable and ends in a single consonant, preceded by a short vowel, this consonant is doubled before adding er and est.
| Positive | Comparative | Superlative |
| Red | redder | reddest |
| Big | bigger | biggest |
| Hot | hotter | hottest |
| Thin | thinner | thinnest |
| Sad | sadder | saddest |
| Fat | fatter | fattest |
Rule 5
Adjectives of more than two syllables form the Comparative and Superlative by putting more and most before the positive.
| Positive | Comparative | Superlative |
| Beautiful | more beautiful | most beautiful |
| Difficult | more difficult | most difficult |
| Industrious | more industrious | most industrious |
| Courageous | more courageous | most courageous |
| useful | More useful | Most useful |
| Intelligent | More intelligent | Most intelligent |
Two-syllable adjectives ending in ful (e.g. useful), less (e.g. hopeless), ing (e.g. boring), and ed (e.g… surprised), and many others (e.g. modern, recent, foolish, famous, certain) take more and most.
The following take either er and est or more and most.
Polite, simple, feeble, cruel, gentle, narrow, common, handsome, pleasant, stupid
She is politer / more polite than her sister.
He is the politest / most polite of them.
Rule 6
The following Adjectives are compared Irregularly, that is, their comparative and Superlative are not formed from the Positive.
| Positive | Comparative | Superlative |
| Good / well | Better | best |
| Bad, evil, ill | worse | worst |
| Little | less, lesser | least |
| Much | more | most quantity) |
| Many | more | most (number) |
| Late | later, latter | latest, last |
| Old | older, elder | oldest, eldest |
| Far | farther | farthest |
| Fore | further | furthest |
| In | inner | Inmost, innermost |
| Up | upper | Upmost, uppermost |
| Out | outer | Utmost, uttermost |
Structure of Degrees of Comparison Rules and Examples in a Sentence.
There are Some Rules to change the Degree of Comparison of an adjective in a sentence without changing the meaning of the sentence.
Type 1 :
Positive – No other boy in the class is as good as Ram.
Comparative – Ram is better than any other boy (or all other boys) in the class.
Superlative – Ram is the best boy in the class.
Type 2 :
Positive – Very few boys in the class are as good as Ram.
Comparative – Ram is better than most other boys in the class.
Superlative – Ram is one of the best boys in the class.
Type 3 :
Positive – Some boys are at least as good as Ram.
Comparative – Ram is not better than some other boys.
Comparative – Some boys are not less good than Ram.
Superlative – Ram is not the best of all boys in the class.
Type 4 :
Positive – He is as good as Ram.
Comparative – Ram is not better than he is.
Degrees of Comparison Solved Exercises
Change the degrees of the following sentences as directed.
(1) PC Mahalanobish is one of the greatest statisticians ever born in our country. (positive)
Ans: Very few statisticians ever born in our country are as great as PC Mahalanobish.
(2) Ishant Sharma is taller than any other Indian cricketer. (superlative)
Ans: Ishant Sharma is the tallest Indian cricketer.
(3) Simla is cooler than Kolkata. (positive)
Ans: Kolkata is not as cool as Simla.
(4) No other Indian poet is as good as Tagore. (comparative)
Ans: Tagore is greater than any other Indian poet.
(5) Very few poets born in our country are as great as Rabindranath Tagore. (Comparative)
Ans: Rabindranath Tagore is greater than most other poets born in our country.
(6) Jupiter is the largest of all planets. (Change the degree from Superlative to Positive and Comparative)
Ans: Jupiter is larger than any other planet. (or all other planets). (Comparative)
Ans: No other planet is so large as Jupiter. (Positive)
(7) Hunger is the best sauce. (Change the degree of comparison.)
Ans: No other sauce is so good as hunger. (Positive)
Ans: Hunger is better than any other sauce. (Comparative)
(8) He would sooner die than tell a lie. (Change the degree from Comparative to Positive)
Ans: He would as soon die as tell a lie. (Positive)
(9) India is the largest democracy in the world. (Change the degree of comparison)
Ans: No other democracy in the world is so large as India. (Positive)
Ans: India is larger than any other democracy in the world. (Comparative)
(10) America is the richest country in the world. (Change the degree from Superlative to comparative and positive)
Ans: No other country in the world is so rich as America. (Positive)
Ans: America is richer than any other country in the world. (Comparative)
Exercises 1
(1) It is easier to preach than to practice. ( Change the degree from comparative to positive)
Ans: It is not so easy to practice as to preach. (Positive)
(2) Iron is more useful than all the other metals. ( Change the degree from comparative to positive and superlative)
Ans: No other metal is so useful as iron. (Positive)
Ans: Iron is the most useful of all metals. (Superlative)
(3) Soybeans are at least as nutritious as meat. ( Change the degree from Positive to Comparative)
Ans: Meat is not more nutritious than soya beans. ( Comparative)
Ans: Soya beans are not less nutritious than meat. ( Comparative)
(4) Open rebuke is better than secret love. (Change into positive)
Ans: Secret love is not so good as an open rebuke. (Positive)
(5) The Sears Tower is the tallest building in the world. (Change the degree from Positive to Comparative and superlative)
Ans: The Sears Tower is the tallest building in the world. (Superlative)
Ans: No other building in the world is taller than the Sears Tower. (Comparative)
(6) Sir Surendranath was at least as great an orator as any other Indian. (Change the degree from Positive to Comparative and superlative)
Ans: No other Indian was a greater orator than Sir Surendranath. (Comparative)
Ans: Sir Surendranath was one of the greatest Indian orators (Superlative)
(7) The tiger is the most ferocious of all animals. (Change the degree from Positive to Comparative and superlative)
Ans: No other animal is so ferocious as the tiger. (Positive)
Ans: The tiger is more ferocious than any other animal. (Comparative)
Exercise 2
Change the degree of comparison without changing the meaning.
(1) No other man was as strong as Bhim.(Change the degree from Positive to Comparative and superlative)
Ans: Bhim was stronger than any other man. (Comparative)
Ans: Bhim was the strongest of all men. (Superlative)
(2) Australia is the largest island in the world. (Change the degree from Positive to Comparative and superlative)
Ans: No other island in the world is so large as Australia. (Positive)
Ans: Australia is larger than any other island in the world. (Comparative)
(3) Lead is heavier than any other metal. (Change the degree from Positive to Comparative and superlative)
Ans: No other metal is so heavy as lead. (Positive)
Ans: Lead is the heaviest of all metals. (Superlative)
(4) Very few animals are as useful as the cow. (Change the degree from Positive to Comparative and superlative)
Ans: The cow is one of the most useful animals. (Superlative)
Ans: The cow is more useful than most other animals. (Comparative)
(5) Some people have more money than brains. (Change the degree from Comparative to Positive)
Ans: Some people do not have as many brains as money. (Positive)
(6) No man was as strong as Rajesh. (Change the degree from Positive to Comparative)
Ans: Rajesh is stronger than any other man. (Comparative)
(7) I know him quite as well as you do. (Change the degree from Positive to Comparative)
Ans: You do not know him better than I do. ( Comparative)
(8) You do not know him better than I do. (Change the degree from Comparative to Positive)
Ans: I do not know him as well as you do. (Positive)
