Degrees Of Comparison

English adjectives and adverbs commonly distinguish three degrees: the positive (the basic form), the comparative (expressing a higher degree than is present in something else) and the superlative (expressing a maximal degree).

Comparative and superlative adjectives: formation

The comparative is formed with –er or more; the superlative is formed with –est or most. One syllable adjectives like big and fast tend to prefer –er and –est. Larger ones like beautiful and carefully take more and most.

• John is tall.
• John is taller than Peter.
• John is the tallest man I know.
• Susie drives carefully.
• Susie drives more carefully than Alice.
• Susie drives the most carefully of anybody in Paris.

Comparison of Adjectives and Adverbs

To say that people or things are unequal in a particular way, we can use comparative adjectives and adverbs.

• She is taller than her sister.
• He earns more money than his wife does.
• Her mother is more attractive than her.
• Rohan is cleverer than his friends.
• Sania is richer than her neighbours.
• It is better than I thought.

Formation of the comparative and superlative

An adjective can exist in three forms – positive, comparative and superlative.

The positive

This is the basic form of the adjective. Examples are: kind, nice, beautiful, pleasant, tall, short, cruel, brave etc.

The comparative

One-syllable adjectives normally form their comparative by adding –er to the positive. Note that a syllable is a vowel-sound. One-syllable adjectives have just one vowel-sound. They might have more than one vowel, but when they are pronounced, only one vowel-sound is heard. Examples are given below: tall, short, cute, nice, brave, small, dark, fair etc.

We can change these one-syllable adjectives into the comparative by adding –er to them.

Tall –> taller

Short –> shorter

Cute –> cuter

Nice –> nicer

Brave –> braver

Small –> smaller

Dark –> darker

Fair –> fairer

Longer adjectives and adverbs form their comparative forms by adding more to the positive.

Beautiful –> more beautiful

Careful –> more careful

Pleasant –> more pleasant

Intelligent –> more intelligent

Practical –> more practical

The superlative

The superlative adjective shows a maximal degree of some quality. One syllable- adjectives form their superlative forms by adding –est to the positive.

Tall –> taller –> tallest

Short –> shorter –> shortest

Cute –> cuter –> cutest

Nice –> nicer –> nicest

Brave –> braver –> bravest

Small –> smaller –> smallest

Dark –> darker –> darkest

Fair –> fairer –> fairest

Longer adjectives form their superlative forms by adding most to the positive.

Beautiful –> more beautiful –> most beautiful

Careful –> more careful –> most careful

Pleasant –> more pleasant –> most pleasant

Intelligent –> more intelligent –> most intelligent

Practical –> more practical –> most practical

Irregular comparison

Some adjectives and adverbs have irregular comparative and superlative forms. That means their comparative and superlative forms are not formed from their positive.

Examples are given below.

Positive –> comparative –> superlative

Good –> better –> best

Bad –> worse –> worst

Ill –> worse –> worst

Little –> less –> least

Much / many –> more –> most

The superlative adjective is used to say that one of a group is outstanding in a particular way.