This document defines and provides examples of the three degrees of comparison in English: positive, comparative, and superlative. The positive degree is used to describe one person or thing without comparison. The comparative degree is used to compare two people or things, and changes the adjective's form. The superlative degree compares three or more things and uses the adjective's superlative form. Several examples of adjectives in each degree are given. Exercises are also included to practice identifying and using the different degrees of comparison.

1. Degree of comparison
Course – B.Sc.
Subject – English Communication and Life Skills
Unit – 1

2. Definition: Degree of Comparison
• Adjectives have three different forms to show
degrees of comparison; it is used when we
compare one person or thing with the other.

3. Kinds of Degree of Comparison
• There are three kinds of Degree:
1) Positive Degree
2) Comparative Degree
3) Superlative Degree
• Define: Positive Degree
When we speak about only one person or thing and
the adjective is in its base/original form and there is
no comparison, it is called Positive Degree.
Example: tall, big, fat, thin, etc.

4. • Define: Comparative Degree
• When we compare two persons or things, with
the adjective changing its form, it is called
Comparative Degree. Example: taller, bigger,
fatter, thinner, etc.
• Define: Superlative Degree
• When we compare three or more things, and the
adjective is in its superlative form, it is called
Superlative Degree. Example: tallest, biggest,
fattest, thinnest, etc.

5. Degree of Comparison (List)
POSITIVE COMPARATIVE SUPERLATIVE
Sweet Sweeter Sweetest
Slow Slower Slowest
Small Smaller Smallest
Tall Taller Tallest
Long Longer Longest
Fine Finer Finest
White Whiter Whitest
Large Larger Largest
Brave Braver Bravest
Dark Darker Darkest

6. POSITIVE COMPARATIVE SUPERLATIVE
Light Lighter Lightest
Clever Cleverer Cleverest
Easy Easier Easiest
Happy Happier Happiest
Merry Merrier Merriest
Heavy Heavier Heaviest
*Shy Shyer Shyest
*Grey Greyer Greyest
Sharp Sharper Sharpest
Green Greener Greenest

7. POSITIVE COMPARATIVE SUPERLATIVE
High Higher Highest
Fast Faster Fastest
Big Bigger Biggest
Hot Hotter Hottest
Thin Thinner Thinnest
Fat Fatter Fattest
Sad Sadder Saddest
Red Redder Reddest
Kind Kinder Kindest
Ugly Uglier Ugliest

8. POSITIVE COMPARATIVE SUPERLATIVE
Blunt More blunt Most blunt
Wonderful More wonderful Most wonderful
Beautiful More beautiful Most beautiful
Intelligent More intelligent Most intelligent
Useful More useful Most useful
Timid More timid Most timid
Foolish More foolish Most foolish
Delicious More delicious Most delicious
Excited More excited Most excited
Difficult More difficult Most difficult

9. IRREGULAR COMPARISON
POSITIVE COMPARATIVE SUPERLATIVE
Good better best
Bad worse worst
Old older, elder oldest, eldest
Late later last, latest
In inner innermost, inmost
Up upper uppermost, upmost
Little less, lesser least
Far farther farthest
Much, Many more most

10. EXERCISE A
• Underline the Degree of Comparison and mention its kind:
a) Her eyes are greyer than mine.
b) Who is the most attentive student in your group?
c) This is the most beautiful view I have ever seen in my life.
d) Your balloon is big.
e) Your handwriting is not better than what it was last year.
f) He is my elder brother.
g) I have a pretty vase.
h) My sister is the tallest girl in her class.
i) This room is clean.
j) This table is so low.

11. EXERCISE B
• Fill in the blanks choosing the right form of the Positive
Degree given in bracket:
a) The cupboard is ___. (clean)
b) Rajat is ___ than Ramesh (fast)
c) Rajesh is ____. (angry)
d) They have the ____ car. (expensive)
e) Nokia is a ____ company. (good)
f) She will live ____ than him. (long)
g) The test was ____ than I thought it would be. (difficult)
h) This flower is ____. (beautiful)
i) This house is ____ than that one. (big)
j) You have the ____ player in your team.

12. Recourses/References
• www.weblearneng.com/wp-content/.../07/degrees.of_.comparison.ppt
• www.powershow.com/.../DEGREES_OF_COMPARISON_powerpoint_p...
• www.authorstream.com/.../rajendranraju-265250-degrees-comparison-
en
• www.slideshare.net/MSiiM/degrees-of-comparisson-of-adjective
• Advanced English Grammar by Wren and Martin