Adjectives- Degrees of Comparison

1. When we use adjectives to compare persons or
things, we are said to be using degrees of
comparison.

2. Positive degree
Comparative degree
Superlative degree

3. ADJECTIVES : Positive Degree
The Positive Degree of an adjective is used to describe a
single thing or person. It simply describes the existence of a
quality.
Rudi is a tall boy.

4. ADJECTIVES : Comparative Degree
The Comparative Degree of an adjective is used to compare
two persons or things with each other.
RUDIRONI
Roni is taller than Rudi.

5. ADJECTIVES : Superlative Degree
The Superlative Degree of an adjective is used to compare
more than two persons or things with each other.
ROBBYRONIRUDI
Robby is the tallest of the three boys.

6. ADJECTIVES :Degree of Comparison
*Rudi is a tall boy.
*Roni is taller than Rudi.
*Robby is the tallest of the three boys.
ROBBYRONIRUDI

7. COMPARATIVE DEGREE
Adding –er
Example : big – bigger
SUPERLATIVE DEGREE
Adding –est
Example : big – biggest

8. If the adjective ends by “e” then the comparative
is formed by adding “r”. and the Superlative is
formed by adding “st”.
Positive Comparative Superlative
Wise Wiser Wisest

9. If the positive form of an adjective ends
in “y”, and it has a consonant before it,
then “y” is first change to “i” before
adding “-er” and “est”.
Positive Comparative Superlative
heavy heavier heaviest
If the “y” has a vowel before it, then “-
er” and “-est” are simply added.
Positive Comparative Superlative
grey greyer greyest

10. For some adjectives, the last letter is doubled
before adding by “-er” and “-est” because it ends
with consonant and just before it, it has a vowel.
Positive Comparative Superlative
sad sadder saddest
Thin Thinner thinnest

11. For adjectives having more than two
syllables, the comparative and
superlative degrees are formed by
adding “more” and “most” before the
positive form.
Positive Comparative Superlative
Beautiful More beautiful Most beautiful
Useful More useful Most useful

12. There are the different rule from some
adjectives that they are formed by
different words for comparative and
superlative.
Positive Comparative Superlative
Many/much More Most
Well/good Better Best
Little Less, lesser least

13. RULES EXAMPLES
We can use positive form to comparison by
using “as adjective as”
Mini is as wise as Manan.
An adjective in comparative degree is
usually followed by “than”
Tina is more diligent
than her brother.
Use “the” before superlative degree of
adjective.
She is the best student in
this class.
An adjective in superlative degree is usually
followed by “of” or “in”
She is the biggest girl in
this school.
Study is the most
important thing of my
life.
We can’t use double comparatives or
superlatives.
Incorrect:
It is more darker here.