Degrees Of Comparison

Comparing two things is the most common way of taking decisions. Grocery shopping involves comparing similar
products of different brands or even different packaging of the same products; this phenomenon is even extended to
humans when we compare height, weight, nature, looks or other general aspects of one person with another. The
ground rule for comparison however, is the context. And the context and setting of the comparison is what makes for
the degrees of comparison in English grammar. In proper terms, degrees of comparison are used to compare one
person with another or one thing with another. The
words in this concept take the form of adjectives
and adverbs and their degree depends upon how many things are being compared and how. Comparison involves
the usage of words like more, lesser, taller etc. As is obvious, practically anything, ranging from physical attributes to
abstract emotions, can be compared using these degrees of comparison. If this intro has got you wondering how
complicated comparison degrees are then take a look further and see the concept unfold in front of your eyes.
Comparison
There are mainly three types of degrees of comparison namely:

Degrees

Positive degree of comparison - 'That song is fast'. Here, fast is a positive-degree adjective where it
describes the song without drawing any comparisons with anything else.

Comparative degree of comparison - 'That song is faster than the previous one'. Here, faster is a
comparative-degree adjective where one song is being compared to another.

Superlative degree of comparison - 'That song is the fastest one on the CD'. Here, 'fastest' is a superlativedegree adjective where it compares a particular song with all the others in the CD and ranks it higher than
any other song.

Comparison
Rules
&
Tips
While comparing most adjectives, we add '-er' and '-est' at the end of the original adjectives to make the word
comparative
and
superlative.
For example:

Positive - Short
Comparative - Short + 'er' - Shorter
Superlative - Short + 'est' - Shortest

Positive - Great
Comparative - Great + 'er' - Greater
Superlative - Great + 'est' - Greatest

If an adjective ends with consonant followed by 'y', then the 'y' is changed to '-i' and is then followed by '-er' for
comparative
degree
and
'-est'
for
superlative.
For example:

Positive - Lucky
Comparative - Luck + 'i' + 'er' - Luckier
Superlative - Luck + 'i' + est - Luckiest

Positive - Silly
Comparative - Sill + 'i' + er - Sillier
Superlative - Sill + 'i' + est - Silliest

Add 'more' or 'less' in front of the long adjectives, i.e. the ones with two or more syllables, to express the degree of
comparison
For example:

Positive - Beautiful
Comparative - More Beautiful
Superlative - Most Beautiful

Positive - Alert
Comparative - More Alert
Superlative - Most Alert

In case of irregular adjectives, these above rules do not apply. Examples below sseek to offer a clear understanding
of the irregular adjectives:

Positive - Bad
Comparative - Worse
Superlative - Best

Positive - Old
Comparative - Elder
Superlative - Eldest

Positive
Degree
Of
Comparison
The positive degree is the most basic and the simplest degree of comparison. It does not relate to any superior or
inferior quality of any other thing. The positive form is the basic form which denotes just the existence of the quality in
the thing. Adjectives in positive degree are used when there is no need of any comparison or and comparison
required in the sentence. They are used merely to say or describe the quality in question. It is merely a fact stated
using a very basic non-comparative language and terms. Positive degree is used when there is just one thing to be
described
or
talk
about
and
nothing
to
compare
it
with.
The examples under this can be:

He is a tall student.

This flower is beautiful.

John is handsome.

This fruit is as sweet as that one

No other food is as nourishing as milk.

Comparative
Degree
Of
Comparison
Comparative degrees help in comparing two different things or two sets of things. It denotes that one thing displays a
greater amount of a quality compared to something else. We generally use both positive degree and comparative
degree when we compare two things with each other. The comparative degree of an adjective expresses a high
degree
of
the
quality
than
that
present
in
the
positive
degree.
The examples under this can be:

He is more intelligent than this boy.

This flower is more beautiful than that.

Which of the two sisters is prettier?

My wife's CD collection is larger than my son's.

Gold is more precious than any other metal.

Superlative
Degree
Of
Comparison
Superlative degree exists to explain the last degree where the thing is question far exceeds all other in the quality in
question. In this form, comparisons are drawn between more than two things and one of them is considered higher
than all other. It can be used for a comparison between things, animals or persons to point out the particular highest
degree
of
that
quality.
The examples under this can be:

This is the biggest house in this street.

He is the tallest student in this class.

Alice is the prettiest girl in the neighborhood.

He is the heaviest brother.

Hercules was the strongest of all men.

Comparisons are important in every walk of life and while people say that these are not always in everybody's best
interests, there is no denying that knowing how to express these comparisons goes a long way in cementing your
hold on the English language.