🌟 Learn Positive, Comparative & Superlative degrees of comparison with rules, examples, and irregular forms. Perfect for grammar learners and teachers!
In English, adjectives and adverbs change form to show different degrees of comparison. These forms are used when comparing one, two, or more than two people or things.
🔹 1. Positive Degree
- The positive degree describes only one person or thing.
- It simply states the quality without any comparison.
✅ Examples:
- This book is interesting.
- She is tall.
🔹 2. Comparative Degree
- The comparative degree is used to compare two people or things.
- It often ends in –er or uses more before the adjective.
✅ Examples:
- This book is more interesting than that one.
- She is taller than her brother.
🔹 3. Superlative Degree
- The superlative degree is used to compare more than two people or things.
- It often ends in –est or uses most before the adjective.
✅ Examples:
- This is the most interesting book of all.
- She is the tallest girl in the class.
🛠️ Rules for Forming Comparative and Superlative Degrees
✅ Rule 1: For adjectives ending in ‘e’
- Add ‘r’ to form the comparative.
- Add ‘st’ to form the superlative.
🔹 Example:
nice – nicer – nicest
large – larger – largest
✅ Rule 2: For adjectives ending in ‘y’
- Drop ‘y’ and add ‘ier’ for the comparative.
- Add ‘iest’ for the superlative.
🔹 Example:
lazy – lazier – laziest
happy – happier – happiest
✅ Rule 3: For short adjectives (usually one syllable)🎧read more…
- Add ‘er’ for the comparative.
- Add ‘est’ for the superlative.
🔹 Example:
cold – colder – coldest
fast – faster – fastest
✅ Rule 4: For adjectives with more than two syllables
- Use ‘more’ for the comparative.
- Use ‘most’ for the superlative.
🔹 Example:
beautiful – more beautiful – most beautiful
comfortable – more comfortable – most comfortable
✅ Rule 5: For adjectives with two syllables ending in ‘y’, ‘le’, ‘ow’, or ‘er’
- These usually take ‘er’ and ‘est’.
🔹 Example:
narrow – narrower – narrowest
simple – simpler – simplest
✅ Rule 6: Irregular Comparisons 📘Read more
Some adjectives have irregular forms and don’t follow standard rules.
🔹 Examples:
good – better – best
bad – worse – worst
far – farther/further – farthest/furthest
💡 Tip: Never use “more” or “most” with adjectives that already end in –er or –est. ❌ more taller or most happiest is incorrect.
👉 “More than two syllables” means:
Words that have three or more beats (or vowel sounds) when you say them aloud.
🎧 What’s a syllable?
A syllable is a single sound or “beat” in a word.
🔹 Examples:
- Big = 1 syllable
- Happy = 2 syllables
- Beautiful = 3 syllables
- Unbelievable = 5 syllables
📚 So when we say:
“For adjectives with more than two syllables, use ‘more’ and ‘most'”,
we’re talking about words like:
🔸 beautiful – more beautiful – most beautiful
🔸 expensive – more expensive – most expensive
🔸 comfortable – more comfortable – most comfortable
📘 Irregular Degrees of Comparison Table
| Positive | Comparative | Superlative |
|---|---|---|
| good | better | best |
| bad | worse | worst |
| far | farther / further | farthest / furthest |
| little (amount) | less | least |
| many / much | more | most |
| late | later | latest / last |
| old | older / elder* | oldest / eldest* |
| well (health) | better | best |
🔍 Notes:
- “Far” can use farther/farthest for physical distance, and further/furthest for abstract ideas or distance.
- “Elder / Eldest” is used mainly for people, especially family members.
E.g., My elder brother, the eldest daughter. - “Well” as an adjective refers to health: He feels better now.
📚 FAQs on Degree of Comparison
❓ 1. What is a Degree of Comparison?
Answer:
A degree of comparison shows the level or intensity of an adjective or adverb when comparing one, two, or more things. The three types are: Positive, Comparative, and Superlative.
❓ 2. What are the three degrees of comparison?
Answer:
- Positive – Describes one thing (e.g., tall)
- Comparative – Compares two things (e.g., taller)
- Superlative – Compares more than two things (e.g., tallest)
❓ 3. How do we form comparative and superlative degrees?
Answer:
- For short adjectives: Add –er (comparative) and –est (superlative)
- For longer adjectives: Use more (comparative) and most (superlative)
- For irregular adjectives: Change the word (e.g., good → better → best)
❓ 4. What are irregular degrees of comparison?
Answer:
These do not follow the regular pattern.
Examples:
- Good – Better – Best
- Bad – Worse – Worst
- Far – Farther – Farthest
❓ 5. Can we say “more taller” or “most happiest”?
Answer:
❌ No. This is a common mistake. Never use “more” or “most” with adjectives that already end in –er or –est.
✅ Correct: taller, happiest
❓ 6. What are some examples of each degree?
Answer:
| Degree | Example Sentence |
|---|---|
| Positive | She is kind. |
| Comparative | She is kinder than her sister. |
| Superlative | She is the kindest of all. |
❓ 7. What’s the rule for adjectives ending in ‘y’?
Answer:
Drop the ‘y’ and add –ier (comparative) and –iest (superlative).
Example: happy – happier – happiest
❓ 8. When do we use ‘more’ and ‘most’?
Answer:
Use more and most with adjectives that have two or more syllables (especially 3+).
Example: beautiful – more beautiful – most beautiful
❓ 9. Is “elder” the same as “older”?
Answer:
Not exactly.
- Elder is used for people, especially in families (e.g., my elder brother).
- Older can be used for both people and things.
❓ 10. Are adverbs also compared?
Answer:
Yes! Adverbs can have degrees too.
Example:
- fast – faster – fastest
- carefully – more carefully – most carefully
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