What Do You Mean by Degrees of Comparison?

– Definition

In the English language, a degree of comparison is a form of adjective that is used

to compare a person or thing possessing the same quality with another. It is related

to the adjective or adverb in a sentence. The Collins Dictionary defines the ‘degree

of comparison’ as “the listing of the positive, comparative, and superlative forms of

an adjective or adverb.” In other words, it can be said that one can use the degree

of comparison to make a comparison between nouns having comparable quality or

qualities.

What are degrees of comparison?

Degrees of comparison are words used to compare nouns that possess the same

quality.

Q2 How many degrees of comparison are there?

There are three degrees of comparison, i.e., positive degree, comparative degree

and superlative degree. For example, ‘sweet’ is in the positive degree, ‘sweeter’ is

in the comparative degree, and ‘sweetest’ is in the superlative degree.

The Three Degrees of Comparison in English Grammar

As you have already seen, the degrees of comparison are used to make

comparisons. In English grammar, there are three degrees of comparison and they

are,

Positive Degree of Comparison

Comparative Degree of Comparison

Superlative Degree of Comparison

Examples of Degrees of Comparison

Positive Degree of Comparison

The positive degree of comparison is basically the original form of the adjective.

This degree does not allow you to make any comparison. It only gives the audience

the information about a particular quality possessed by a noun.

For example:

Lisa is happy.

This dress is pretty.

He looks handsome.

Meena is tired.

The sun is bright.

Comparative Degree of Comparison

The comparative degree of comparison is used to compare between two nouns that

have the same quality or the particular quality of a noun at two different times. It

shows which one of the two has the greater or lesser degree of the particular quality

being referred to.

For example:

Tina looks sadder than Katie.

This bed is more comfortable than the other bed.

The sun is brighter than yesterday.

Your hair is longer than hers.

My brother is taller than me.

Superlative Degree of Comparison

The superlative degree of comparison is the highest degree of comparison. It is

used to compare the similar qualities shared by more than two nouns. It shows

which of these nouns being compared has the greatest or least degree of the

mentioned quality or qualities.

For example:

We climbed the highest mountain.

The last group was the best of all.

The Himalayas are the longest mountain ranges.

Sanjana is the tallest girl in our gang.

Adharsh is the most silent boy in class.

Take a look at the following examples of how degrees of comparison can be

used.

Positive Degree of Comparative Degree of Superlative Degree of

Comparison Comparison Comparison

Santana is tall. Santana is taller than Brittany. Santana is the tallest of

all the girls.

She is pretty. She is prettier than her sister. She is the prettiest.

Sam is intelligent. Sam is more intelligent than Tina. Sam is the most
intelligent kid in class.

The food here is as The food here is better than the The food here is the
good as the other other restaurants in the city. best of all the
restaurants in the city. restaurants in the city.

He is smart. He is smarter than Geetha. He is the smartest.

This book This book is more interesting This book is the most
is interesting. than the other books I have read. interesting book I have
read.

Rinita has a big house. Rinita has Rinita has the

a bigger house than Seena. biggest house.
 The dresses in this The dresses in this boutique are more The dresses in this
boutique expensive than the boutiques in the boutique are the most
are expensive. city. expensive.

The weather today The weather today is worse The weather today
is bad. than yesterday. is the worst.

My friend, Bindhu, My friend, Bindhu, looks happier My friend, Bindhu,

looks happy. than my other friends. looks the happiest.

List of Degrees of Comparison

Before you look at examples, just keep in mind that the rule to add ‘-er’ and
‘-est’ to form the comparative and superlative degree of comparison does
not remain the same with every adjective. The different types include,

 Type 1 – Doubling the final consonant of a monosyllabic adjective and adding ‘-

er’ and ‘-est’.
 Type 2 – Adding ‘-er’ and ‘-est’ to monosyllabic adjectives in which the last
consonant is preceded by another consonant or two vowels.
 Type 3 – Adding ‘-r’ and ‘-st’ to adjectives ending in ‘e’.
 Type 4 – Adding -ier’ and ‘-iest’ to adjectives ending in ‘y’.
 Type 5 – Adding ‘more’ and ‘most’ to polysyllabic adjectives.
 Type 6 – Irregular adjectives

Here is a list of 100 examples of degrees of comparison that you can refer to.

Type 1

Positive Comparative Superlative

Big Bigger Biggest

Thin Thinner Thinnest

Fat Fatter Fattest

Dim Dimmer Dimmest

Hot Hotter Hottest

Sad Sadder Saddest

Slim Slimmer Slimmest

Red Redder Reddest

Type 2

Positive Comparative Superlative

Bright Brighter Brightest

Short Shorter Shortest

Weak Weaker Weakest

Long Longer Longest

Smart Smarter Smartest

Cool Cooler Coolest

Dark Darker Darkest

Small Smaller Smallest

Bold Bolder Boldest

Clever Cleverer Cleverest

High Higher Highest

Tall Taller Tallest

Sweet Sweeter Sweetest

Deep Deeper Deepest

Rich Richer Richest

Fast Faster Fastest

Thick Thicker Thickest

Great Greater Greatest

Kind Kinder Kindest

Cheap Cheaper Cheapest

Young Younger Youngest

Fast Faster Fastest

Stout Stouter Stoutest

Black Blacker Blackest

Slow Slower Slowest

Tight Tighter Tightest

Quick Quicker Quickest

Narrow Narrower Narrowest

Broad Broader Broadest

Type 3

Positive Comparative Superlative

Large Larger Largest

Close Closer Closest

Dense Denser Densest

Humble Humbler Humblest

Simple Simpler Simplest

Fine Finer Finest

Noble Nobler Noblest

Brave Braver Bravest

Pale Paler Palest

Nice Nicer Nicest

Type 4

Positive Comparative Superlative

Funny Funnier Funniest

Happy Happier Happiest

Dry Drier Driest

Lazy Lazier Laziest

Easy Easier Easiest

Heavy Heavier Heaviest

Wealthy Wealthier Wealthiest

Healthy Healthier Healthiest

Costly Costlier Costliest

Busy Busier Busiest

Cosy Cosier Cosiest

Dirty Dirtier Dirtiest

Type 5

Positive Comparative Superlative

Comfortable More comfortable Most comfortable

Beautiful More beautiful Most beautiful

Sensible More sensible Most sensible

Ignorant More ignorant Most ignorant

Attractive More attractive Most attractive

Important More important Most important

Courageous More courageous Most courageous

Faithful More faithful Most faithful

Elegant More elegant Most elegant

Active More active Most active

Popular More popular Most popular

Awesome More awesome Most awesome

Loyal More loyal Most loyal

Fantastic More fantastic Most fantastic

Wonderful More wonderful Most wonderful

Splendid More splendid Most splendid

Famous More famous Most famous

Difficult More difficult Most difficult

Careful More careful Most careful

Brilliant More brilliant Most brilliant

Enthusiastic More enthusiastic Most enthusiastic

Suitable More suitable Most suitable

Spacious More spacious Most spacious

Devoted More devoted Most devoted

Proper More proper Most proper

Patient More patient Most patient

Amazing More amazing Most amazing

Intelligent More intelligent Most intelligent

Likely More likely Most likely

Careless More careless Most careless

Threatening More threatening Most threatening

Magnificent More magnificent Most magnificent

Depressed More depressed Most depressed

 Excited More excited Most excited

Amusing More amusing Most amusing

Type 6

Positive Comparative Superlative

Good Better Best

Bad Worse Worst

Far Further/Farther Furthest/Farthest

Late Later(time)/Latter(position) Latest(time)/Last(position)

Much More Most

Little Less Least

Many More Most

Old Elder/Older EldestOldest

Check Your Understanding of Degrees of

Comparison
Fill in the blanks with the most appropriate degree of comparison in the
following sentences.
1. Thiya is ________ (smart) than most of her friends.

2. Nobody is _____________ (good) you.

3. Princy was _____________ (elegant) of all.

4. Haritha is _________ (tall) her brother.

5. ___________ (recent) movie was excellent.

6. Mount Everest is ___________ (high) peak.

7. F.R.I.E.N.D.S. is ___________ (watched) series.

8. Sam is _________ (happy) Tina.

9. Artie is a _____________ (patient) kid.

10. These maths problems are _______ (easy).

Check out if you have used the right form of the adjective from the answers
given below.

1. Thiya is smarter than most of her friends.

2. Nobody is as good as you.

3. Princy was the most elegant of all.

4. Haritha is taller than her brother.

5. The most recent movie was excellent.

6. Mount Everest is the highest peak.

7. F.R.I.E.N.D.S. is the most watched series.

8. Sam is happier than Tina.

9. Artie is a patient kid.

10. These maths problems are easy.