Degrees of Comparison of the Adjectives
Degrees of Comparison
Adjectives form three degrees of comparison to compare the qualities of the objects.
There is no comparison when Adjectives are in a positive degree.
It is the main form of Adjectives and they do not have a special ending in this degree.
The Comparative Degree of Adjectives
is used to compare two objects and show the difference in their qualities.
The Superlative degree of Adjectives
is mainly used to describe the quality of the object to compare it to two or more objects to the highest or lowest degree:
The Nile is a long river (the positive degree).
The Nile is longer than The Volga (the comparative degree).
The Nile is the longest river in the world (the superlative degree).
The Comparative degree is formed by adding an er ending, and the Superlative degree by an est ending to simple, one and two- syllable Adjectives in the Positive degree: (table 1)
| The Degrees of Adjectives | ||
| The Positive | The Comparative | The Superlative |
| large | larger | largest |
| cold | colder | coldest |
| deep | deeper | deepest |
The degrees of Comparison of two-syllable Adjectives that end in y, er, ow, ble is formed in the same way as in the given (table 1)
Here’s a table showing the degrees of comparison of adjectives with the endings -y, -ow, -er and -ble ( table 2)
| Adjective Ending | Positive Form | Comparative Form | Superlative Form |
| -y | happy | happier | happiest |
| -y | pretty | prettier | prettiest |
| -y | easy | easier | easiest |
| -y | busy | busier | busiest |
| -y | funny | funnier | funniest |
| -ow | narrow | narrower | narrowest |
| -ow | shallow | shallower | shallowest |
| -ow | hollow | hollower | hollowest |
| -ow | mellow | mellower | mellowest |
| -er | tender | tenderer | tenderest |
| -er | clever | cleverer | cleverest |
| -er | stronger | stronger | strongest |
| -er | larger | larger | largest |
| -ble | noble | nobler | noblest |
Here’s a table showing the degrees of comparison of the other two-syllable adjectives: (table 3)
| Adjective | Positive | Comparative | Superlative |
| Active | Active | Activer | Activest |
| Angry | Angry | Angrier | Angriest |
| Crazy | Crazy | Crazier | Craziest |
| Dirty | Dirty | Dirtier | Dirtiest |
| Early | Early | Earlier | Earliest |
| Friendly | Friendly | Friendlier | Friendliest |
| Funny | Funny | Funnier | Funniest |
| Gentle | Gentle | Gentler | Gentlest |
| Happy | Happy | Happier | Happiest |
Degrees of Comparison of the Adjectives