positive degree
- (grammar) That state of an adjective or adverb indicating simple quality, without comparison or relation to increase or diminution; as inwise, noble.
comparative degree (plural comparative degrees)
- (grammar) Adverbial or adjectival forms modified by more or ending in -er, used when comparing two things.
superlative degree
- (grammar) adverbial or adjectival forms modified by most or ending in -est, used when comparing three or more things
| Positive | Comparative | Superlative |
| wise | wiser | wisest |
| beautiful | more beautiful | most beautiful |
| slow (adjective) | slower | slowest |
| slowly (adverb) | more slowly | most slowly |
Comparison of adjectives:
Positive degree – the simplest form.
Comparative degree – comparing two things or persons.
Superlative degree – comparing three or more things or persons.
How to compare adjectives
1. Add er and est to short adjectives of one syllable (sometimes two syllables)
2. If a short adjective ends with consonant and y, change the y to i and add er and est.
3. If a short adjective ends with e, add er and st.
4. Put more(less) and most(least) in front of longer adjectives (with two or more syllables) to show comparison.
If you are uncertain whether to add er and est or to usemore and most, then check dictionary. In most cases, you can trust your ears.
Some adjectives are irregular adjectives and don't follow thee rules. They change form considerably from one degree to the next. You need to study these changes carefully in order to recognize them easily.
List of irregular adjectives.
Never use er or est at the same time you use more or most. These are incorrect: more shorter, most alertest
Incomparable adjectives.
Some adjectives cannot be compared because the positive (simplest) form expresses the only degree possible.
List of incomparable adjectives: perfect, unique, fatal, universal, dead, wrong, straight, blind, final, vertical, right, left
MORE ABOUT Adjectives
Comparative degree – comparing two things or persons.
Superlative degree – comparing three or more things or persons.
| Positive | Comparative | Superlative |
| large | larger | largest |
| horrible | more horrible | most horrible |
How to compare adjectives
1. Add er and est to short adjectives of one syllable (sometimes two syllables)
| Positive | Comparative | Superlative |
| short | shorter | shortest |
| great | greater | greatest |
| small | smaller | smallest |
| old | older | oldest |
2. If a short adjective ends with consonant and y, change the y to i and add er and est.
| Positive | Comparative | Superlative |
| lucky | luckier | luckiest |
| heavy | heavier | heaviest |
| happy | happier | happiest |
| silly | sillier | silliest |
| ugly | uglier | ugliest |
3. If a short adjective ends with e, add er and st.
| Positive | Comparative | Superlative |
| little | littler | littlest |
| fine | finer | finest |
4. Put more(less) and most(least) in front of longer adjectives (with two or more syllables) to show comparison.
| Positive | Comparative | Superlative |
| appealing | less appealing | least appealing |
| remarkable | more remarkable | most remarkable |
| beautiful | more beautiful | most beautiful |
| alert | more alert | most alert |
If you are uncertain whether to add er and est or to usemore and most, then check dictionary. In most cases, you can trust your ears.
Some adjectives are irregular adjectives and don't follow thee rules. They change form considerably from one degree to the next. You need to study these changes carefully in order to recognize them easily.
List of irregular adjectives.
| Positive | Comparative | Superlative |
| bad | worse | worst |
| far | further | furthest |
| far | farther | farthest |
| good | better | best |
| many | more | most |
| little | less | least |
| old | elder | eldest |
| well (healthy) | better | best |
Never use er or est at the same time you use more or most. These are incorrect: more shorter, most alertest
Incomparable adjectives.
Some adjectives cannot be compared because the positive (simplest) form expresses the only degree possible.
List of incomparable adjectives: perfect, unique, fatal, universal, dead, wrong, straight, blind, final, vertical, right, left
MORE ABOUT Adjectives
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