Do you know about the degrees of comparison? Adjectives usage and examples help us describe and compare things, people, or ideas.
They help us show the difference in quality, quantity, or degree among the things being compared.
In this blog post, we will learn the easy rules to use positive comparative superlative degrees and make various examples for better understanding.
Understand the Basics of Positive Comparative Superlative Degrees
We have three different degrees of adjectives.
1) Positive Degree: It is the simplest form of an adjective that describes the quality of a noun.
For example, Neha is smart.
2) Comparative Degree: It is used when comparing two nouns, showing which has the higher or lower degree of the quality. For example, Neha is smarter than her sister.
3) Superlative Degree: It is used when comparing three or more nouns, showing which has the highest or lowest degree of the quality.
Comparative and Superlative Rules
Here are some rules of comparative and superlative examples.
Comparative Degree
We use the comparative degrees to compare two things or people. Usually, we add ‘-er' to the adjective or adverb, or use the word ‘more' before it. When using the comparative degree, we use the conjunction ‘than' to make the comparison. Go through some examples of comparative degree:
1) He is taller than his brother.
2) She is more intelligent than her classmate.
3) The chocolate cake is sweeter than the vanilla cake.
When we change comparative degrees, there are certain rules to follow. Here are the general guidelines with examples:
- Adding “-er” or “-ier”:
For most one-syllable adjectives, simply add “-er” to form the comparative degree.
Fast = faster
For one-syllable adjectives ending in “e,” just add “-r.”
Large = larger
For one-syllable adjectives ending in a consonant-vowel-consonant pattern, double the final consonant and add “-er.”
Example: big = bigger
Cold = colder
Happy = happier
Fat = fatter
- Using “more” + adjective:
When there is an adjective with two or more syllables, we add “more” before it to make the degrees of comparison examples.
For example,
Intelligent = more intelligent
Some two-syllable adjectives ending in “y” or “ow” can also follow this rule.
Example, Friendly = more friendly
Interesting = more interesting
Important = more important
Expensive = more expensive
- Irregular forms:
Some adjectives have irregular comparative adjectives forms that do not follow the above rules.
Good = better
Bad = worse
Far = farther or further
- Using “less” + adjective:
For adjectives with two or more syllables, use “less” before the adjective to form the comparative degree.
Beautiful = less beautiful
Famous = less famous
Intelligent = less intelligent
Difficult = less difficult
Degrees of Superlative Examples
Superlative Degree
The superlative degree is used when we compare one thing or person with a group of things or people. We add ‘-est' to the adjective or adverb, or use the word ‘most' before it. When using the superlative degree, we use the preposition ‘of' to indicate the group being compared. Here are some examples of superlative degree:
1) He is the tallest of all his friends.
2) She is the most intelligent of all her classmates.
3) The chocolate cake is the sweetest of all the cakes.
When changing superlative degrees, there are certain rules to follow. Here are the general guidelines along with examples:
- Adding “-est” or “-iest”:
For most one-syllable adjectives, add “-est” to form the superlative degree.
Fast = fastest
For one-syllable adjectives ending in “e,” just add “-st.”
Large = largest
For one-syllable adjectives that ends in a (CVC) consonant-vowel-consonant pattern, we double the final consonant and add “-Est” at the end.
Big = biggest
Cold = coldest
Happy = happiest
Fat = fattest
- Using “most” + adjective:
The adjectives that have two or more syllables, we add “Most” before the adjective to make the superlative degrees
Intelligent = most intelligent
Interesting = most interesting
Important = most important
Expensive = most expensive
Some two-syllable adjectives ending in “y” or “ow” can also follow this rule.
Friendly = most friendly
- Irregular forms:
Some adjectives have irregular superlative forms that do not follow the above rules.
Good = best
Bad = worst
Far = farthest
- Using “least” + adjective:
For adjectives with two or more syllables, use “least” before the adjective to form the superlative degree.
Beautiful = least beautiful
Famous = least famous
Intelligent = least intelligent
Difficult = least difficult
Avoid Double Comparatives and Superlatives
Do not use “more” or “most” with adjectives that already have “-er” or “-est” endings.
Use ‘Than' to Compare Two Things
When using the comparative degree, use “than” to compare two things.
Degrees of Comparison Examples
Here are some examples of sentences using positive, comparative, and superlative degrees:
Understanding Degrees of Comparison
Comparisons are an integral part of our everyday conversations. We often compare things in terms of size, color, taste, or any other quality. For this, we use two important prepositions: ‘than' and ‘of'. In this blog post, we will discuss the correct usage of these prepositions and provide examples of the degrees of comparison.
Using ‘Than' to Compare Two Things
‘Than' is a conjunction that is used to compare two things or people. When using ‘than', we are expressing the difference between the two things being compared. These are positive, comparative, and superlative.
Positive Degree
The positive degree is a simple adjective. We use it when we are not comparing two things or people. Here are some examples of positive degree:
1) He is tall.
2) She is intelligent.
3) The cake is sweet.
Learn the degrees of adjectives using the table. Download Degrees of Adjectives
Conclusion
In conclusion, understanding the correct usage of ‘than' and ‘of' in comparisons can greatly improve our communication skills. Remember to use ‘than' when comparing two things, and ‘of' when comparing one thing with a group. Also, learn 10 kinds of adjectives and be aware of the three degrees of comparison: positive, comparative, and superlative.
By practicing these rules and incorporating them into our daily conversations, we can become more fluent and accurate speakers of the English language. So, the next time you find yourself comparing things, be sure to use ‘than' and ‘of' correctly and make your comparisons clear and precise!
Original Source: https://www.englishphobia.com/2023/05/comparison-and-superlative-degrees.html
