DEGREES OF COMPARISON

1. Positive
The positive degree is used to denote that the two compared persons or things have equal
degrees of the quality.
Examples:
This poem is as lyrical as the other.
Physics is as difficult as Mathematics

2. Comparative
The comparative degree is used to denote one of the two people or things has a stronger or
weaker degree of the quality.

Rules:

 For adjectives that are just one syllable, add -er to the end.

nice---nicer
tall---taller
thin---thinner

 For two-syllable adjectives ending in -y, change the -y to -i and add -er.

happy---happier
lazy---lazier
easy---easier

 For two-syllable adjectives not ending in -y and for all three-or-more-syllable adjectives, use
the form “more + adjective.”

careful---more careful
interesting---more interesting
excellent---more excellent

3. Superlative
The superlative form is used to denote that a person or thing has the highest degree of a
quality within a group.

Examples

nice---nicer--- (the) nicest

happy---happier---(the) happiest
careful---more careful---(the) most careful
interesting---more interesting---(the) most interesting
These common two-syllable adjectives, you can either add –er and –est or use more and most:

narr
ow
comm
plea
on
sant
cruel
polit
gentle
e
hands
simp
ome
le
likely
stupi
d

Examples:

common---commoner/more common---commonest/most common

handsome---handsomer/more handsome---handsomest/most handsome

Irregular Comparative and Superlative

Adjectives Comparative Superlative

good better best
bad worse worst
far farther/further farthest/furthest
little less least