Degrees of Comparison in Adjectives

1. Positive Form
- Used when nothing is being compared
Example:
The street is narrow.
The perfume is expensive.
The problem is difficult to solve.
2. Comparative Form
- Used when two persons, groups or things are being compared.
Example:
This street is narrower than the one we passed.
This perfume is more expensive than the one I bought last month.
This problem is less difficult than the other one.
3. Superlative
-used when three or more person, groups or things are being compared.
Example:
This street is the narrowest of all streets in our town.

The comparatives of adjectives with two or more syllables formed by adding -er to their positive form and -est for
superlative form.

Positive Comparative Superlative

Tall Taller Tallest
short shorter shortest
quick quicker quickest
fast faster fastest
low lower lowest
IF the positive degree of adjective ends with -e, add -r for comparative and -est for superlative degree.

Positive Comparative Superlative

brave braver bravest
large larger largest
wise wiser wisest
If the positive degree of adjective ends with -y, change -y to -i before adding -er and -est.

Positive Comparative Superlative

Noisy noisier noisiest
lucky luckier luckiest
ugly uglier ugliest
sunny sunnier sunniest
If the positive degree of adjective consist of one syllable ending in consonant preceded by single vowel, double the
consonant before adding -er and -est.

Positive Comparative Superlative

hot hotter hottest
sad sadder saddest
big bigger biggest
The comparative and superlative of multisyllable adjectives are formed by adding more or less and most or least.

Positive Comparative Superlative

expensive More/less expensive Most/least expensive
beautiful More beautiful Most beautiful
Some adjectives are compared by both methods

Positive Comparative Superlative

worthy More worthy Least worthy
Some adjectives are irregular.

Positive Comparative Superlative

good better best

Jhon is (tall, taller) than Ken.

He is the (most handsome, more handsome) among all the boys.
She is (pretty, prettier).
She is (fatter, Fattest) than May.
They are (noisy, noisier) than the other section.

Positive Comparative Superlative

small smaller smallest
steady steadier steadiest
difficult More difficult Most difficult
sad sadder saddest