COMPARISON DEGREE

There are three kinds of comparison:

1. positive degree
2. comparative degree
3.Superlative degree

⚫ Positive Degree → is used o compare two things that

are equal.
The pattern
S + to be + as + adj + as
S + verb + as + adv + as
Examples
1. My book is as interesting as yours
2. His car runs as fast as a race car
3. Their house is as big as that one
⚫ Comparative Degree → is used to compare two
things that are not equal.
The Pattern for one syllable
S + to be + adj + er + than
S + verb + adv + er + than
Examples
1. Today is hotter than yesterday
2. Bill runs faster than Bob
3. This exercise is easier than the last one
4. Andi works harder than his brother

The pattern for more than two syllables

S + to be + more + adj + than
S + verb + more + adv + than
Examples
1. This red dress is more comfortable than the white
2. He speaks Spanish more fluently than I do
3. This year’s exhibit is more impressive than the last year’s
4. He visits his family more frequently than she does

• Superlative Degree→ is used to compare one thing with

two or more other things.
The pattern for 1 syllable
S + to be + the + adj + est
S + verb + the + adv + est
Examples
5. John is the tallest boy in the family
2. He works the hardest of all the employee in this office.
 The pattern for more than two syllables
S + to be + the most + adj
S + verb + the most + adv
Examples
1. That was the most boring film I have ever seen
2. Sally dances the most gracefully of all the participant

NOTE
● Use the form more + adjective for adjective ending in the
following suffixes: -ed, -ful, -ing, -ish and ous (more
useful, more boring, more cautious)

●When an adjective ends in a consonant +y, change the y

to i and add –er or - est (happy-happier/ the happiest, dry-drier/the
driest) and for –some, - ow and add –er or -est (handsomer/the
handsomest, narrower/the narrowest)
List of Degrees of Comparison
By adding ‘er and ‘est’

POSITIVE COMPARATIVE SUPERLATIVE

bright brighter brightest
black blacker blackest
bold bolder boldest
clever cleverer cleverest
cold colder coldest
fast faster fastest
great greater greatest
high higher highest
kind kinder kindest
List of Degrees of Comparison
By adding ‘r and ‘st’

POSITIVE COMPARATIVE SUPERLATIVE

brave braver bravest
fine finer finest
large larger largest
nice nicer nicest
noble nobler noblest
pale paler palest
simple simpler simplest
wise wiser wisest
white whiter whitest
List of Degrees of Comparison
By deleting the final ‘y’ and adding ‘ier’ and ‘iest’

POSITIVE COMPARATIVE SUPERLATIVE

costly costlier costliest
dry drier driest
easy easier easiest
happy happier happiest
heavy heavier heaviest
lazy lasier lasiest
merry merrier merriest
wealthy wealthier wealthiest
List of Degrees of Comparison
By doubling the final consonants

POSITIVE COMPARATIVE SUPERLATIVE

big bigger biggest
dim dimmer dimmest
fat fatter fattest
hot hotter hottest
thin thinner thinnest
List of Degrees of Comparison
By using more and most
POSITIVE COMPARATIVE SUPERLATIVE
active more active most active

attractive more attractive most attractive

beautiful more beautiful most beautiful

brilliant more brilliant most brilliant

careful more careful most careful

courageous more courageous most courageous

cunning more cunning most cunning

difficult more difficult most difficult

famous more famous most famous

faithful more faithful most faithful

List of Degrees of Comparison
Irregular Comparisons
POSITIVE COMPARATIVE SUPERLATIVE

bad worse worst

evil worse worst

good better best

ill worse worst

far farther farthest

well better best

late later latest

little less least

much more most

many more most

 Changes in Degrees of Comparison
Superlative Comparative Positive

Iron is the most useful of Iron is more useful than No other metal is so
all metals. any other metal. useful as iron.

Tom is the cleverest of all Tom is cleverer than any No other boy in the class
boys in the class. other boy in the class. is so clever as Tom.

Rain water is the purest Rain water is purer than No other water is so pure
water. any other water. as rain water.
 Changes in Degrees of Comparison
Superlative Comparative Positive

Iron is the most useful of Iron is more useful than No other metal is so
all metals. any other metal. useful as iron.

Cheetah is one of the Cheetah is faster than Very few animals are as
fastest animals. most other animals. fast as cheetah.

Football is one of the Football is more Very few games are as

most interesting games. interesting than most interesting as football.
other games.
Exercises
1. You can tell Harris about it just ____(easily) as I can.
2. That tall woman is _____ (ambitious) secretary in this
house.
3. Pierre understands English _____ (little) of all the
students
4. He plays guitar _____ (well) as Andre Segovia.
5. Nobody is _______ (happy) than Maria Elen
6. Brazil export ____ (much) coffee of all the American
countries