Adjectives: Degree of Comparison
In English grammar, Degrees of Comparison are used to show different levels of comparison between adjectives. There are three types of adjective degrees.
1. Positive degree
An adjective is said to be in the positive degree when there is no comparison. It’s the original form of the adjective.
Example: Julio is as smart as Jack. Here the adjective ‘smart’ did not show any comparison between the two nouns.
2. Comparative degree
An adjective is said to be in the comparative degree when it is used to compare two nouns/pronouns.
Example: Julio is smarter than Jane. Here the adjective ‘smarter’ is a comparative form of ‘smart’ used for comparing between two nouns.
3. Superlative degree
An adjective is in superlative degree when it is used to compare more than two nouns/pronouns. The article ‘the’ is used before the superlative degrees.
Example: Julio is the smartest student in the class. Here the adjective ‘smartest’ is a superlative form of ‘smart’ used to compare a noun with a group of people.
A. Formation of comparative & superlative degrees by addition of ‘-er’ and ‘-est’ to the positive degree.
| Positive degree | Comparative degree | Superlative degree |
| Bright | Brighter | Brightest |
| Bold | Bolder | Boldest |
| Rich | Richer | Richest |
| High | Higher | Highest |
| Long | Longer | Longest |
| Sweet | Sweeter | Sweetest |
| Strong | Stronger | Strongest |
| Young | Younger | Youngest |
| Great | Greater | Greatest |
| Fast | Faster | Fastest |
B. Formation of comparative & superlative degrees of adjectives by addition of ‘-r’ and ‘-st’ to the positive degree ending in ‘e’.
| Positive degree | Comparative degree | Superlative degree |
| Brave | Braver | Bravest |
| Nice | Nicer | Nicest |
| Wise | Wiser | Wisest |
| Large | Larger | Largest |
| Simple | Simpler | Simplest |
C. Formation of comparative & superlative degrees of adjective by addition by deleting the final ‘y’ and adding ‘ier’ and ‘iest’.
| Positive degree | Comparative degree | Superlative degree |
| Costly | Costlier | Costliest |
| Dry | Drier | Driest |
| Heavy | Heavier | Heaviest |
| Easy | Easier | Easiest |
| Happy | Happier | Happiest |
D. Formation of comparative & superlative degrees of adjective when the positive degree ends in a consonant with a vowel before it, we double the consonant & then add ‘-er’ and ‘-est’.
| Positive degree | Comparative degree | Superlative degree |
| Big | Bigger | Biggest |
| Fat | Fatter | Fattest |
| Hot | Hotter | Hottest |
| Thin | Thinner | Thinnest |
| Dim | Dimmer | Dimmest |
E. Formation of comparative & superlative degrees of adjective by placing ‘more’ and ‘most’ before the positive form.
| Positive degree | Comparative degree | Superlative degree |
| Difficult | More difficult | Most difficult |
| Beautiful | More beautiful | Most beautiful |
| Careful | More careful | Most careful |
| Important | More important | Most important |
| Popular | More popular | Most popular |
F. The different forms of irregular adjectives.
| Positive degree | Comparative degree | Superlative degree |
| Bad | Worse | Worst |
| Far | Farther | Farthest |
| Late | Later | Last |
| Little | Less | Least |
| Much | More | Most |
Want to test your degrees of comparison knowledge? take the quiz.
