Comparison
of Adjectives:
Adjectives have three forms namely, positive, comparative and superlative.
These are also known as degrees of comparison.
1. Positive Adjectives: It is the simple form of an adjective without expressing increase or diminution of the quality.
Eg: Wise, hot, etc.
2. Comparative Adjectives: It is the form of adjective which expresses increase or diminution of the quality. Comparative adjectives can be formed by adding ‘er’ to the positive adjectives.
Eg: Wiser, hotter, etc.
Some comparative adjectives are formed by prefixing the word ‘more’ to the positive adjective.
Eg: more advanced, more expensive, etc.
3. Superlative Adjectives: It is the form of adjective which expresses the greatest increase or diminution of quality.
Eg: Wisest, hottest, etc.
Here are some examples of degree of comparison:
Positive – Comparative – Superlative
Great – Greater – Greatest
Clever – Cleverer – Cleverest
Young – Younger – Youngest
Sweet – Sweeter – Sweetest
Deep – Deeper – Deepest
Old – Older – Oldest
Small – Smaller – Smallest
When the positive adjective ends in ‘e’, ‘r’ is added to it in order to form comparative adjective and ‘st’ is added to form superlative adjective
Positive – Comparative – Superlative
Brave – Braver – Bravest
Noble – Nobler – Noblest
Able – Abler – Ablest
Large – Larger – Largest
1. When the positive adjective ends in ‘y’, the consonant ‘y’ is replaced by ‘i’ and ‘er’ is added to form comparative adjective and ‘est’ is added to form superlative adjective
Here are few examples for understanding this concept well:
Positive – Comparative – Superlative
Happy – Happier – Happiest
Early- Earlier – Earliest
Costly – Costlier – Costliest
Heavy – Heavier – Heaviest
2. When positive adjective is a word of more than two syllables then comparative adjective is formed by prefixing ‘more’ and superlative adjective is formed by prefixing ‘most’
Here are few examples to understand this concept well:
Positive – Comparative – Superlative
Industrious – More industrious – Most industrious
Courageous – More courageous – Most courageous
Magnificent – More magnificent – Most magnificent
3. There are some adjectives that take both ‘er’ and ‘est’ and ‘more’ and ‘most’
Positive – Comparative – Superlative
Polite – Politer – Politest
Polite – more polite – most polite
Gentle – Gentler – Gentlest
Gentle – more gentle – most gentle
Pleasant – Pleasanter – Pleasantest
Pleasant – more pleasant – most pleasant
4. Some adjectives are compared irregularly.
i.e. comparative and superlative are not formed from positive adjective.
Positive – Comparative – Superlative
Little – Less – Least
Fore – Former – Foremost
Far – Further – Furthest
Late – Later, Latter – Latest, Last