Definition
In English grammar, adjectives and adverbs have three forms called degrees: positive, comparative, and superlative. They tell us whether a quality of a person, place, or thing is normal, higher, or the highest.
Types of Degrees
There are three types of degrees:
Positive Degree
Comparative Degree
Superlative Degree
Examples:
- Positive: The car is fast.
- Comparative: The car is faster than the truck.
- Superlative: The car is the fastest vehicle.
1. Positive Degree
The positive degree is the basic form of an adjective or adverb. It does not indicate any comparison; if it does, it conveys equality.
Examples with adjectives:
The cat is big.
She is smart.
He is tall.
Examples with adverbs:
Usha runs fast.
Akbar speaks clearly.
John types quickly.
Rahul drives carefully.
Examples with equality:
Akbar is as great as Ashok.
John does not run so/ as fast as Tom.
2. Comparative Degree
The comparative degree compares two things, places, animals, birds or people, and indicates which one has a greater or lesser degree of a quality. It is formed by adding ‘-er’ to most one-syllable adjectives or adverbs or by using ‘more’ before most longer words.
Examples with adjectives:
A bus is bigger than a car.
Soni is smarter than her brother.
Pankaj is a better singer than his sister.
Soni is more beautiful than Moni.
Examples with adverbs:
Hema runs faster than me.
She speaks more clearly than him.
She types more quickly than her colleague.
I drive more carefully than I did before.
Formation of Comparative Degree
- One-Syllable Adjectives:
- Add ‘-er’ to the adjective to form the comparative degree.
Example:
Kind → kinder
2. One-Syllable Adjectives Ending in ‘e’:
- Add ‘-r’ to the adjective to form the comparative degree.
Example:
Fine → finer
3. One-Syllable Adjectives Ending in a Consonant-Vowel-Consonant Pattern:
- Double the final consonant and add ‘-er’ to the adjective.
Example:
Big → bigger
4. Two-Syllable Adjectives Ending in “-y”:
- Change ‘-y’ to ‘-ier’ to form the comparative degree.
Example:
Happy → happier
5. Two-Syllable Adjectives Ending in ‘-er’, ‘-le’, or ‘-ow’:
- Usually, add ‘-er’ to the adjective to form the comparative degree.
Examples:
Clever → cleverer
Narrow → narrower
6. Two-Syllable Adjectives with Stress on the Last Syllable:
- Typically, use ‘more’ or ‘less’ before the adjective to form the comparative degree.
Example:
Polite → more polite
7. Adjectives with Two or More Syllables:
- Use ‘more’ or ‘less’ before the adjective to form the comparative degree.
Example:
Beautiful → more beautiful
3. Superlative Degree
The superlative degree compares three or more things or people. It indicates the highest or lowest degree of a quality within a group. It is formed by adding ‘-est’ to most one-syllable adjectives or adverbs or by using ‘most’ before most longer words.
Examples with adjectives:
The cat is the biggest in the litter.
She is the smartest student in the class.
She is the tallest girl in the class.
Soni is the most beautiful girl.
Examples with adverbs:
He runs the fastest of all.
She speaks the most clearly of everyone.
He runs the fastest of all.
Formation of Superlative Degrees
- One-Syllable Adjectives:
- Add ‘-est’ to the adjective to form the superlative degree.
Example:
Tall → tallest
2. One-Syllable Adjectives Ending in ‘e’:
- Add ‘-st’ to the adjective to form the superlative degree.
Example:
Fine → finest
3. One-Syllable Adjectives Ending in a Consonant-Vowel-Consonant Pattern:
- Double the final consonant and add ‘-est’ to the adjective.
Example:
Big → biggest
4. Two-Syllable Adjectives Ending in ‘-y’:
- Change ‘-y’ to ‘-iest’ to form the superlative degree.
Example:
Happy → happiest
5. Two-Syllable Adjectives Ending in “-er,” “-le,” or “-ow”:
- Usually, add “-est” to the adjective to form the superlative degree.
Example:
Clever → cleverest
Narrow → narrowest
6. Two-Syllable Adjectives with Stress on the Last Syllable:
- Typically, use “most” or “least” before the adjective to form the superlative degree.
Example:
polite → most polite
7. Adjectives with Two or More Syllables:
- Use “most” or “least” before the adjective to form the superlative degree.
Example:
Beautiful → most/ least beautiful