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The act of evaluating two or more things to identify the important and relevant ones, comparing the features of each, and then deciding which traits are similar to the other, which are different, and to what degree they are similar or different from one another is the process known as comparison or comparing. The purpose of this tutorial is to offer the readers fundamental understanding on the topic degree of comparison, along with examples, so that they may more easily master the use of the English language.
Comparing adjectives or adverbs that take on different forms are known as "degrees of comparison." They only apply to adjectives, adverbs, and not nouns or verbs in any form.
A grammatical concept of three forms used in English grammar while making a qualitative comparison of adjectives and adverbs is called the degree of comparison. The changes in forms of adjectives and adverbs that happen to show the comparison are referred to as the degrees of comparison. In its most basic form, it is a tool for describing, modifying, or quantifying adverbs and adjectives.
There are three different degrees of comparison, and we are going to explore each one using an appropriate example below.
| TYPES | ADJECTIVE | ADVERB | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Positive degree | Strong | Beautiful | Famous | Quickly |
| Comparative degree | Stronger | More beautiful | Less famous | More quickly |
| Superlative degree | Strongest | Most beautiful | Least famous | Most quickly |
Positive Degree: In English grammar, the basic and most fundamental form of degree is the positive degree. Alternately referred to as the base form of an adjective or adverb that cannot be compared to any other form. This is in contrast to the comparative degree and the superlative degree.
The idea of a positive degree is one of the easiest grammatical concepts to learn in the English language. It just lets us know that something has a certain quality. There is no comparison to be made here. (To put it another way, the "normal form" of an adjective or adverb is referred to as the "positive degree.")
Examples
She is such a pretty girl. (Adjective)
She drives fast. (Adverb)
Comparative Degree: Comparative degrees are the adjective words that describe and compare one noun to another. A comparative degree form is only used when the comparison is between two things/people. While comparing the comparative degree is indicated by adding the letter 'er' to the end of the adjective. 'More' is also used in some situations followed by the word 'than' to show the comparison. A comparative adverb form can be used to evaluate one verb action in relation to another.
The idea of a positive degree is one of the easiest grammatical concepts to learn in the English language. It just lets us know that something has a certain quality. There is no comparison to be made here. (To put it another way, the "normal form" of an adjective or adverb is referred to as the "positive degree.")
Examples
Comparative Adjective
John is taller than his elder brother Tom.
A Rose is more beautiful than a lily.
Comparative Adverb
John runs faster than Tom
Teena walks more quickly than her brother
Superlative Degree: A superlative adjective is one that conveys the greatest or most extreme degree of excellence or quality or anything that stands out from the rest of the group due to its exceptional quality. When comparing three or more items, we use superlative adjectives. While comparing, a superlative degree is indicated by adding 'est' to the end of the adjective and 'Most' in some situations
Examples
Superlative Adjective
My mom is the strongest person I have ever met.
David is the most popular boy in the college.
Superlative Adverb
Remya scored the least on the class test.
Preethi dances most amazingly among all the other competitors.
It is simple to construct comparative and superlative sentences. The form can be determined by the total number of syllables in the phrase.
One-syllable Adjective: To form a comparative or superlative degree with an adjective that only has one syllable, just add the suffixes "-er" or "-est" to the end of the adjective.
Examples
Fast, faster, fastest
Old, older, oldest.
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Two-syllable Adjective: In a two-syllable adjective, a comparative form is formed by adding the word "more" before the adjective. The superlative degree is formed by adding "most" before the adjective. Replace the letter 'y' of adjective words ending with 'y' with an 'I' for its comparative and superlative forms.
Examples
Intelligent, more intelligent, most intelligent
Tiny, tinier, tiniest
One-syllable Adverb: The comparative and superlative forms of adverbs that do not end in (-ly) are the same as those of adjectives; just add (-er) to make the comparative, and add (-est) to form the superlative form.
Examples
Hard, harder, hardest
Slow, slower, slowest
Two-syllable Adverb: The comparative form of an adverb that ends in (-ly) is formed by adding the word more, while the superlative form is formed by adding the word most
Examples
Quickly, more quickly, most quickly
Merrily, more merrily, most merrily
Irregular Comparatives and Superlatives: To master the degree of comparison, one also has to keep in mind a few irregular comparatives and superlatives of adverbs.
| ADVERB | COMPARATIVE | SUPERLATIVE |
|---|---|---|
| FAR | WORSE | WORST |
| LITTLE | LESS | LEAST |
| MUCH | MORE | MOST |
| WELL | BETTER | BEST |
| BADLY | WORSE | WORST |
In conclusion, degree of comparison is a method that is used while comparing one object to another. The concept "positive degree" refers to a single thing or person. The comparative degree compares two different things or people. The superlative degree is used to compare more than two things or people. The most challenging aspect of using the degree of comparison is ensuring that we write them in the proper manner; yet, with only a bit of practice, it is possible to rapidly become proficient in comparatives and superlatives.
Qns 1. What is a Degree of Comparison?
Ans. A grammatical concept where three forms of degrees are used to make a qualitative comparison of adjectives and adverbs is called the degree of comparison. The changes in forms of adjectives and adverbs that happen to show the comparison are referred to as the degrees of comparison. It is a tool to describe, modify, or quantify adverbs and adjectives.
Qns 2. What are the 3 degrees of comparison?
Ans. There are three levels of comparison−
Positive degree > Comparative degree > Superlative degree
Qns 3. What is a positive degree of comparison?
Ans. In English grammar, the basic and most fundamental form of degree is the positive degree. Alternately referred to as the base form of an adjective or adverb that cannot be compared to any other form. It just lets us know that something has a certain quality. There is no comparison made here. To put it another way, the "normal form" of an adjective or adverb is referred to as the "positive degree."
Qns 4. What is a comparative degree of comparison?
Ans. A comparative degree form is only used when the comparison is between two things/people. While comparing the comparative degree is indicated by adding the letter 'er' to the end of the adjective. 'More' is also used in some situations followed by the word 'than' to show the comparison.
Qns 5. What is a superlative degree of comparison?
Ans. A superlative adjective is one that conveys the greatest or most extreme degree of excellence or quality or anything that stands out from the rest of the group due to its exceptional quality. When comparing three or more items, we use superlative adjectives. While comparing, a superlative degree is indicated by adding 'est' to the end of the adjective and 'Most' in some situations.
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