How to Use Comparatives and Superlatives Degree
By Ahmad Saifi Athoillah
A. Introducing
Comparatives and superlatives are very important in business English since they provide a way to discuss the standards of a service or
product against those of the competition or to evaluate the performance of a company through time. They are also useful when we need
to describe the skills of employees or applicants wishing to work on a project.
B. What is the Degree of Comparison?
To describe, quantify, modify or identify nouns/pronouns, adjectives are used or reused. Adjectives have their own degrees called
degrees of adjectives or degrees of comparison that compare one thing/person to another.
Adjectives have three degrees of comparison:
1. Positive degree
2. Comparative degree
3. Superlative degree
C. How to Use the 3 Types of Degrees of Comparison?
There are three types of degree of Adjectives for comparison: positive, comparative and superlative.
1. In the case of one item or person, the positive is used.
2. In the case of two items or persons, the comparative is used.
3. In the case of three or more three items or persons, the superlative is used.
From the explanation above, it can be concluded from the chart below in concept!
Comparison Degree
A B A B A B C
Positive degree Comparative degree Superlative degree
Example: Example:
Example:
A building as high as B building. A building is higher than B building.
A building is the highest between building B
….as high as… ….higher than….
and C.
Formula: Formula:
Formula:
a. … as adjective as…. a. 1 Sylable + er
….the highest …
She walking as fast as I can. b. > 1 Sylable …more (adjective)
b. … no less + adjective + than than...
Notes:
This car is no less expensive than example:
a. 1 sylable ... the (adjective)+est
mine. She is more beautiful than her mother.
b. > 2 sylable ...the most +adjective +…
Budi is more active than his friend.
c. ... not more than +adjective+ Example:
than... - Bermuda triangle is the most dangerous
She is not more beautiful than her area in the world.
sister. - Ana the most active in the class.
d. … not as + adjective + as
You are not as clever as his friend.
D. Rules (Pola)
Positive Comparative Superlative
1. S (pertama) + tobe + as Adj as + S 1. S (pertama) + tobe + Adj + er [+than+ 1. S + tobe + the Adj + est [ + O]
(Kedua)] S (Kedua)] Example:
Example: Example: You are the prettiest girl.
Utomo is as handsome as Andi. You are prettier than her.
2. S (pertama) + V + as Adv as + S 2. S (pertama) + V + Adv + er [+ than + S 2. S + V + the Adv + est [ + O]
(Kedua) + V (Kedua) + V] Example:
Example: Example: Riadi runs the fastest of all the runners
Joana speaks as calmly as Rina does. Tono runs faster than Dani does.
3. S (pertama) + tobe + more + Adv [+ 3. S + tobe + the Most + Adj [ + O]
than + S (Kedua)] Example:
Example: Chocolate is the most delicious flavor.
Chocolate is more delicious than
strowbery
4. S (pertama) + V + more + Adv [+ than 4. S + V + Most + Adv [ + O]
+ S (Kedua) + V] Example:
Example: Bagas speaks most calmly in class.
Haris speaks more calmy than Bagus
does.
E. Important Notes of Degree of Comparison
1. COMPARATIVE DEGREE STRUCTURE
NOTES BASIC ADJECTIVE COMPARATIVE
one syllable:
cold colder
• add er
one syllable ending in e:
wide wider
• add r
one syllable ending in one vowel and one
consonant:
hot hotter
• double the last consonant
• add er
two syllables ending in y: easy easier
• drop the y happy happier
• add ier busy busier
two syllables without y: modern more modern
• add more + adjective famous more famous
delicious more delicious
three or more syllables:
interesting more interesting
• add more + adjective
comfortable more comfortable
Notes: Comparative degree are often followed by than or but.
EXAMPLES
- Today is cold, but yesterday was colder.
1. SUPERLATIVE DEGREE STRUCTURE
NOTES BASIC SUPERLATIVE
one syllable:
cold the coldest
• add the + est
one syllable ending in e:
wide the widest
• add the + st
one syllable ending with one
vowel and one consonant:
• add the hot the hottest
• double the last consonant
• add est
two syllables ending in y: easy the easiest
• add the happy the happiest
• drop the y
busy the busiest
• add iest
two syllables without y: modern the most modern
• add the most + adjective famous the most famous
delicious the most delicious
three or more syllables:
interesting the most interesting
• add the most + adjective
comfortable the most comfortable
Notes: Superlative adjectives are usually preceded by the. Example:
- This is the most popular restaurant in town.
2. COMPARISON: BASIC, COMPARATIVE, SUPERLATIVE ADJECTIVES
BASIC ADJECTIVE COMPARATIVE ADJECTIVE SUPERLATIVE ADJECTIVE
cold colder the coldest
wide wider the widest
hot hotter the hottest
easy easier the easiest
happy happier the happiest
busy busier the busiest
modern more modern the most modern
famous more famous the most famous
delicious more delicious the most delicious
interesting more interesting the most interesting
comfortable more comfortable the most comfortable
3. COMMON EXCEPTIONS
BASIC ADJECTIVE COMPARATIVE ADJECTIVE SUPERLATIVE ADJECTIVE
good better the best
bad worse the worst
little less the least
many more the most
Examples
- That song is better. (It is always wrong to use “more better”.)
Description of chart on the Annual report in below!
Notes:
1. ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
2. ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
3. ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
