DEGREES OF COMPARISON
1. What Do You Mean by Degrees of Comparison? – Definition
In the English language, a degree of comparison is a form of adjective that is
used to compare a person or thing possessing the same quality with another. It is
related to the adjective or adverb in a sentence. The Collins Dictionary defines
the ‘degree of comparison’ as “the listing of the positive, comparative, and
superlative forms of an adjective or adverb.” In other words, it can be said that
one can use the degree of comparison to make a comparison between nouns
having comparable quality or qualities.
2. The Three Degrees of Comparison in English Grammar
As you have already seen, the degrees of comparison are used to make
comparisons. In English grammar, there are three degrees of comparison and
they are,
Positive Degree of Comparison
Comparative Degree of Comparison
Superlative Degree of Comparison
A. Positive Degree of Comparison
The positive degree of comparison is basically the original form of the adjective
or adverb. This degree does not allow you to make any comparison. It only
gives the audience the information about a particular quality possessed by a
noun.
For example:
Lisa is happy.
This dress is pretty.
He looks handsome.
Meena is tired.
The sun is bright.
B. Comparative Degree of Comparison
The comparative degree of comparison is used to compare between two nouns
that have the same quality or the particular quality of a noun at two different
times. It shows which one of the two has the greater or lesser degree of the
particular quality being referred to.
For example:
Tina looks sadder than Katie.
This bed is more comfortable than the other bed.
The sun is brighter than yesterday.
Your hair is longer than hers.
My brother is taller than me.
C. Superlative Degree of Comparison
The superlative degree of comparison is the highest degree of comparison. It is
used to compare the similar qualities shared by more than two nouns. It shows
which of these nouns being compared has the greatest or least degree of the
mentioned quality or qualities.
For example:
We climbed the highest mountain.
The last group was the best of all.
The Himalayas are the longest mountain ranges.
Sanjana is the tallest girl in our gang.
Adharsh is the most silent boy in class.
3. Examples of Degrees of Comparison
Here is the adjective "hungry" in all three degrees of comparison:
Lee is hungry. (positive degree)
Lee is hungrier than Mark. (comparative degree)
Lee is the hungriest of all. (superlative degree)
Here is the adverb "dangerously" in all three degrees of comparison:
Lee played dangerously today. (positive degree)
Lee played more dangerously than Mark. (comparative degree)
Lee played most dangerously. (superlative degree)
4. Forming the Comparative and Superlative Degrees
Here are the rules for forming the comparative and superlative degrees of
adjectives:
Here are the rules for forming the comparative and superlative degrees of
adverbs:
Q1 What is the meaning and definition of degrees of comparison?
A degree of comparison is a form of adjective that is used to compare a person
or thing possessing the same quality with another. It is related to the adjective or
adverb in a sentence. The Collins Dictionary defines the ‘degree of comparison’
as “the listing of the positive, comparative, and superlative forms of an adjective
or adverb.” In other words, it can be said that one can use the degree of
comparison to make a comparison between nouns having comparable quality or
qualities.
Q2 What are the degrees of comparison in English grammar?
In English grammar, there are three degrees of comparison and they are,
Positive Degree of Comparison
Comparative Degree of Comparison
Superlative Degree of Comparison
Q3 Give an example of degrees of comparison.
Here is an example of degrees of comparison.
Mirna is tall. (Positive)
Mirna is taller than Georgina. (Comparative)
Mirna is the tallest of all her friends. (Superlative)
