Comparison of Adjectives

Comparison of Adjectives :

The Degrees of Comparison are three in number. The adjectives can be written in three degrees to compare the quality or state of the nouns.

(1) The Positive Degree
(2) The Comparative Degree
(3) The Superlative Degree

The Positive …. The Comparative …. The Superlative

Beautiful …. More beautiful……most beautiful

The Positive Degree denotes the simple quality such as - a beautiful picture. When you speak or write about only one person or thing, you can use the positive degree.

1. He is a tall student.
2. They are active participants.

In the above sentences, the adjectives TALL and ACTIVE are in positive degree.

The Comparative Degree denotes a higher degree of the quality such as - a more beautiful picture. This is used when two things of the same class are compared. Comparatives are followed by the word THAN. When you compare one person or thing with other person or thing, you can use the comparative degree.

1. He is taller than other students.
2. They are more active than other participants.

In the above sentences, the adjectives TALLER and MORE ACTIVE are in comparative degree. Such comparative adjectives are followed by the word THAN.

The Superlative Degree denotes the highest degree of the quality such as - the most beautiful picture. This is used when one thing is compared with all other things of the same class. When you compare more than one person or thing, you can use the superlative degree.

1. He is the tallest student.
2. They are the most active participant.

In the above sentences, the adjectives TALLEST and MOST ACTIVE are in superlative degree. Such comparative adjectives are preceded by the definite article THE.

Examples with the adjectives in three degrees :

1. They are poor people in their village. (Positive Degree)

2. There are poorer than their village-folk. (Comparative Degree)

3. They are the poorest people in their village. (Superlative Degree)

1. Mt father is an educated man. (Positive Degree)

2. My father is more educated than his brothers. (Comparative Degree)

3. My father is the most educated man in our family. (Superlative Degree)

1. This is a costly computer. (Positive Degree)

2. This is costlier than other computers. (Comparative Degree)

3. This is the costliest computer. (Superlative Degree)

1. The buildings in his school are old. (Positive Degree)

2. The buildings in his school are older than the buildings in my school. (Comparative Degree)

3. The buildings in his school are the oldest. (Superlative Degree)

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