Positive Degree of Comparison

The adjective’s original form is essentially the positive degree of comparison. You cannot draw any comparisons with this degree. It
simply informs the audience of a certain characteristic a noun possesses.

Positive Degree Examples

1. The giraffe is tall.
2. The dress is pretty.
3. My friend is happy.
4. The Sun is bright.

Comparative Degree of Comparison

To compare two nouns that share the same characteristic or the same quality at two separate times, use the comparative degree of
comparison. It demonstrates which of the two possesses the referred-to quality to a greater or lesser degree.

Comparative Degree Examples

Tisha looks happier than Kylie.
This couch is more comfortable than the other couch.
Your hair is shorter than hers.
My younger brother is taller than me.

Superlative Degree of Comparison

The highest level of comparison is a superlative comparison. It is used to compare the similar characteristics that more than two nouns
have in common. It reveals which of the nouns under comparison possesses the mentioned attribute or qualities to the greatest or least
degree.

Superlative Degree Examples

Tisha is the most intelligent student among all the students.
This couch is the most comfortable.
Shivani is the tallest girl in our gang.
My younger brother is the heaviest among all the family members.

Degrees of Comparison Rules

The degrees of comparison include some rules and criteria that you must keep in mind, just like any other grammar element in English.
Look at the following.

1. Degree of comparison are used to compare adjectives and adverbs, which is the first thing you should keep in mind regarding them.
2. The base form of the adjective or adverb, which allows no comparison, is called the positive degree of comparison.
3. In order to compare two nouns that share or lack the same features, the comparative degree of comparison is used. The suffix “-er”
at the end of the adjective serves as the primary indicator.
4. After the comparative form of the adjective, “than” is always added to show the comparative degree of comparison.
5. To demonstrate which noun possesses the most or least amount of a quality or set of attributes, the superlative degree of
comparison is utilised. The usage indicates it.

Degrees of Comparison Examples with Answers

Degrees of comparison are used in grammar to show the degree of a quality or characteristic of a person, thing, or idea. The three
degrees of comparison are the positive, comparative, and superlative degrees. Here are some examples of each:

1. Positive degree: The positive degree is the simple form of an adjective or adverb that does not compare one thing to another.
 The sun is hot.
She is beautiful.
He sings well.

2. Comparative degree: The comparative degree is used to compare two things and is formed by adding -er to the end of the adjective
or by using “more” before the adverb.

The sun is hotter than the moon.

She is more beautiful than her sister.
He sings better than his friend.

3. Superlative degree: The superlative degree is used to compare more than two things and is formed by adding -est to the end of the
adjective or by using “most” before the adverb.

The sun is the hottest star in the sky.

She is the most beautiful woman in the world.
He sings the best out of all his classmates.

Note that some adjectives and adverbs have irregular comparative and superlative forms. For example:

Good -> Better -> Best

Bad -> Worse -> Worst
Well -> Better -> Best
Far -> Farther/Further -> Farthest/Furthest

Examples of Degrees of Comparison in English

The following table consists of examples of all three degrees of comparison.

POSITIVE COMPARATIVE SUPERLATIVE

She is tall. She is taller than her brother. She is the tallest among her family.

Mira is happy. Mira is happier than her mother. Mira is the happiest person in the class.

Sumi is beautiful. Sumi is more beautiful than her sister. Sumi is the most beautiful girl in her
house.

Food is good. The food here is better than that The food here is the best than other
restaurant. restaurants.

Rina has a big house. Rina has a bigger house than his Rina has the biggest house.
father’s.

Before you look at some examples, keep in mind that not all adjectives follow the rule to add “-er” and “-est” to make the comparative
and superlative degree of comparison. The various types consist of the following:

Type 1: Adding the suffixes “-er” and “-est” to a monosyllabic adjective’s last consonant.
Type 2: Adding the suffixes “-er” and “-est” to monosyllabic adjectives in which the final consonant is followed by a different consonant
or by two vowels.
Type 3: Adjectives ending in “e” are given the “-r” and “-st” suffixes in Type 3.

Type 4: Adjectives with a ‘y’ ending are given the suffixes -ier and -iest.
Type 5: Adding “more” and “most” to adjectives with multiple syllables.

Type 6: Adjectives of Type 6 are irregular

Here is a list of examples of degree of comparison that you can look upon for a better understanding.

Type 1

Positive Comparative Superlative

Big Bigger Biggest

Thin Thinner Thinnest

Fat Fatter Fattest

Dim Dimmer Dimmest

Hot Hotter Hottest

Sad Sadder Saddest

Slim Slimmer Slimmest

Red Redder Reddest

Type 2

Positive Comparative Superlative

Bright Brighter Brightest

Short Shorter Shortest

Weak Weaker Weakest

Long Longer Longest

Smart Smarter Smartest

Cool Cooler Coolest

Dark Darker Darkest

Small Smaller Smallest

Bold Bolder Boldest

Clever Cleverer Cleverest

High Higher Highest

Tall Taller Tallest

Sweet Sweeter Sweetest

Deep Deeper Deepest

Rich Richer Richest

Fast Faster Fastest

Thick Thicker Thickest

Great Greater Greatest

Kind Kinder Kindest

Cheap Cheaper Cheapest

Young Younger Youngest

Fast Faster Fastest

Stout Stouter Stoutest

Black Blacker Blackest

Slow Slower Slowest

Tight Tighter Tightest

Quick Quicker Quickest

Narrow Narrower Narrowest

Broad Broader Broadest

Type 3

Positive Comparative Superlative

Large Larger Largest

Close Closer Closest

Dense Denser Densest

Humble Humbler Humblest

Simple Simpler Simplest

Fine Finer Finest

Noble Nobler Noblest

Brave Braver Bravest

Pale Paler Palest

Nice Nicer Nicest

Type 4

Positive Comparative Superlative

Funny Funnier Funniest

Happy Happier Happiest

Dry Drier Driest

Lazy Lazier Laziest

Easy Easier Easiest

Heavy Heavier Heaviest

Wealthy Wealthier Wealthiest

Healthy Healthier Healthiest

Costly Costlier Costliest

Busy Busier Busiest

Cosy Cosier Cosiest

Dirty Dirtier Dirtiest

Type 5

Positive Comparative Superlative

Comfortable More comfortable Most comfortable

Beautiful More beautiful Most beautiful

Sensible More sensible Most sensible

Ignorant More ignorant Most ignorant

Attractive More attractive Most attractive

Important More important Most important

Courageous More courageous Most courageous

Faithful More faithful Most faithful

Elegant More elegant Most elegant

Active More active Most active

Popular More popular Most popular

Awesome More awesome Most awesome

Loyal More loyal Most loyal

Fantastic More fantastic Most fantastic

Wonderful More wonderful Most wonderful

Splendid More splendid Most splendid

Famous More famous Most famous

Difficult More difficult Most difficult

Careful More careful Most careful

Brilliant More brilliant Most brilliant

Enthusiastic More enthusiastic Most enthusiastic

Suitable More suitable Most suitable

Spacious More spacious Most spacious

Devoted More devoted Most devoted

Proper More proper Most proper

Patient More patient Most patient

Amazing More amazing Most amazing

Intelligent More intelligent Most intelligent

Likely More likely Most likely

Careless More careless Most careless

Threatening More threatening Most threatening

Magnificent More magnificent Most magnificent

Depressed More depressed Most depressed

Excited More excited Most excited

 Amusing More amusing Most amusing

Type 6

Positive Comparative Superlative

Good Better Best

Bad Worse Worst

Far Further/Farther Furthest/Farthest

Late Later(time)/Latter(position) Latest(time)/Last(position)

Much More Most

Little Less Least

Many More Most

Old Elder/Older EldestOldest

Degrees of Comparison 100 Examples

Very Important 100 examples of degrees of comparison (positive, comparative, and superlative forms) in English given below. The
positive degree is the base form of an adjective, the comparative compares two things, and the superlative compares more than two.

1. Small – smaller – smallest

2. Big – bigger – biggest
3. Tall – taller – tallest
4. Short – shorter – shortest
5. Long – longer – longest
6. Strong – stronger – strongest
7. Weak – weaker – weakest
8. Fast – faster – fastest
9. Slow – slower – slowest
10. Heavy – heavier – heaviest
11. Light – lighter – lightest
12. Old – older – oldest
13. Young – younger – youngest
14. Hot – hotter – hottest
15. Cold – colder – coldest
16. Warm – warmer – warmest
17. Brave – braver – bravest
18. Clever – cleverer – cleverest
19. Quiet – quieter – quietest
20. Rich – richer – richest
21. Poor – poorer – poorest
22. Thick – thicker – thickest
23. Thin – thinner – thinnest
24. Wide – wider – widest
25. Narrow – narrower – narrowest
26. Bright – brighter – brightest
27. Dark – darker – darkest
28. Deep – deeper – deepest
29. High – higher – highest
30. Low – lower – lowest
31. Clean – cleaner – cleanest
32. Dirty – dirtier – dirtiest
33. Pretty – prettier – prettiest
34. Ugly – uglier – ugliest
35. Happy – happier – happiest
36. Sad – sadder – saddest
37. Angry – angrier – angriest
38. Friendly – friendlier – friendliest
39. Easy – easier – easiest
40. Hard – harder – hardest
41. Near – nearer – nearest
42. Far – farther/further – farthest/furthest
43. Fine – finer – finest
44. Nice – nicer – nicest
45. Tough – tougher – toughest
46. Safe – safer – safest
47. Dangerous – more dangerous – most dangerous
48. Expensive – more expensive – most expensive
49. Famous – more famous – most famous
50. Important – more important – most important
51. Popular – more popular – most popular
52. Comfortable – more comfortable – most comfortable
53. Interesting – more interesting – most interesting
54. Beautiful – more beautiful – most beautiful
55. Delicious – more delicious – most delicious
56. Generous – more generous – most generous
57. Curious – more curious – most curious
58. Honest – more honest – most honest
59. Polite – more polite – most polite
60. Active – more active – most active
61. Creative – more creative – most creative
62. Intelligent – more intelligent – most intelligent
63. Attractive – more attractive – most attractive
64. Comfortable – more comfortable – most comfortable
65. Exciting – more exciting – most exciting
66. Important – more important – most important
67. Powerful – more powerful – most powerful
68. Efficient – more efficient – most efficient
69. Difficult – more difficult – most difficult
70. Awful – more awful – most awful
71. Careful – more careful – most careful
72. Dangerous – more dangerous – most dangerous
73. Faithful – more faithful – most faithful
74. Horrible – more horrible – most horrible
75. Confident – more confident – most confident
76. Delightful – more delightful – most delightful
77. Useful – more useful – most useful
78. Powerful – more powerful – most powerful
79. Successful – more successful – most successful
 80. Excited – more excited – most excited
81. Advanced – more advanced – most advanced
82. Accurate – more accurate – most accurate
83. Efficient – more efficient – most efficient
84. Obedient – more obedient – most obedient
85. Patient – more patient – most patient
86. Confusing – more confusing – most confusing
87. Expensive – more expensive – most expensive
88. Amazing – more amazing – most amazing
89. Reliable – more reliable – most reliable
90. Understanding – more understanding – most understanding
91. Fantastic – more fantastic – most fantastic
92. Convenient – more convenient – most convenient
93. Sensitive – more sensitive – most sensitive
94. Valuable – more valuable – most valuable
95. Innovative – more innovative – most innovative
96. Flexible – more flexible – most flexible
97. Aggressive – more aggressive – most aggressive
98. Respectful – more respectful – most respectful
99. Effective – more effective – most effective
100. Efficient – more efficient – most efficient

These examples cover a wide range of adjectives, showing how their comparative and superlative forms are used in English.

Degrees of Comparison Exercise

Exercise based on the degree of comparison is given below assess yourself by doing this:

1. No other girl is as ……………………. as Jane. (tall / taller / tallest)

2. Milk is ………………….. than any other food. (nourishing / more nourishing / most nourishing)

3. Radium is one of the ……………………… metals. (valuable / more valuable / most valuable)

4. Few English poets were as ……………………. as Wordsworth. (great / greater / greatest)

5. Shimla is ………………….. than most other hill stations in India. (famous / more famous / most famous)

6. Gold is one of the ……………………. metals. (precious / more precious / most precious)

7. Solomon was …………………… than any other king. (wise / wiser / wisest)

8. Few historians write as ………………….. as Macaulay. (well / better /best)

9. Very few books are as ……………………. as David Copperfield. (popular / more popular / most popular)

10. A train is …………………. than a car. (fast / faster / fastest)

Check Yourself

1. No other girl is as tall as Jane.

2. Milk is more nourishing than any other food.

3. Radium is one of the most valuable metals.

4. Few English poets were as great as Wordsworth.

5. Shimla is more famous than most other hill stations in India.

6. Gold is one of the most precious metals.

7. Solomon was wiser than any other king.

8. Few historians write as well as Macaulay.

9. Very few books are as popular as David Copperfield.

10. A train is faster than a car.