Comparison of Adjectives
By
Mohammed Mohsin ( M.A in English Literature J.U)and B.Ed 1st Class.( N.U)
Mobile:+8801814-22 25 07/+8801850-14 97 02.
Comparison of Adjectives
There are three kinds of Degrees. They are
(1) Positive, (2) Comparative and (3) Superlative.
(1)Positive Degree: The simplest form of an Adjective/Adverb. Structure: Subject +verb+ Modifier +Adjective/Adverb. As,
He is a good boy.
(2)Comparative Degree: When a comparison is made between two persons or things. The comparative form of an adjective/adverb is followed by Than/Than any other/Than most other/Than all other. Such as,
- The lion is stronger than the tiger.
- London is more beautiful than most other cities.
- The Padma is larger than any other river in Bangladesh.
(3)Superlative Degree: When a comparison is made with more than two persons or things. The superlative form is preceded by the/one of the and followed by in/of/of all. Such as,
- London is the biggest city in the world.
- She is one of the most beautiful ladies in the village.
Syllables
Definition: The Part of a word which is uttered/ pronounced at a time is called a Syllable. There are four classes of Syllables. They are—
- Mono- Syllable: The word which has one part only and pronounced at a time. As, cat, dog, rat, good etc.
- Di-Syllable: A word having two syllables or two parts. As, sis+ter, bro +ther, mo +ther etc.
- Tri-Syllable: A word having three syllables. As, won+der+ful, beau +ti+ful etc.
- Poly-Syllable: The word having more than three syllables. As, pre+po+si+tion, in+ter+jec+tion, etc.
Rules of Comparison
(1)Adjectives of one(mono) Syllable are formed into Comparative and Superlative by adding er and est to the Comparative and Superlative respectively.
Positive | Comparative | Superlative |
Bright | brighter | brightest |
Bold | bolder | boldest |
Cold | Colder | coldest |
Old | older | oldest |
Clever | cleverer | cleverest |
Few | fewer | fewest |
Great | greater | greatest |
Hard | harder | hardest |
High | higher | highest |
Kind | kinder | kindest |
Low | lower | lowest |
Long | longer | longest |
New | newer | newest |
Poor | poorer | poorest |
Rich | richer | richest |
2. Adjectives ending in e only take r and st in comparative and superlative respectively.
Positive | Comparative | Superlative |
Able | abler | ablest |
Brave | braver | bravest |
Fine | finer | finest |
Late | later/latter | latest/last |
Large | larger | largest |
Noble | nobler | noblest |
Nice | nicer | nicest |
Pale | paler | palest |
True | truer | truest |
Wise | wiser | wisest |
Wide | wider | widest |
3. When the positive ends in a consonant preceded by a Vowel, the consonant becomes doubled before adding er and est .
Positive | Comparative | Superlative |
Big | bigger | biggest |
Fat | fatter | fattest |
Hot | hotter | hottest |
Mad | madder | maddest |
Red | redder | reddest |
Sad | sadder | saddest |
Thin | thinner | thinnest |
4. Positives ending in y and preceded by a consonant , then y is changed into i and add er and est to comparative and superlative respectively.
Positive | Comparative | Superlative |
Dry | drier | driest |
Sly | slier | sliest |
Busy | busier | busiest |
Happy | happier | happiest |
Heavy | heavier | heaviest |
Lazy | lazier | laziest |
Pretty | prettier | prettiest |
Merry | merrier | merriest |
Easy | easier | easiest |
Holy | holier | holiest |
Mighty | mightier | mightiest |
Ugly | uglier | ugliest |
Wealthy | wealthier | wealthiest |
5. Some irregular comparatives and superlatives.
Positive | comparative | superlative |
Bad, ill, evil | worse | worst |
Good, well | better | best |
Fore | former | foremost/first |
Fore | further/furthermore | furthest/furthermost |
Little | less | least |
Much/many | more | most |
Near | nearer | next/nearest |
Nigh | nigher | next/nighest |
In | inner | inmost |
Out | outer/utter | uttermost/utmost |
Beneath | nether | nethermost |
Up | upper | upmost |
6. Adjectives of two or more than two syllables are formed into comparative and superlative by adding more/less and most/ least to the comparative and superlative respectively.
Positive | Comparative | Superlative |
Active | more/less active | most/least active |
Beautiful | more/less beautiful | most/least beautiful |
Dutiful | more/less dutiful | most/least dutiful |
Careful | more/less careful | most/least careful |
Cunning | more/less cunning | most/least cunning |
Courageous | more/less courageous | most/least courageous |
Comfortable | more/less comfortable | most/least comfortable |
Difficult | more/less difficult | most/least difficult |
Diligent | more/less diligent | most/least diligent |
Dangerous | more/less dangerous | most/least dangerous |
Honest | more/less honest | most/least honest |
Important | more/less important | most/least important |
Intelligent | more/less intelligent | most/least intelligent |
Industrious | more/ less industrious | most/least industrious |