Comparison of Adjectives: Positive, Comparative & Superlative

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Comparison of Adjectives

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.

PositiveComparativeSuperlative
Bright  brighter brightest
Bold   bolder    boldest
ColdColder                         coldest
Oldolder            oldest
Clevercleverercleverest
Fewfewerfewest
Greatgreater greatest
Hard    harder                         hardest
Highhigherhighest
Kindkinder  kindest
Low  lower  lowest
Long  longer                           longest
New  newer   newest
Poor  poorerpoorest
Richricherrichest

  2. Adjectives ending in  e only take r and st in comparative and superlative respectively.

PositiveComparative   Superlative
Able  ablerablest
Bravebraverbravest
Fine finerfinest
Late   later/latter    latest/last
Large largerlargest
Noblenoblernoblest
Nicenicernicest
Pale  palerpalest
True truer truest
Wise wiserwisest
Widewiderwidest

  3. When the positive ends in a consonant preceded by a Vowel, the   consonant becomes doubled before adding  er  and  est .

PositiveComparative  Superlative
Big  biggerbiggest
Fat fatterfattest
Hothotter hottest
Mad maddermaddest
Redredderreddest
Sadsaddersaddest
Thinthinnerthinnest

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  ComparativeSuperlative
Drydrierdriest
Slyslier sliest
Busybusierbusiest
Happyhappierhappiest
Heavyheavierheaviest
Lazy lazier  laziest
Prettyprettierprettiest
Merrymerriermerriest
Easyeasier easiest
Holy  holier  holiest
Mightymightiermightiest
Uglyuglierugliest
Wealthywealthierwealthiest

5. Some irregular comparatives and superlatives.

Positivecomparativesuperlative
Bad, ill, evil             worseworst
Good, wellbetterbest
Foreformerforemost/first
Forefurther/furthermore    furthest/furthermost
Littlelessleast
Much/manymoremost
Nearnearernext/nearest
Nighnighernext/nighest
Ininnerinmost
Outouter/utteruttermost/utmost
Beneathnethernethermost
Up upperupmost

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. 

PositiveComparativeSuperlative
Activemore/less active         most/least active
Beautifulmore/less beautiful    most/least beautiful
Dutifulmore/less dutiful        most/least dutiful
Carefulmore/less careful        most/least careful
Cunningmore/less cunning      most/least cunning
Courageousmore/less courageous  most/least courageous
Comfortablemore/less comfortable   most/least comfortable
Difficultmore/less difficult        most/least difficult
Diligentmore/less diligent         most/least diligent
Dangerousmore/less dangerous    most/least dangerous
Honestmore/less honest           most/least honest
Importantmore/less important    most/least important
Intelligentmore/less intelligent     most/least intelligent
Industriousmore/ less industrious   most/least industrious

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