Degrees of Comparison: Meaning, Types, Answers with Exercises

Degree of Comparison are variations in the form of Adverbs and Adjectives that are used to compare and describe the qualities of nouns. These degrees of comparison can be used to show how one entity differs from another according to size, quantity, or quality or any other measurable factor. The three types of the Degree of Comparison are Positive, Comparative, and Superlative. The degrees of comparison may answer the questions related to intensity or quality such as:

• How fast?
• How big or small?
• Who is better?
• Who is the most intelligent?

In simple words, the definition and the function of each degree of comparison are given below:

Positive Degree of Comparison: Talks about quality only with no comparison

Examples:

• Tina is tall
• The cat runs fast

Comparative Degree of Comparison: Compares the two people or things.

Examples:

• Tina is smarter than Barkha
• Sheena is kinder than her sister

Superlative Degree of Comparison: Compares more than two things and shows the highest level of intensity or quality

Examples:

• Sheena is the kindest of all
• He is the strongest wrestler on our team

Also Read:

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According to the Collins Dictionary, “The Degree of Comparison is the listing of positive, comparative, and superlative forms of an adjective or adverb.” Degrees of comparison are important in English grammar as they make:

• Descriptions clearer and more precise
• Are necessary for writing and communication
• Help in ranking or evaluating things or people

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There are three types of Degree of Comparison in English Grammar; Positive, Comparative, and Superlative. Going by the name, the Degrees of Comparison basically show the difference in qualities between things, people or actions. The details of the types of Degree of Comparison are given below:

Positive Degree of Comparison

In simple words, the positive degree of comparison is the original form of the Adjective. This degree of comparison does not allow one to make any comparison. In a way, it only gives information about a particular quality possessed by a noun.

Examples

• The dress is beautiful
• Joe is happy
• The sky is clear
• She is wearing a black dress

Comparative Degree of Comparison

The Comparative Degree of Comparison is used to compare two things, people, or actions. These are usually formed by adding –er or by using more / less before the adjective. This shows which one of the two has lesser or greater degree of a particular degree being referred to. 

Examples

• Sheena looks sadder than Rita
• Her hair is longer than yours
• My sister is taller than me
• Mike is taller than Kate

Superlative Degree of Comparison

The Superlative Degree of Comparison compares three or more things or people. In other words, it is used to compare the similar qualities shared by more than two nouns. It shows the greatest or least degree of quality of the nouns being described. It is the highest degree of comparison and is formed by adding –est or using least / most.

Examples

• This is the most expensive mobile phone in the shop
• Reema is the tallest girl in our team
• Rayansh is among the most talkative boy in the class
• This was the funniest stand-up comedy show I have watched in a while
• Out of all these fruits, I like orange the least 

Synonyms for common words

Antonyms in English Grammar

There are some rules that students have to follow while using degrees of comparison in English grammar. Understanding these rules will help in understanding and creating the sentences with the proper form of degrees of comparison: positive, comparative, and superlative. Here are some of the basic rules:

Rule 1: When there is no comparison being made and there is a single entity, then a positive degree will be used.

Example:

• The Dictator is a good movie
• The bag is heavy
• The weather was pleasant yesterday

Rule 2: When two people / objects are being compared, a comparative degree is used. This can be done by placing ‘er’ to the adjective word in linking with the word ‘than’ or in same cases ‘more’.

Example:

• She is smarter than her sister
• My bike is heavier than yours
• Her dress is more expensive than mine

Rule 3: When two or more things are compared, the superlative degree is used by putting ‘est’ to the adjective word, or in few cases ‘most’ is used.

Example:

• She is the tallest in the class
• She is the most intelligent student of the class
• It was the coldest day of the year till now
• This is the most comfortable chair in the whole store

Rule 4: There are some adjectives that do not follow the standard rules. A few of the examples for these are given below:

Example:

• Good – Better – Best
• Many – More – Most
• Little - Less - Least
• Bad - Worse - Worst 

Rule 5: Do not use double comparisons. This happens when two comparative forms are used together unnecessarily. This makes the sentence grammatically incorrect.

Example:

• Incorrect: He is more smarter than her sister
• Correct: He is smarter than her sister

Rule 6: While comparing two things or people, some kind of similarity should be there.

Example:

• Incorrect: This color of the wall is more beautiful than the old one
• Correct: This color of the wall is more beautiful than that of the old one

Rule 7: At times, a comparative degree is used in the superlative degree sense. In this scenario, use ‘any other’ when a thing or person of the same group is compared.

• Incorrect: Sanya is smarter than any student in her class
• Correct: Sanya is smarter than any other student in her class

Rule 8: To show the difference between the compared person / thing is small or big, use quantifiers for the comparative degree of an adjective like a little, a bit, far, much, etc.

Example:

• He is a little more popular than his sister in college
• My room is marginally smaller than yours

Understanding the degrees of comparison and then using them correctly enhances communication. Additionally, they clarify descriptions. It is important to master the degrees of comparison as it is essential for correct grammar usage. The advantages of using Degree of Comparison in the English language are given below:

• Helps express comparison in a clear way: Using the correct degree of comparison will help in conveying the exact levels of quality. This will help in making descriptions more precise and clear (intensity of actions)
• Improves the details: The degrees of comparison will help in describing things more accurately and vividly
• Better comparison: The degrees of comparison allow comparison of a number of things, highlighting similarities and differences in a structured way
• Better understanding: The degrees of comparison help in expressing the different levels of qualities, making communication precise and nuanced

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Grammatical Mood

The different types of degrees of comparison include:

• Type 1: Doubling the final consonant of a monosyllabic adjective and adding ‘er’ and ‘est’
• Type 2: Adding ‘er’ to ‘est’ to monosyllabic adjectives in which the last consonant is preceded by another consonant or two vowels
• Type 3: Adding ‘r’ and ‘-st’ to adjectives ending in ‘e’
• Type 4: Adding ‘ier’ and ‘iest’ to adjectives ending in ‘y’
• Type 5: Adding ‘more’ and ‘most’ to polysyllabic adjectives
• Type 6: Irregular Adjectives

Degree of Comparison 100 Examples

Given below is the list of Degree of Comparison 100 examples for your reference:

Type 1: Doubling the final consonant of a monosyllabic adjective and adding ‘er’ and ‘est’

Positive	Comparative	Superlative
Thin	Thinner	Thinnest
Big	Bigger	Biggest
Fat	Fatter	Fattest
Dim	Dimmer	Dimmest
Sad	Sadder	Saddest
Hot	Hotter	Hottest
Red	Redder	Reddest
Slim	Slimmer	Slimmest

Type 2: Adding ‘er’ to ‘est’ to monosyllabic adjectives in which the last consonant is preceded by another consonant or two vowels

Positive	Comparative	Superlative
Short	Shorter	Shortest
Bright	Brighter	Brightest
Long	Longer	Longest
Smart	Smarter	Smartest
Small	Smaller	Smallest
High	Higher	Highest
Kind	Kinder	Kindest
Quick	Quicker	Quickest

Type 3: Adding ‘r’ and ‘-st’ to adjectives ending in ‘e’

Positive	Comparative	Superlative
Larger	Larger	Largest
Humble	Humbler	Humblest
Simple	Simpler	Simplest
Fine	Finer	Finest
Brave	Braver	Bravest
Close	Closer	Closest
Pale	Paler	Palest
Noble	Noble	Noblest

Type 4: Adding ‘ier’ and ‘iest’ to adjectives ending in ‘y’

Positive	Comparative	Superlative
Happy	Happier	Happiest
Funny	Funnier	Funniest
Lazy	Lazier	Laziest
Easy	Easier	Easiest
Wealthy	Wealthier	Wealthiest
Costly	Costlier	Costliest
Busy	Busier	Busiest
Healthy	Healthier	Healthiest

 Type 5: Adding ‘more’ and ‘most’ to polysyllabic adjectives

Positive	Comparative	Superlative
Beautiful	More Beautiful	Most Beautiful
Comfortable	More Comfortable	Most Comfortable
Important	More Important	Most Important
Courageous	More Courageous	Most Courageous
Elegant	More Elegant	Most Elegant
Popular	More Popular	Most Popular
Wonderful	More Wonderful	Most Wonderful
Difficult	More Difficult	Most Difficult

Type 6: Irregular Adjectives

Positive	Comparative	Superlative
Bad	Worse	Worst
Good	Better	Best
Far	Further / Farther	Furthest / Farthest
Much	More	Most
Old	Older / Elder	Oldest / Eldest
Many	More	Most
Little	Less	Least
Late	Later (Time) / Latter (Position)	Latest (Time) / Last (Position)

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Referring to good books to master degrees of comparison in English grammar is crucial. There are many books available online that contain the concept of degrees of comparison along with examples and practice questions. Given below are the books to ace the concept of degrees of comparison:

Books	Authors
Mastering Degrees of Comparison in English: From Basic to Advanced	By Garlapati Sathish Kumar
Essential English Grammar	By Raju Suppiah
Making Comparisons in English: Similarities, Differences, Degrees	By Manik Joshi
High School English Grammar and Composition book	By Wren and Martin
Objective General English	By SP Bakshi

The books mentioned above will help in learning the concept of Degrees of Comparison. These are a few books for all ages and groups. 

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