Comparatives
Comparison of Adjectives
An adjective is used to make comparisons between two or more nouns. It may highlight the similarity or difference between the nouns. There are three degrees of comparison:
The positive degree of the adjective is used when only the noun is being described
Bengaluru is a big city
(The adjective ‘big’ merely describes the city.)
In the positive degree, the adjective alone is used in the sentence. Sometimes, in the positive degree, the phrase ‘as (adjective) as’ is used to show comparison between two things.
Sita is as tall as Gita.
More Examples:
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The comparative degree of the adjective is used when the noun is compared to another.
Delhi is bigger than Bengaluru.
(The adjective ‘bigger’ is used to compare ‘Delhi’ to ‘Bengaluru’.)
In the comparative degree, the preposition ‘than’ is used after the adjective
More Examples:
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The superlative degree of the adjective is used when the noun is compared to three or more things.
But Mumbai is the biggest city of all.
(The adjective ‘biggest’ is used to compare ‘Mumbai’ to ‘Delhi’ and ‘Bengaluru’.)
More Examples:
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In the superlative degree, the definite article ‘the’ is used with the adjective
Regular Comparison:
Most adjectives with single syllables end with the suffix ‘-er’ or ‘-est’ in the comparative degree and superlative degree, respectively
Positive | Comparative | Superlative |
| tall | taller | tallest |
| short | shorter | shortest |
| kind | kinder | kindest |
| bold | bolder | boldest |
| great | greater | greatest |
When the positive degree adjectives end in ‘-y’ preceded by a consonant, the ‘y’ becomes ‘i’ and ‘er’ and ‘est’ are added
| Positive | Comparative | Superlative |
| busy | busier | busiest |
| lazy | lazier | laziest |
| happy | happier | happiest |
| cheery | cheerier | cheeriest |
When the adjective ends in a ‘consonant–vowel–consonant’ structure, the last consonant is repeated and ‘er’ or ‘est’ is added.
| Positive | Comparative | Superlative |
| hot | hotter | hottest |
| red | redder | reddest |
| big | bigger | biggest |
Changing the Degree:
It is possible to change the degree of the adjective without changing its meaning. Let us read the following sentences
| Krishna is the tallest boy in the class. (superlative) |
| No other boy in the class is as tall as Krishna is. (positive degree) |
| Krishna is taller than any other boy in the class. (comparative) |
In the above sentences, the degrees of the adjectives are different; however, the meaning of all the three sentences is the same. Let us look at the rules for changing the degree of the adjectives.
Changing into the Positive Degree:
While changing the sentence into any degree, it is important to understand what kind of comparison is made.
a. Manu is the smartest person I have ever met. b. Manu is one of the smartest people I have ever met. |
a. Manu is the smartest person I have met. No other person I have met is as smart as Manu is. |
b. Manu is one of the smartest people I have met Not many people I have met are as smart as Manu is. Few people that I have met are as smart as Manu is. |
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