Degrees of Comparison are used when we compare
one person or one thing with another.
There are three Degrees of Comparison in English.
They are:
1. Positive degree.
2. Comparative degree.
3. Superlative degree.
1. Positive degree.
When we speak about only one person or thing, we use the Positive degree.
Examples:
• This house is big.
In this sentence only one noun “The house” is talked about.
• He is a tall student.
• This flower is beautiful.
• He is an intelligent boy.
Each sentence mentioned above talks about only one noun.
There are three Degrees of Comparison in English.
They are:
1. Positive degree.
2. Comparative degree.
3. Superlative degree.
1. Positive degree.
When we speak about only one person or thing, we use the Positive degree.
Examples:
• This house is big.
In this sentence only one noun “The house” is talked about.
• He is a tall student.
• This flower is beautiful.
• He is an intelligent boy.
Each sentence mentioned above talks about only one noun.
The second one in the Degrees of
Comparison is...
2. Comparative degree.
When we compare two persons or two things with each other,
we use both the Positive degree and Comparative degree.
Examples:
a. this house is bigger than that one. (Comparative degree)
This house is not as big as that one. (Positive degree)
The term “bigger” is comparative version of the term “big”.
Both these sentences convey the same meaning.
When we compare two persons or two things with each other,
we use both the Positive degree and Comparative degree.
Examples:
a. this house is bigger than that one. (Comparative degree)
This house is not as big as that one. (Positive degree)
The term “bigger” is comparative version of the term “big”.
Both these sentences convey the same meaning.
b. This flower is more beautiful
than that. (Comparative)
This flower is not as beautiful as that. (Positive)
The term “more beautiful” is comparative version of the term “beautiful”.
Both these sentences convey the same meaning.
This flower is not as beautiful as that. (Positive)
The term “more beautiful” is comparative version of the term “beautiful”.
Both these sentences convey the same meaning.
c. He is more intelligent than this
boy. (Comparative)
He is not as intelligent as this boy. (Positive)
He is not as intelligent as this boy. (Positive)
The term “more intelligent” is
comparative version of the term “intelligent”.
Both these sentences convey the same meaning.
Both these sentences convey the same meaning.
d. He is taller than Mr. Hulas.
(Comparative)
He is not as tall as Mr. Hulas. (Positive)
He is not as tall as Mr. Hulas. (Positive)
The term “taller” is comparative
version of the term “tall”.
Both these sentences convey the same meaning.
The third one in the Degrees of Comparison is...
Both these sentences convey the same meaning.
The third one in the Degrees of Comparison is...
3. Superlative degree:
When we compare more than two persons or things with one another,
we use all the three Positive, Comparative and Superlative degrees.
Examples:
When we compare more than two persons or things with one another,
we use all the three Positive, Comparative and Superlative degrees.
Examples:
a. This is the biggest house in this
street. (Superlative)
This house is bigger than any other house in this street. (Comparative)
No other house in this street is as big as this one. (Positive)
This house is bigger than any other house in this street. (Comparative)
No other house in this street is as big as this one. (Positive)
The term “biggest” is the
superlative version of the term “big”.
All the three sentences mean the same meaning.
All the three sentences mean the same meaning.
b. This flower is the most beautiful
one in this garden. (Superlative)
This flower is more beautiful than any other flower in this garden. (Comparative)
No other flower in this garden is as beautiful as this one. (Comparative)
This flower is more beautiful than any other flower in this garden. (Comparative)
No other flower in this garden is as beautiful as this one. (Comparative)
The term “most beautiful” is the
superlative version of the term “beautiful”.
All the three sentences mean the same meaning.
c. He is the most intelligent in this class. (Superlative)
He is more intelligent than other boys in the class. (Comparative)
No other boy is as intelligent as this boy. (Positive)
All the three sentences mean the same meaning.
c. He is the most intelligent in this class. (Superlative)
He is more intelligent than other boys in the class. (Comparative)
No other boy is as intelligent as this boy. (Positive)
The term “most intelligent” is
superlative version of the term “intelligent”.
Both these sentences convey the same meaning.
Both these sentences convey the same meaning.
d. He is the tallest student in this
class. (Superlative)
He is taller than other students in this class. (Comparative)
No other student is as tall as this student. (Positive)
He is taller than other students in this class. (Comparative)
No other student is as tall as this student. (Positive)
The term “tallest” is superlative
version of the term “tall”.
Both these sentences convey the same meaning.
Both these sentences convey the same meaning.
*Degrees of Comparison are applicable only to Adjectives and
Adverbs*
*Nouns and verbs do not have degrees of comparisons*
He is the tallest student in the
class.
The term “tallest” is an adjective.
Among the members of the group, Mr. Clinton speaks most effectively.
The term “tallest” is an adjective.
Among the members of the group, Mr. Clinton speaks most effectively.
The term “effectively” is an adverb.
All the terms used in the
above-examples are either adjectives or adverbs.
We have seen all the three Degrees of Comparison.
Let us see their models.
We have seen all the three Degrees of Comparison.
Let us see their models.
Model -1: “The best”:
Examples:
1. this is the best hotel in this area.
Examples:
1. this is the best hotel in this area.
No other hotel
is as better as this on in this area.
No other hotel
is as good as this one in this area.
2. Unemployment is the most serious
problem facing our country.
Unemployment is more serious than any other problem facing our country.
Unemployment is more serious than any other problem facing our country.
No other problem facing our country
is as serious as unemployment.
Model-2: “One of the
best”:
Examples:
Examples:
1. Calcutta is one of the largest
cities in India.
Calcutta is large than most other
cities in India.
Very few cities in India are as large as Calcutta.
Very few cities in India are as large as Calcutta.
2. Sachin Tendulkar is one of the
best batsmen in the world.
Sachin Tendulkar is better than most
other batsmen in the world.
No other batman in the world is as
good as Sachin Tendulkar.
Model-3: “Not the best”:
Examples:
1. this is not the best solution to the problem.
2. This is not better than few other solutions to this problem.
3. Other solutions to this problem are not as good as this one.
Examples:
1. this is not the best solution to the problem.
2. This is not better than few other solutions to this problem.
3. Other solutions to this problem are not as good as this one.
2. New York is not the largest city
in America.
New York is not bigger than many other cities in America.
Few other cities in America are at least as large as New York.
New York is not bigger than many other cities in America.
Few other cities in America are at least as large as New York.
Few adjectives and adverbs get their
Comparative forms by simply getting “more” before them.
And their superlative terms, by getting “most” before them.
And their superlative terms, by getting “most” before them.
Some additional rules use of degree.
1. 1.
Use of article “THE” before superlative degree but not use THE if possessive noun or pronoun before it.
2. 2. After comparative degree normally use than but
after following word use to not then.
(Junior, senior, inferior,
superior, anterior, posterior, prefer, preferable, elder)
3. 3. Unique, ideal, excellent, impossible, etc never change in superlative and comparative
degree.
4. 4. Use for double comparative or double
superlative is wrong.
5. 1. Subject singular : than of + noun
2. Subject Plural:
those of +noun
5. 1. Any other + noun (singular)
2. All other + noun (plural)
Not use other after any or all in superlative.
6. 6. One of + superlative degree+ plural noun
2. The + comparative degree + of the two
3. Mixed Degree: (positive degree+ comparative
degree)
7. One
of the + superlative degree+ plural noun if not + superlative degree + singular
noun.
Example: Sachin is one of the best batsmen if not the best batsman
in the world.
Examples:
Beautiful.......... more beautiful.......... most beautiful
Effective………more effective………most
effective
Effectively……..more effectively……..most
effectively
Enjoyable………more enjoyable………most
enjoyable
Useful…………More useful……………most
useful
Different………More different…………most
different
Honest…………More honest……………..most
honest
Qualified………more qualified…………most
qualified
Few adjectives and adverbs get their
Comparative forms by simply getting “er” after them and their superlative
terms, by getting “est” after them.
Examples:
Hard……………....harder……………..hardest
Big………………...bigger……………..biggest
Examples:
Hard……………....harder……………..hardest
Big………………...bigger……………..biggest
Tall………………...taller………………tallest
Long………………longer……………..longest
Short………………shorter……………..shortest
Costly…………………costlier……………costliest
Simple…………………simpler…………simplest
Clever…………………cleverer…………cleverest
Rich……………………richer……………richest
High…………………..higher……………highest
Strong………………..stronger…………..strongest
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