Comparison of Adjectives

The form of an adjective is often changed to show the extent or degree to which a certain quality is present. In grammar, this degree in form to show a difference in degree is called comparison.

There are three degrees of comparison in English: the positive degree, the comparative degree, and the superlative degree.

The positive degree is really not a degree of comparison because no comparison is indicated when the positive degree is used. The positive degree is the simple form of the adjective. It shows that the quality is present, but it does not show a comparison with anything else.

That is a beautiful rose.
It is a very cold day.
Peter is very energetic.

The comparative degree of the adjective is used when a comparison is made between two persons or things. The comparative degree shows that the quality expressed by the adjective exists to a greater or to a lesser degree in one of the two persons or things that are being compared.

The comparative degree of almost all adjectives of one syllable is formed by adding er to the positive degree or to the simple form of the adjective;

Peter is stronger than Mike.
This desk is larger than that one.

The superlative degree of the adjective is used when more than two persons or things are compared. The superlative degree indicates that the quality (expressed by the adjective) is possessed to the greatest or or to the least degree by one of the persons or things included in the comparison.

Our flat is the largest flat in the block.
Jimmy is the smallest boy in his class.

Adjectives of two or more syllables are usually compared by prefixing the words more and most to the simple form of the adjective. More is used to indicate the comparison between two persons or things. Most is used to indicate the comparison between more than two persons or things. Less and least are used in a similar way.

Sometimes adjectives of one syllable are compared by prefixing more and most. Sometimes adjectives of more then one syllable are compared by adding er and est. There is no rule to follow for marking these exceptions. If one form of comparison sounds better than the other, that is the form to use.

Adjectives of more than one syllable that end in y are usually compared by adding er and est. The y changes to I before the addition of er and est.

Some adjectives are compared irregularly.
And some adjectives are not to be compared.