Adjectives not compared
There are a number of adjectives that should not be compared because
the simple form of the adjective express the quality tj the highest
possible degree. For example, if an answer to a problem is correct,
another answer could not possibly be more correct. If a circle is
absolutely round, another circle could not be more round.
The following are some of the adjectives that are not compared
for the reasons given:
| perfect |
unique |
square |
universal |
| single |
supreme |
fatal |
empty |
| vertical |
full |
alone |
dead |
| final |
mortal |
round |
deadly |
| straight |
blind |
everlasting |
wrong |
The expression more nearly round, is often used when comparing
two things, one of which is more nearly round than the other. In
this case, however, neither of the things compared is round.
Sometimes an adjective such as the word honest is used in the comparative
and superlative degrees. In such cases, we have no standard of absolute
honesty. What hte writer or speaker means is that one person approaches
the absolute state of honesty to a greater or to a lesser degree
than another person. The adjective perfect is often used in the
same way.
