How to Form Degrees of Comparison
Forming Degrees of Comparison in English Grammar:
Positive Degree:
The basic form of an adjective or adverb, such as "big," "small," "fast," and "slow."
Comparative Degree:
The comparative degree is formed by adding -er to the positive form for one-syllable adjectives and adverbs, and by adding "more" to the positive form for two-syllable and more adjectives and adverbs. For example, "big" becomes "bigger" and "beautiful" becomes "more beautiful."
Superlative Degree:
The superlative degree is formed by adding -est to the positive form for one-syllable adjectives and adverbs, and by adding "most" to the positive form for two-syllable and more adjectives and adverbs. For example, "big" becomes "biggest" and "beautiful" becomes "most beautiful."
Some adjectives have irregular forms for their comparative and superlative degrees, such as good, better, best; bad, worse, worst.
Examples of irregular forms:
- Positive: big, small, fast, slow
- Comparative: bigger, smaller, faster, slower
- Superlative: biggest, smallest, fastest, slowest
Special Cases:
- Adjectives with one or two syllables usually form their comparative and superlative degrees by adding -er and -est to the positive form.
- Some adjectives have irregular forms for their comparative and superlative degrees, such as good, better, best; bad, worse, worst. Other examples include little, less, least; much, more, most.
- Additionally, some adjectives are considered "flat" and do not have a comparative or superlative form, such as perfect, unique, round, square, etc. In these cases, other words or phrases may be used to convey the same meaning, such as "more perfect" or "most unique."
Comprehension Exercises:
- Fill in the blank: The elephant is _____ than the horse.
- Identify the superlative degree in the following sentence: "The elephant is the biggest animal in the zoo."
- Rewrite the following sentence correctly: "He runs fast"
- Complete the following sentence: "He runs _____ than his friend."
- Identify the positive degree in the following sentence: "The elephant is big."
- Rewrite the following sentence correctly: "He's the best in class"
- Identify the comparative degree in the following sentence: "The elephant is bigger than the horse."
- Fill in the blank: The elephant is the _____ animal in the zoo.
- Rewrite the following sentence correctly: "He is extremely fast"
- Complete the following sentence: "He runs _____ than anyone else in the class."