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Degrees of comparison are changes in adjectives and adverbs that help describe and compare qualities. They show how one thing is different from another in size, quality, amount, or any other measurable attribute. There are three types of degrees of comparison:

There are three types: 

The basic form of an adjective, without any comparison. It is used to express a quality without comparing it to others.

Example: Mike is tall.

Here, "tall" describes Mike's height without comparing it to anyone else.

Comparative degree is used when comparing two subjects or objects to show the difference in their qualities.

Example: Robert is taller than Mike.

Here, "taller" shows that Robert's height is greater than Mike's.

It is used to show that one thing has the most or least quality among three or more things. In other words, they’re used to show that one subject or object has the highest or lowest quality compared to two or more entities.

Example: Robert is the tallest in the class.
 

Here,  “tallest” shows that Robert's height is greater than everyone else's in the class.  Note that superlatives proceed from the definite article “the” because you can only have one winner when it comes to superlatives.  In a scenario where the true superlative is up for debate, we introduce the superlative with the phrase “one of the” and ensure that the noun is in its plural form.

Example: Dosas are one of the most popular dishes in India.

Now let’s discuss the important rules for these degrees. 

To use degrees of comparison in sentences properly, there are some rules you need to use to make the sentences grammatically right. You should first understand these rules and then use them properly. Here we are with rules and degrees of comparison examples:

Rule 1: Positive degree is used when there is one entity and no comparison is made.

Example: He is intelligent.

Rule 2: When two things/persons are compared, a comparative degree is used by placing 'er' in the adjective word followed by 'than'.  For longer adjectives (consisting of 3 syllables or more) the words “more” or “less” precede the positive degree of the adjective.

Example:

• She is smarter than her brother.

• He is more intelligent than her sister.

Rule 3: When more than two things/persons are compared, the superlative degree is used by placing 'est' in the adjective word, or in some cases 'most' or ‘least’ before the positive degree form of the adjective.

Example:

• “He is the tallest in the class.”

• “He is the most intelligent student in the class.”

Rule 4: Don’t use double comparative adjectives or superlative adjectives.

Example:

Incorrect- These apples are more tastier than those

Correct- These apples are tastier than those
 

Rule 5: Don’t use 'more or mostly' with adjectives that can’t be compared.

Example:

Incorrect- This route is more parallel to that one.

Correct- This route is parallel whereas the other is not.
 

Now let's see some degrees of comparison examples, and understand them better.

Here's a table with 10 degrees of comparison examples each for Positive, Comparative, and Superlative Degrees of Comparison:

Remember that not all adjectives follow the same rule of adding ‘-er’ and ‘-est’ to make comparative and superlative forms. Here are the types of comparison degrees with examples:

Type 1: Doubling the final consonant and adding ‘-er’ and ‘-est’.  This is important to differentiate the ways in which the vowel before the final consonant is pronounced, keeping it the same as it is in the positive degree.

Type 2: Adding ‘-er’ and ‘-est’ to adjectives where the last consonant is preceded by another consonant or two vowels.

Type 3: Adding ‘r’ and ‘st’ to adjectives already ending in ‘e’.

Type 4: Adding ‘-ier’ and ‘-iest’ to adjectives ending in ‘y’ (the ‘y’ is removed).

Type 5: Adding ‘more’ and ‘most’ to adjectives with more than two syllables.

Type 6: Irregular adjectives.

We have discussed degrees of comparison, their rules and some basic degrees of comparison examples with answers and also learned how they work in English grammar. Having all this information and being proficient in it will help students in their daily lives, especially if you are planning to study abroad in an English-speaking country. So, practise regularly even if you feel you are already good at it.  With practice you will get better at it and eventually you may become the best at it.  

If you need further help, especially in your study abroad dream then feel free to contact ËÄÉ«AV We have a team of the best overseas education consultants in India and we have helped thousands of students in their journey of study abroad. So, contact Meridean Overseas now and get the guidance you need!

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