Degrees of Comparison
Subject: English | Topic: Degrees of Comparison
For TLT, ECT, PST, JEST & All Competitive Exams
In our earlier topics, we learned that Adjectives describe nouns, and Adverbs modify verbs and adjectives. But how do we compare two or more things using these words? English uses Degrees of Comparison for this purpose, and this topic is a regular feature in the English section of TLT, ECT, PST, and JEST exams.
What are Degrees of Comparison?
Degrees of Comparison show the extent or degree to which a quality is present in a person, place, or thing, when compared with others. Adjectives (and some adverbs) change form to show this comparison. There are three degrees: Positive, Comparative, and Superlative.
Three Degrees of Comparison
The Three Degrees
- Positive Degree: Describes a simple quality of one person or thing, with no comparison. Example: Ali is tall.
- Comparative Degree: Compares two people or things. Example: Ali is taller than Karim.
- Superlative Degree: Compares three or more people or things, showing the highest or lowest degree. Example: Ali is the tallest boy in the class.
Rules for Forming Comparative and Superlative Degrees
| Rule | Positive | Comparative | Superlative |
|---|---|---|---|
| Short words (1 syllable): add -er / -est | tall | taller | tallest |
| Words ending in "e": add -r / -st | wise | wiser | wisest |
| Words ending in consonant+y: change y to i, add -er/-est | happy | happier | happiest |
| Short vowel + single consonant: double consonant | big | bigger | biggest |
| Long words (2+ syllables): use more / most | beautiful | more beautiful | most beautiful |
Irregular Degrees of Comparison
Some common adjectives do not follow the regular rules and must be memorized:
| Positive | Comparative | Superlative |
|---|---|---|
| good | better | best |
| bad | worse | worst |
| little | less | least |
| much/many | more | most |
| far | farther/further | farthest/furthest |
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Never use "more" with words already ending in -er (Incorrect: "more taller"; Correct: "taller")
- Never use "most" with words already ending in -est (Incorrect: "most tallest"; Correct: "tallest")
- Use "than" only with the Comparative Degree, not the Superlative
Why This Topic Matters
Degrees of Comparison directly build on earlier topics like Parts of Speech (Adjectives/Adverbs) and are commonly tested through sentence correction and fill-in-the-blank questions. This makes it a frequently repeated, high-value topic in TLT, ECT, PST, and JEST exams.
Practice MCQs
1. How many degrees of comparison are there in English?
a) Two b) Three c) Four d) Five
2. Which degree is used to compare three or more things?
a) Positive b) Comparative c) Superlative d) None
3. What is the comparative degree of "good"?
a) Gooder b) Better c) Best d) More good
4. Choose the correct sentence:
a) She is more taller than him b) She is taller than him c) She is tallest than him d) She is tall than him
5. What is the superlative degree of "beautiful"?
a) More beautiful b) Beautifulest c) Most beautiful d) Beautiful-est
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