Degrees of Comparison: Definition and 100 Examples

Degrees of comparison are used to express the differences in the quality or quantity of nouns that adjectives describe. They allow us to compare and rank nouns based on their attributes. Adjectives have three forms of degrees of comparison: positive, comparative, and superlative.

• Positive Degree

The positive degree is the base form of an adjective, used when no comparison is made. It simply describes the noun without any comparison. For instance:

• She is tall.
• The cake is delicious.
• The flower is beautiful.

In the examples above, the adjectives “tall,” “delicious,” and “beautiful” are in their positive degree, describing the qualities of the respective nouns.

• Comparative Degree

The comparative degree is used when we compare two entities or nouns. It is formed by adding “-er” to the adjective or by using the word “more” before the adjective. Let’s look at some examples:

• She is taller than her sister.
• The second cake is more delicious than the first one.
• The rose is more beautiful than the lily.

In the above examples, we compare the height, taste, and beauty of different entities using the comparative degree.

• Superlative Degree

The superlative degree is used when we compare three or more entities or nouns. It is formed by adding “-est” to the adjective or by using the word “most” before the adjective. Consider these examples:

• She is the tallest girl in the class.
• The cake is the most delicious dessert at the party.
• The peacock is the most beautiful bird in the garden.

The superlative degree highlights the highest degree of a particular quality among a group of entities.

• Exceptions and Irregular Forms

While most adjectives follow a regular pattern of forming degrees of comparison, some have irregular forms. For example:

1. Good (Positive) – Better (Comparative) – Best (Superlative)
2. Bad (Positive) – Worse (Comparative) – Worst (Superlative)
3. Little (Positive) – Less (Comparative) – Least (Superlative)

These irregular forms require memorization to correctly express the degrees of comparison.

1. Positive Degree:

The positive degree is the base form of an adjective or adverb, used when no comparison is made. It describes a noun or verb without any comparison.

• • He is tall.
  • She runs fast.
  • The book is interesting.
  • The car drives smoothly.

2. Comparative Degree:

The comparative degree is used to compare two entities or actions, indicating a higher or lower degree of the quality being compared. It is formed by adding “-er” to the adjective or by using “more” before the adjective or adverb.Examples:

• • He is taller than his brother. (Comparing height)
  • She sings more beautifully than the others. (Comparing singing ability)
  • This house is bigger than the previous one. (Comparing size)
  • She speaks more fluently than her classmates. (Comparing fluency)

3. Superlative Degree:

The superlative degree is used to compare three or more entities or actions, indicating the highest or lowest degree of the quality being compared. It is formed by adding “-est” to the adjective or by using “most” before the adjective or adverb.

• • He is the tallest person in the room. (Comparing height within a group)
  • She is the most talented musician in the orchestra. (Comparing talent within a group)
  • This is the biggest cake I’ve ever seen. (Comparing size within a group)
  • She speaks the most fluently among all her friends. (Comparing fluency within a group)

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Examples of Degrees of Comparison

Positive Degree:

1. Fast
2. Bright
3. Happy
4. Big
5. Strong
6. Clever
7. Easy
8. Short
9. Brave
10. Wise
11. Cold
12. Small
13. Soft
14. Clean
15. Quick
16. Safe
17. Hard
18. Long
19. Beautiful
20. Tall
21. Rich
22. Funny
23. Loud
24. Sweet
25. Hot
26. Sad
27. Thin
28. Green
29. Kind
30. Young
31. Warm
32. Dry
33. Clear
34. Busy
35. Healthy
36. Heavy
37. Neat
38. Polite
39. Shiny
40. Smooth
41. Old
42. Calm
43. Round
44. Deep
45. True
46. Fresh
47. Pretty
48. Simple
49. Happy
50. Weak

Comparative Degree:

1. Faster
2. Brighter
3. Happier
4. Bigger
5. Stronger
6. Cleverer
7. Easier
8. Shorter
9. Braver
10. Wiser
11. Colder
12. Smaller
13. Softer
14. Cleaner
15. Quicker
16. Safer
17. Harder
18. Longer
19. More beautiful
20. Taller
21. Richer
22. Funnier
23. Louder
24. Sweeter
25. Hotter
26. Sadder
27. Thinner
28. Greener
29. Kinder
30. Younger
31. Warmer
32. Drier
33. Clearer
34. Busier
35. Healthier
36. Heavier
37. Neater
38. Politer
39. Shinier
40. Smoother
41. Older
42. Calmer
43. Rounder
44. Deeper
45. Truer
46. Fresher
47. Prettier
48. Simpler
49. Happier
50. Weaker

Superlative Degree:

1. Fastest
2. Brightest
3. Happiest
4. Biggest
5. Strongest
6. Cleverest
7. Easiest
8. Shortest
9. Bravest
10. Wisest
11. Coldest
12. Smallest
13. Softest
14. Cleanest
15. Quickest
16. Safest
17. Hardest
18. Longest
19. Most beautiful
20. Tallest
21. Richest
22. Funniest
23. Loudest
24. Sweetest
25. Hottest
26. Saddest
27. Thinnest
28. Greenest
29. Kindest
30. Youngest
31. Warmest
32. Driest
33. Clearest
34. Busiest
35. Healthiest
36. Heaviest
37. Neatest
38. Politest
39. Shiniest
40. Smoothest
41. Oldest
42. Calmest
43. Roundest
44. Deepest
45. Truest
46. Freshest
47. Prettiest
48. Simplest
49. Happiest
50. Weakest

Degrees of Comparison: Definition and 100 Examples

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