An adjective is a part of speech that is used to describe a noun or a pronoun. It is also used to quantify, qualify, and modify the noun or pronoun in sentences. It adds more meaning to the sentence. Adjectives have many features that are essential in learning the English grammar. For language learners, it is important to know more about adjectives and their functions in sentences because they are commonly used in conversations. As part of learning, a learner needs to be aware of these aspects particularly the degrees of comparison of adjectives.
In English, the degrees of comparison of adjectives are essential grammar points that are used to compare two or more things.
There are three degrees of comparison of adjectives: Positive, Comparative, and Superlative. These degrees are generally formed from adjectives according to their level. We apply particular grammatical rules in forming the degrees of comparison of adjectives to identify their level in sentences.
We will take a closer look at these degrees of comparison of adjectives to understand them better.
The positive degree is the simplest form of the three degrees of comparison of adjectives. Initially, we are not really comparing things here. This is the main adjective or the root word that we base our comparison with other things.
Examples of verbs in the Positive Degree:
You can also use the expression “as…as” to also signify that the adjective is in the positive degree.
Examples:
The comparative degree is one of the degrees of comparison of adjectives that compares two things, people, events, animals, and places. In particular, it used to compare specifically two nouns or pronouns.
We usually add “-er” and “-r” to the end of the root word or “more” at the beginning of the one-syllable adjective. The word “than” is the most important word in the comparative degrees of comparison of adjectives.
Examples:
The superlative degree is the highest form of the degrees of comparison of adjectives because it describes “the most” among three or more nouns or pronouns.
We add the suffix “-est” to the end of the root word or the word “most” before it. Don’t forget to include the definite article “the” before the adjective.
Examples:
Just like verbs, adjectives also have irregular forms. Irregular adjectives are adjectives that are formed differently in both comparative and superlative degrees. These adjectives are fixed in form and spelling. They do not add “-er”, “-r”, and “more” in their comparative form, or “-est” and “most” in their superlative form.
Below are examples of irregular adjectives that we commonly see in texts or use in our conversations.
Positive | Comparative | Superlative |
Good | Better than | The best |
Bad | Worse than | The Worst |
Many | More than | The most |
Far | Further than | The furthest |
Great – greater than – the greatest
High – higher than – the highest
Dark – darker than – the darkest
Strong – stronger than – the strongest
Thin – thinner than – the thinnest
Big – bigger than – the biggest
Fat – fatter than – the fattest
◙ “Fun” is an exception.
Nice – nicer than – the nicest
Large – larger than – the largest
Wide – wider than – the widest
Wise – wiser than – the wisest
◙ “Huge” is an exception.
Heavy – heavier than – the heaviest
Happy – happier than – the happiest
Funny – funnier than – the funniest
Merry – merrier – the merriest
Busy – busier than – the busiest
Awesome – more awesome than – the most awesome
Thoughtful – more thoughtful than – the most thoughtful
Pleasant – more pleasant than – the most pleasant
Narrow – narrower than – the narrowest
Peaceful – more peaceful than – the most peaceful
Familiarize these rules of forming the degrees of comparison of adjectives. Use them in your sentences more often.
After the be-verb: She is more determined to win than her competitors.
Before the noun: Her coach wanted to see a more determined athlete now than she was before.
Other linking verbs: The price of commodities has become more increasing than the previous years.
You’d feel a lot better if you took some medicine.
Some cars manufactured in Asia are a bit cheaper compared to those in Europe.
If the item is slightly damaged, return it to the seller.
I’m a little tired; let me take a nap.
The longer you wait in line, the more tired you become.
The more stressful work you have, the higher possibility of illness you can have.
The worse attitude you show me, the more irritated I feel for you.
I felt seasick because the sea became rougher and rougher.
Why is the dust getting thicker and thicker outside the house?
Long rides in motorbikes make me more and more exhausted.
Participial Adjectives
Participial adjectives are words that you think firstly as verbs because they end in “-ed”, “-d”, or “-ing” but they are actually not. These words are participles of adjectives and their function is to modify or describe the noun in the sentence.
Examples:
The show was amazing. All the audience were amazed.
I am interested in painting because it is interesting.
The groom was mesmerized with his wife’s mesmerizing look during their wedding.
Some customers were disgusted with the disgusting situation at the sidewalk cafeteria.
What an inspiring story you have. I’m sure many viewers are inspired.
Long-lasting longer-lasting longest-lasting
good-looking better-looking best-looking
more patient – less patient
less polite – more polite
more than – fewer than
You now have the idea of the rules of forming the degrees of comparison of adjectives. Keep learning them and practice more often, especially in your English conversations. Sometimes you don’t notice them, but when you do, you can say that it’s better to know a lot about it than not at all.
Create your own sentences using the given adjectives in their positive, comparative, and superlative forms.
Good luck!
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