Degrees of Adjectives:
Adjectives can be used to express degrees of modification.
E.g. Ram is a tall boy but Shyam is taller, and Nitin is the tallest amongst the three.
All the italicized words in the above sentence are Adjectives. Adjectives change their form to show comparison. Most of the adjectives occur in three degrees:
- Positive Degree – It is used to state the quality of the subject. In the above example the adjective tall is in the positive degree as it simply states that Ram is a tall boy.
- Comparative Degree – This degree is used to make comparisons between two things. The adjective taller helps us to compare the height of Shyam and Ram; it is in the comparative form;
- Superlative Degree – This degree denotes the highest form of quality. It is used to compare more than two things. When it is said that Nitin is the tallest …, the superlative form of the adjective is being used.
Formation of Comparative and Superlative Degrees
- Most of the adjectives form their comparative by adding –er to the positive adjective, and by adding –est to form the superlative; E.g. small, smaller, smallest; thick, thicker, thickest; big, bigger, biggest
- When the positive adjective ends in –e , only –r is added to form the comparative and –st is added to form the superlative; E.g. brave, braver, bravest; large, larger, largest; able, abler, ablest
- When the positive adjective ends in –y , –ier is added to form the comparative and –iest is added to form the superlative; E.g. happy, happier, happiest; heavy, heavier, heaviest
- Compound Words form their comparative by prefixing more, and superlative by prefixing most to the positive adjective; E.g. beautiful, more beautiful, most beautiful; courageous, more courageous, most courageous
- Irregular Adjectives are adjectives which have different words for their comparative and superlative forms; E.g. Good, Better,Best; Bad, Worse, Worst; little, less, least
Reference: http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu; High School English Grammar & Composition
Answers to the question on the previous page:
It was a dark night. The white moon was shining bright in the sky. The stars looked like small children beckoning one. The breeze was cool and misty. I decided to take a long walk on the road winding through the manicured lawns of the hotel. Suddenly, I heard an eerie sound from behind a tree. The cool breeze ruffled through my uncovered hair……