Quality Comparison
Adjective is a word that describes the quality of a person or thing .
e.g. Cute baby, rich man, small house, shy animal etc.
There are three levels or degrees of comparison in adjectives, namely Positive
Comparative and Superlative.
Positive degree
It is used to express mere existence of some quality (good or bad) of someone or something. No comparison is made in this case.
e.g. Joe is a clever boy.
The weather is bad.
Comparative degree
It is used to express higher or lower degree of quality compared to positive degree. It is used when there are two things or persons to compare. This degree is made by adding er . (More is added if the adjective has two or more syllables .), than follows the adjective
e.g. Jack is cleverer than Joe.
A is more beautiful than B.
Superlative degree
This degree is used to express highest or lowest degree of quality. It is used when there are more than two things or persons to compare. This degree is made by adding est . (Most is added if the adjective has two or more syllables.), the precedes this degree
e.g. Russia is the largest country in the world.
US is the most powerful country in the world.
Formation of comparative and superlative degrees (Regular comparison)
| Positive degree | Comparative degree | Superlative degree |
| Big | bigger | biggest |
| Fast | faster | fastest |
| Happy | Happier | Happiest |
| Wealthy | Wealthier | Wealthiest |
| Wise | wiser | wisest |
| Noble | nobler | noblest |
| large | larger | largest |
| Bright | brighter | brightest |
| Beautiful | More beautiful | Most beautiful |
| Courageous | More courageous | Most courageous |
Formation of comparative and superlative degrees (Irregular comparison)
| Positive degree | Comparative degree | Superlative degree |
| Little | Less/lesser | least |
| Old | Older/elder | Oldest/eldest |
| Late | Later/latter | Latest/last |
| In | Inner | Innermost |
| Out | Outer | utmost |
| Far | Farther | farthest |
| Bad | worse | worst |
| Good | better | best |
| Far | Farther | farthest |
| Much | more | most |
More sentences
Shane works as hard as Tom – (No comparison is made) – positive degree
Susan is as old as Mary - Positive
The first house is as big as the second one. – Positive
This fruit is delicious - Positive
Jim is taller than John – Comparative
Highways/Carriage ways are wider than roads. - Comparative
This is the oldest building in the town. - Superlative
This is the most beautiful place I have ever seen – Superlative
COMPARISON OF EQUALS (Positive degree)
Russia is as powerful as America.
Jill is as old as John
This house is as big as that one.
John is as efficient as Clara
COMPARISON OF EQUALS IN NEGATIVE SENSE
Shane is not so efficient as Mary. (or) Shane is not as efficient as Mary.
This table is not so big as that one.
China is not so powerful as US.
CONVERSION TO OTHER DEGREES
Pacific is The largest ocean. Superlative
Pacific is larger than all other ocean.- comparative
No other ocean is as big as the Pacific - Positive
NOTE:
Than won’t follow the adjective elder, but we can say Clara is older than Susan
The list of frequently used adjectives is not an exhaustive one, wide reading will give you more exposure.
Comparatives and Superlatives of Adjectives of more than two syllable are formed by adding more and most. Before the adjective, except for those which end in ‘y’.
Syllable is the unit of pronunciation The word Euro has one syllable, European =Euro-pean has two syllables, and Evaporate = Evap-or-ate has three syllables.
Some adjectives like clever , stupid, cruel pleasant etc. take either er/more or est/most form.
Alternative way of comparison
Linda is junior to Clara.- Alternative
Linda is junior than Clara.
Sony is superior to Samsung. - Alternative
Sony is superior than Samsung.
Many staff in this office are senior to John. - Alternative
Many staff in this office are senior than John.
End of the post
No comments:
Post a Comment