COMPARISON OF ADJECTIVES

Generally we compare things/persons and reach to the best conclusion. This comparing culture of people only depicts some qualities about Adjectives by scale of measure. All those qualities are leveled according to preferences. Generally this comparison of Adjectives is called Degree. In English there are three Degrees to describe a single quality in a scale. They are:

· POSITIVE DEGREE

· COMPARATIVE DEGREE

· SUPERLATIVE DEGREE.

As the name of degree suggests we just start from a Zero or base level and compare two similar things. And the result happens to be the Comparative Degree. And next when we compare three or more similar things, we reach to a conclusion to the best choice. The best choice is called SUPERLATIVE DEGREE.

Let’s examine the techniques or rules regarding the degree making of Adjectives.

* Generally, monosyllable words follows the rule of ~er and ~est. Cold becomes colder in comparative degree and coldest in superlative degree. This is but the basic rule of degree changing of Adjectives. That is ~ER is ~EST.

· If an adjective ends with the Vowel ‘E’ the ~er ending becomes only ~r and the ~st ending becomes only ~st. Wise, wiser, wisest.

· If an Adjective ends with an ‘Y’ and is preceded by a consonant, the ‘Y’ changes to ‘I’ while making Comparative and Superlative degree. Dry, drier, driest.

There are another set of adjectives those are called Odd adjectives as they follow a different pattern while changing their degrees.

Positive Comparative Superlative

Good Better Best

Well Better Best

Bad, Evil, Ill Worse Worst

Far Farther Farthest

Fore Former Foremost, First

Forth Further Furthest, Furthermost

In Inner Inmost, Innermost

Late Later, latter Latest, Last

Much, Many More Most

For two or multi syllable words we use MORE in the Comparative Degree and MOST in the Superlative Degree. That is MORE is interestingly the MOST.

Positive Comparative Superlative

Dejected More dejected Most dejected

Quarrelsome More Quarrelsome Most quarrelsome

Fearful More Fearful Most Fearful

Ferocious More ferocious Most ferocious

Simple (Both constructions like more/most and er/est is used)

The+Superlative

· He is the most influential person of the Government.

· He is the best captain I have ever seen.

· Indira Nui is one of the most talked women in the Business parlance.

· Bill Clinton was one of the most powerful presidents of the USA. In recent times

When we use superlative adjectives we place the article ‘THE’ before the adjective.