Degrees of Comparison

Most Descriptive Adjectives and some Adjectives of Quantity have degrees of comparison.

There are three degrees of comparison: The Positive, the Comparative, and the Superlative.

The Positive degree is the simplest form of the adjective. It is used when no comparison is meant; for example – Bina is a tall girl. This mango is sweet.

The Comparative degree is used when a comparison is intended between two persons or things in respect of some quality, for example – Bina is taller than Rita. The mangoes of Malda are sweeter than the mangoes (those) of Murshidabad.

The Superlative degree is used when a comparison is intended between more than two things or persons (or between two sets of things or persons); for example – Ram is the laziest boy in the class. She is the tallest of the three girls. This is the sweetest of all mangoes.

Note on Degrees of Comparison: The superlative with most is sometimes used when there is no idea of comparison but merely an intention to show the possession of quality in a very high degree; for example -This is a most useful book. He was most polite to me. Your news is most interesting. This is most unfortunate.

Formation of Comparative and Superlative

The one-syllable adjective forms its comparative by adding -er and its superlative by adding -est to the positive form.

Positive	Comparative	Superlative
bright	brighter	brightest
great	greater	greatest
new	newer	newest
bold	bolder	boldest
noble	nobler	noblest
sweet	sweeter	sweetest

Adjectives of three or more syllables form their comparative by putting more and their superlative by putting most before the positive.

Positive	Comparative	Superlative
interesting	more interesting	most interesting
diligent	more diligent	most diligent
difficult	more difficult	most difficult

Adjectives of two syllables follow one or another of the above rules. Those ending in full or re usually take more and most.

Positive	Comparative	Superlative
doubtful	more doubtful	most doubtful
careful	more careful	most careful
obscure	more obscure	most obscure

Adjectives ending in er, y or ly add -er/-est.

Positive	Comparative	Superlative
Pretty	Prettier	Prettiest
holy	holier	holiest
lovely	lovelier	loveliest
wealthy	wealthier	wealthiest
clever	cleverer	cleverest

Irregular Degrees of Comparison

Some adjectives form their comparative and superlative irregularly.

Positive	Comparative	Superlative
Good/well	better	best
bad/evil/ill	worse	worst
little	less	least
much/many	more	most
late	later/latter	latest/last
old	older/elder	oldest/eldest

Difference between Elder and Eldest

The elder and eldest are used only for persons, not for animals or things, and are now confined to members of the same family. The elder cannot be placed before then. Older and oldest are used by both persons and things.

Examples: Bina is my elder sister. Pompi is my eldest daughter. He is the elder of the two brothers. He is older than his sister. The farmer is the oldest man in the village. This is the oldest temple in our village.

Difference Between Farther and Further

Farther means “more distant”, and further means “additional”

Examples: Berhampore is farther from Kolkata than Krishnagar. After this, he did not seek further help. You must reply without further delay.

Later, latest, latter, last

Later and latest refer to time: latter and last indicate order.

Examples: He arrived later than we expected. I have not heard the latest news. The latter chapters of the book are interesting. He was the last to arrive here. Ours is the last house on the street.

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