Adjective

Degrees of Comparison for Class 4 English

Degrees of Comparison are used to compare the similar qualities common more than two nouns. It shows the nouns being compared that have the highest or least degree of the stated quality. In this chapter, know the degrees of comparison definition and exceptions to follow while using it.
From this learning concept, students will study:

• Positive comparative superlative degree.
• Degrees of comparison rules
• List of positive, comparative, and superlative adjectives.
• Types of degrees of comparison with examples.

All the learning concepts covered in Class 4 have in-depth information, mind maps, illustrations, and examples. Students can solve the two PDF worksheets appended at the end of the chapter. The degrees of comparison exercises with answers pdf are also available in PDF format.

What are the Degrees of Comparison?

• Adjectives used to describe, qualify or modify a noun in comparison with another noun are called as degree of comparison.
• Degree of comparison is used when we compare one thing or person with another.
• There are three degrees of comparison.
  1. Positive degree
  2. Comparative degree
  3. Superlative degree

Examples with Explanation:

a) Rahul is a tall boy.
b) Harish is taller than Rahul
c) Arun is the tallest among them.

• The word ‘tall’ is an adjective to a positive degree. This adjective is in the simplistic form of the adjective in the first sentence it just represents ‘what is Rahul’s height?’. There is no comparison with another person or thing.
• The word ‘taller’ is in the comparative degree. It represents a comparison made between two things or people.
• The word ‘tallest’ is in the superlative degree. The adjective is in the highest form. It represents the highest form of quality.

Rules for Forming of Comparative and Superlative Degrees:

1. The adjective forms in the comparative have the ending–‘er’ to the word.

For a positive degree, the word is created by adding ‘est’.

Examples:

Positive	Comparative	Superlative
Tall	Taller	Tallest
Kind	Kinder	Kindest
Sweet	Taller	Tallest
Bold	Bolder	Boldest
Cold	Colder	Coldest
Fast	Faster	Fastest
Great	Greater	Greatest
Young	Younger	Youngest
Small	Smaller	Smallest
Strong	Stronger	Strongest

2. If the positive degree of adjective ends with the letter ‘e’, then the letter ‘r’ is added to form the comparative degree and ‘st’ is added to form the superlative degree.

Examples:

Positive	Comparative	Superlative
White	Whiter	Whitest
Large	Larger	Largest
Fine	Finer	Finest
Noble	Nobler	Noblest
Simple	Simpler	Simpliest
Brave	Braver	Bravest

3. The letter ‘i’ is added before ‘er’ and ‘est’ for a comparative and superlative degree.

Examples:

Positive	Comparative	Superlative
Lazy	Lazier	Laziest
Costly	Costlier	Costliest
Dry	Drier	Driest
Mercy	Mercier	Merciest
Happy	Happier	Happiest
Heavy	Heavier	Heaviest
Wealthy	Wealthierr	Wealthiest

4. Spelling comparative: if the positive degree has only one syllable and ends with one consonant, and the consonant is followed by a vowel, this consonant is doubled before adding ‘est’.

Examples:

Positive	Comparative	Superlative
Hot	Hotter	Hottest
Sad	Sadder	Saddest
Dim	Dimmer	Dimmest
Thin	Thinner	Thinnest
Fat	Fatter	Fattest

5. Sometimes adjectives cannot be made into comparative form by changing spelling, so a word is added before the adjective. For adjectives of two syllables or more than two-syllable, add ‘more’ before it to form the comparative and ‘most’ to form the superlative degree of comparison.

Examples:

Positive	Comparative	Superlative
Beautiful	Beautiful	Beautiful
Faithful	Faithful	Faithful
Attractive	Attractive	Attractive
Careful	Careful	Careful
Famous	Famous	Famous
Difficult	Difficult	Difficult

6. With the change in degree, some adjectives observe the change of word; instead of spelling change, the new words are used.

Examples:

Positive	Comparative	Superlative
Good/Well	Better	Best
Much	Faithful	Faithful
Bad	Worse	Worst
Far	Farther/td>	Farthest
Many	More	Most

Exceptions:

Spelling changes to a superlative degree: when the letter ‘y’ is followed by a vowel, then the letter ‘y’ does not change to ‘i’ but stays the same.

Examples:

Positive	Comparative	Superlative
Grey	Greyer	Greyest
Gay	Gayer	Gayest