Dinas Pendidikan, Pemuda dan Olahraga
2011/2012
• Rama’s mango is sweet
• Hari’s mango is sweeter than Rama’s
• Govind’s mango is the sweetest of all
If you want to know
the answer
In the sentences 1, the adjective sweet merely tells us that Rama’s
mango has the quality of sweetness, without saying how much of this
quality it has. (Positive Degree)
In the sentences 2, the adjective sweeter tells us that Hari’s mango,
compared with Rama’s, has more of the quality of sweetness.
(Comperative Degree)
In the sentences 3, the adjective sweetest tells us that of all these
mangoes Govind’s mango has the greatest amount or highest degree
of quality of sweetness. (Superlative Degree)
We thus see that adjectives change in form (sweet, sweeter,
sweetest) to show comparison. They are called the three Degree of
Comparison.
There are 3 levels for Degrees
of Comparison
• Positive Degree
• Comperative Degree
• Superlative Degree
Positive Degree
The Positive Degree of an Adjective is the Adjective in
its simple form, it is used to denote the mere existence
of some quality of what we speak about. It is used
when no comparison is made.
Formula :
S + to be + as + V1+ as + O
S + to be + no less + V1 + than + O
S + to be + not more + V1 + than + O
Give me
some
examples
Examples of Positive Degree
• This girl is as clever as that.
• This girl is no less clever than that.
• That girl is not more clever than this.
Comperative Degree
The Comparative Degree of an Adjective denote a higher
degree of the quality than the Positive, and is used when
two things (or sets of things) are compared
Formula:
S + to be + V1 + (er/r/ier) + than + O
S + to be + more + V1 + than + O
S + to be + less + V1 + than + O
Give me
some
examples
Examples of Comperative Degree
• Rama is stronger than Balu
• Rama is more diligent than Balu
• Balu is less strong than Rama
Superlative Degree
The Superlative Degree of an Adjective denotes the
highest degree of the quality, and is used when more than
two things (or sets of things) are compared
Formula :
S + to be + the + V1 + (est/st/iest) + O
S + to be + the + most + V1 + O
S + to be + the + least + V1 + O
Give me
some
examples
Examples of Superlative Degree
• Hari is the laziest boy in the class
• Hari is the most diligent boy in the class
• Hari is the least industrious boy in the
class
Formation of Comparative and Superlative
Most Adjectives of one syllable, and some of more
than one, form the Comparative by adding er and the
Superlative by adding est to the Positive.
Positive
Comparative
Superlative
Sweet
Sweeter
Sweetest
Small
Smaller
Smallest
Tall
Taller
Tallest
Clever
Cleverer
Cleverest
Young
Younger
Youngest
Great
Greater
Greatest
When the Positive ends in e, only r and st are added.
Positive
Comperative
Superlative
Brave
Braver
Bravest
Nice
Nicer
Nicest
Fine
Finer
Finest
Large
Larger
Largest
When the Positive ends in y, preceded by a consonant,
the y is changed into i before adding er and est.
Positive
Comperative
Superlative
Happy
Happier
Happiest
Easy
Easier
Easiest
Heavy
Heavier
Heaviest
Dry
Drier
Driest
When the Positive is a word of one syllable and ends in
a single consonant, preceded by a short vowel, this
consonant is doubled before adding er and est.
Positive
Comperative
Superlative
Big
Bigger
Biggest
Hot
Hotter
Hottest
Thin
Thinner
Thinnest
Sad
Sadder
Saddest
Adjectives of more than two syllables form the Comparative
and Superlative by putting more and most before the Positive
Positive
Comperative
Superlative
Beautiful
More beautiful
Most beautiful
Difficult
More difficult
Most difficult
Famous
More famous
Most famous
Useful
More useful
Most useful
When the Positive ends in y, preceded by a vocal, the y is not
changed into i before adding er and est.
Positive
Comperative
Superlative
Gay
Gayer
Gayest
Coy
Coyer
Coyest
Grey
Greyer
Greyest
The following take either er and est or more and most :
polite
simple
gentle
feeble
cruel
common
handsome pleasant
narrow
stupid
Examples :
She is politer than her sister → She is more polite than her sister
He is the politest of them → He is the most polite of them
IRREGULAR COMPARISON
The following Adjectives are compared irregulary, that is, their
Comparative and Superlative are not formed from Positive:
Positive
Comperative
Superlative
Good, well
Better
Best
Bad, evil, ill
Worse
Worst
Little
Less, lesser
Least
Much
More
Most (quantity)
Many
More
Most (number)
Late
Later, latter
Latest, last
Old
Older, elder
Oldest, eldest
There is a six-word adverbs (adverb) in the form of positive
degrees, but the adjectives (adj) in the form of comparative
and superlative :
Positive
Comperative
Superlative
Far
Farther
Fartherst
Neath
Nether
Nethermost
(Fore)
(Foremer)
Formest, first
(In)
(inner)
Inmost, innermost
(Up)
(upper)
Upmost, uppermost
(Out)
Outer, (utter)
Utmost, uttermost
Thank You 
GOOD BYE