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Adjectives are used to modify nouns and pronouns. Adjectives are also used to make
comparisons. We call it degree of comparison.

Adjectives take three forms when they are used to make comparisons. They are:

● Positive Degree
● Comparative Degree
● Superlative Degree

Positive Degree

Positive degree is the simple form of adjectives and adverbs. For example, the adjectives and
adverbs in the following sentences are in the positive forms. Remember that we use positive
forms of adjectives when no comparison is made.

● A tiger is a large animal.

● It can run fast.
● A dog cannot run as fast as a tiger.

Comparative Degree

Comparative forms of adjectives are mainly formed by adding -er to the positive or primary
forms of adjectives. We use comparative degree when comparison is made between two nouns or
pronouns and one becomes higher or lower in degree. Note that comparative degrees
follow than.

● A tiger is larger than a dog.

● It runs faster than a cat.
● It is braver than a crocodile.

Superlative Degree

Superlative forms of adjectives are mainly formed by adding -est to the positive or primary
forms af adjectives. We use superlative degree when comparasion is made between more than
two nouns or pronouns and one becomes highest or lowest in degree. We always use the before a
superlative degree.

● The whales are the largest animal in the world.

 ● April is the cruelest month.
● Tanha is the tallest girl in the class.

Rule 1. Interchange of Comparative & Positive Degrees

It is possible to interchange positive and comparative degree without changing the meaning of
the sentence. Read the following examples first. Note that both the sentences have the same
meaning, but different form.

(a) Comparative: Jessica is older than Linda.

Positive: Linda is not as old as Jessica.
(b) Comparative: A cow is larger than a cat.
Positive: A cat is not so large as a cow.
Grammar Explanation

(i) We use than after comparative.

(ii) We use so or as before positive. After the positive degree, we use as.

Rule 1 in Table:

Comparative Positive
adjective + er + than as + adjective + as

/more + adjective + than / so + adjective + as

A lion is braver than a monkey. A monkey is not so brave as a lion.

A rose is more beautiful than a lily. A lily is not as beautiful as a rose.

1. Change the following sentences as directed in brackets.

(a) They were wiser than the Magi. (Positive)

(b) I am not as old as you. (Comparative degree)

(c) Prevention is better than cure. (Positive)

(d) A bus does not run as fast as a train. (Comparative degree)

(e) An aero plane flies faster than a bird. (Positive)

(f) Honesty is not as much as it. (Comparative degree)

Rule 2. Interchange of Superlative, Comparative & Positive Degrees

We can interchange superlative, comparative, positive degree without changing the meaning.
Read the following examples first. Note that all the sentences have the same meaning, but
different form.
Superlative: The rose is the finest flower.
Comparative: The rose is finer than any other flower.
Positive: No other flower is as fine as the rose.
Grammar Explanation

(i) We use the before the superlative degree

(ii) We use than any other after the comparative degree

(iii) We use as before and after the positive degree. The sentence begins with No other.

Rule 2 in Table

Forms Examples
the + superlative Othello was the bravest knight.
comparative + than any other Othello was braver than any other knight.
as/ so + adjective + as No other knight was as brave as Othello.

2. Change the following sentences as directed in brackets.

(a) Iron is the most useful metal. (Make it Comparative)

(b) The Ganga is the largest river in India. (Make it Comparative)

(c) The rose is the finest of all flowers. (Make it Positive)

(d) January is the coldest month in Bangladesh. (Make it Positive)

(e) He is better than any other boy in the class. (Make it Superlative)

(f) Elizabeth was greater than any other king of England. (Make it Superlative)

(g) Mr. James is more popular than any other teacher.

(h) Shakespeare was greater than any other dramatist. (Make it Positive)

(i) It burns prettier than any other wood. (Make it Positive)

(j) No other man in the village is as old as Willy. (Make it Comparative)

(k) No other town in England is as large as London. (Make it Comparative)

(l) No other girl in the class is as pretty as Rani. (Make it Superlative)

(m) No other animal is as useful as the cow. (Make it Superlative)

Rule 3: Interchange of Superlative, Comparative & Positive

We can interchange superlative, comparative, positive degree without changing the meaning.
Read the following examples first. Note that all the sentences have the same meaning, but
different form.

Superlative: He is one of the best boys in the class.

Comparative: He is better than most other boys in the class.

Positive: Very few boys in the class are as good as he.

Grammar Explanation

(i) We use one of the before the superlative degree

(ii) We use than most other after the comparative degree

(iii) We use as before and after the positive degree. The sentence begins with Very few.

Rule 3 in Table

Forms Examples
one of the + superlative Othello was one of the bravest knight.
comparative + than most other Othello was braver than most other knights.
as/ so + adjective + as Very few knights were as brave as Othello.

3. Change the following sentences as directed in brackets.

(a) Boston is one of the largest towns in the USA. (Make it comparative)

(b) Rani is one of the prettiest girls in the class. (Make it comparative)

(c) The cow is one of the most useful of all animals. (Make it positive)

(d) A cat is one of the cleverest animals. (Make it positive)

(e) Charles was greater than most other kings of England. (Make it superlative)

(f) Collins is more popular than most other teachers. (Make it superlative)
(g) Shakespeare was greater than most other dramatists. (Make it positive)

(h) The duck was more beautiful than most other birds. (Make it positive)

(i) Very few metals are as useful as iron. (Make it comparative)

(j) Very few rivers in Bangladesh are as large as the Padma. (Make it comparative)

(k) Very few flowers are as fine as the rose. (Make it superlative)

(l) Very few birds are as intelligent as the crow. (Make it superlative)

DEGREE OF COMPARISON

Superlative
Comparative Positive
Jasmin is older than Runa. Runa is not as old as Jasmin.
Dhaka is larger than Khulna. Khulna is not as large as Dhaka.
A lion is not braver than he. He is as brave as a lion.
A lion is braver than he. He is not as brave as a lion.
They were wiser than the Magi. The Magi were not as wise as they.
You are older than I. I am not as old as you.
Prevention is better than cure. Cure is not as good as prevention.
A train runs faster than a bus. A bus does not run as fast as a train.
An aero plane flies faster than a bird. A bird does not fly as fast as an aero plane.
It is more than honesty. Honesty is not as much as it.
DEGREE OF COMPARISON

Superlative Comparative Positive

Mike is the best boy in the class. Mike is better than any other boy in the No other boy in the class is as good as
class. Mike.
Shahid is the oldest man in the Shahid is older than any other man in No other man in the village is as old
village. the village. as Shahid.
Iron is the most useful metal. Iron is more useful than any other No other metal is as useful as iron.
metal.
Dhaka is the largest town in Dhaka is larger than any other town in No other town in Bangladesh is as
Bangladesh. Bangladesh. large as Dhaka.
The Padma is the largest river in The Padma is larger than any other No other river in Bangladesh is as
Bangladesh. river in Bangladesh. large as the Padma.
Rani is the prettiest girl in the Rani is prettier than any other girl in No other girl in the class is as pretty
class. the class. as Rani.
The rose is the finest of all The rose is finer than any other flower. No other flower is as fine as the rose.
flowers.
Shakespeare was the greatest of Shakespeare was greater than any other No other dramatist was as great as
all dramatists. dramatist. Shakespeare.
The cow is the most useful of all The cow is more useful than any other No other animal is as useful as the
animals. animal. cow.
It burns the prettiest of any It burns prettier than any other wood. No other wood burns as pretty as it.
wood.
DEGREE OF COMPARISON

Superlative Comparative Positive

He is one of the best boys in the He is better than most other boys in Very few boys in the class are as
class. the class. good as he.
Shahid is one of the oldest men in Shahid is older than most other men Very few men in the village are as
the village. in the village. old as Shahid.
Iron is one of the most useful Iron is more useful than most other Very few metals are as useful as iron.
metals. metals.
Akbar was one of the greatest Akbar was greater than most other Very few kings of India were as great
kings of India. kings of India. as Akbar.
Dhaka is one of the largest towns Dhaka is larger than most other towns Very few towns in Bangladesh are as
in Bangladesh. in Bangladesh. large as Dhaka.
The Padma is one of the largest The Padma is larger than most other Very few rivers in Bangladesh are as
rivers in Bangladesh. rivers in Bangladesh. large as the Padma.
Mr. Jabber is one of the most Mr. Jabber is more popular than most Very few teachers are as popular as
popular teachers. other teachers. Mr. Jabbar.
Rani is one of the prettiest girls in Rani is prettier than most other girls Very few girls in the class are as
the class. in the class. pretty as Rani.

What is the Degree of Comparison?

To describe, quantify, modify or identify nouns/pronouns, adjectives are used or reused.
Adjectives have their own degrees called degrees of adjectives or degrees of comparison that
compare one thing/person to another.

Adjectives have three degrees of comparison –

● Positive degree of adjectives

● Comparative degree of adjectives
● Superlative degree of adjectives
Degrees of Comparison examples:

Positive degree – The cat runs fast.

Comparative degree – The cat runs faster than dogs.

Superlative degree – The cat runs fastest of all animals.

Degree Of Comparison Rules

Rule 1. When two items/people are compared, a comparative degree is used by putting ‘er’ to
the adjective word in association with the word ‘than’. In some cases ‘more’ is used.

Comparative degree example:

● She is smarter than her sister.

● She is more cheerful than her sister.
Similarly, when more than two things/people are compared, the superlative degree is used by
putting ‘est’ to the adjective word or in some cases ‘most’ is used.

Superlative degree of comparison examples:

● He is the strongest wrestler.

● He is the most handsome actor.
Rule 2. ‘More’ is used when you compare qualities of a single thing/person. Even if the first
adjective is a single syllable word.

Degree of comparison examples:

Incorrect – She is smarter than clever.

Correct – She is more smart than clever.

Rule 3. Do not use double comparative adjectives or superlative adjectives.

Degree of comparison examples:

Incorrect – These mangoes are more tastier than those.

Correct – These mangoes are tastier than those.

Rule 4. Never use ‘more or most’ with adjectives that give absolute sense.

Degree of comparison example:

Incorrect – This track is more parallel to that one

Correct – This track is parallel and the other is not.

Rule 5. There are a few adjectives that are accompanied by ‘to’, like, senior, junior, superior,
inferior, preferable, prefer, elder. Do not use ‘than’ with these adjectives.
Degree of adjective examples:

Incorrect: I am elder than her.

Correct: I am elder to her.

Incorrect – This car brand is superior than that.

Correct – This card brand is superior to that.

Rule 6. When comparing two things, similarity should be there, i.e. similar things should be
compared.

Examples of degree of comparison:

Incorrect – This wall colour is more beautiful than the old one. (wall colour is compared with the
wall)

Correct – This wall colour is more beautiful than that of the old one. (compare wall colour with
wall colour)

Rule 7. When the comparative degree is used in the superlative degree sense

1. Use ‘any other’ when thing/person of the same group is compared.

Degree of comparison example:

Incorrect: Reena is smarter than any student of her class.

Correct: Reena is smarter than any other student of her class.

1. Use ‘any’ if comparison of things/person is outside the group.

Incorrect: Delhi is cleaner than any other city in Bangladesh.

Correct: Delhi is cleaner than any city in Bangladesh.

Rule 8. When in the same sentence two adjectives in different degrees of comparison are used,
both should be complete in themselves.

Incorrect- She is as good if not worse than her sister.

Correct – She is as good as if not worse than her sister.

Rule 9. To show whether the difference between the compared thing/person is small or big, we
use quantifiers for the comparative degree of an adjective such as (A bit, a little, a lot, far, much,
a great deal, significantly, etc).

Example:
 ● My hostel is only marginally bigger than yours.
● She is a little more popular than her sister in their school.
● Australia is slightly smaller than Africa.
We don’t use quantifiers with superlative degrees of adjectives but there are certain phrases
commonly used with the superlative degrees of comparison.

Degree of Comparison Example:

● In metropolitan cities, metros are by far the cheapest mode of transportation.

● Sanskrit is one of the oldest languages in the world.
● Siddhivinayak is the second richest temple in India.
Rule. 10. While changing the degree of comparison for the irregular adjectives, the word
completely changes instead of adding ‘er’ or ‘est’.

Examples:

● She has little milk in the jar.

● She has less milk than he has.
● She has the least amount of milk.

Adjective Degrees of Comparison List

The degree of adjectives, positive, comparative and superlative are given below in the list
format. Candidates can go through the degrees of comparison list and download the PDF which
also gives the rules of degrees of comparison.

Degrees Of Comparison List

Positive Degree Comparative Degree Superlative Degree

angry angrier angriest

able abler ablest

bad worse worst

bitter bitterer bitterest

big bigger biggest

bland blander blandest

black blacker blackest

bloody bloodier bloodiest

bold bolder boldest

blue bluer bluest

bossy bossier bossiest

brief briefer briefest

brave braver bravest

bright brighter brightest

busy busier busiest

beautiful more beautiful most beautiful

broad broader broadest

calm calmer calmest

chewy chewier chewiest

cheap cheaper cheapest

chubby chubbier chubbiest

clean cleaner cleanest

classy classier classiest

clear clear clearest

close closer closest

cloudy cloudier cloudiest

clever cleverer cleverest

clumsy clumsier clumsiest

cold colder coldest

coarse coarser coarsest

crazy crazier craziest

cool cooler coolest

creamy creamier creamiest

crispy crispier crispiest

creepy creepier creepiest

cruel crueller cruellest

curly curly curliest

crunchy crunchier crunchiest

cute cuter cutest

curvy curvier curviest

damp damper dampest

deadly deadlier deadliest

dark darker darkest

deep deeper deepest

dirty dirtier dirtiest

dry drier driest

dense denser densest

dull duller dullest

dusty dustier dustiest

dumb dumber dumbest

easy easier easiest

early earlier earliest

faint fainter faintest

fancy fancier fanciest

fair fairer fairest

far further/farther furthest/farthest

fat fatter fattest

fast faster fastest

few fewer fewest

filthy filthier filthiest

fine finer finest

fierce fiercer fiercest

flaky flakier flakiest

firm firmer firmest

fresh fresher freshest

flat flatter flattest

friendly friendlier friendliest

funny funnier funniest

fit fitter fittest

full fuller fullest

good better best

gentle gentler gentlest

grand grander grandest

gloomy gloomier gloomiest

greasy greasier greasiest

grave graver gravest

greedy greedier greediest

great greater greatest

guilty guilter guiltiest

gross grosser grossest

happy happier happiest

hairy hairier hairiest

hard harder hardest

handy handier handiest

healthy healthier healthiest

harsh harsher harshest

heavy heavier heaviest

hip hipper hippest

hungry hungrier hungriest

high higher highest

humble humbler humblest

hot hotter hottest

handsome more handsome most handsome

itchy itchier itchiest

icy icier iciest

juicy juicier juiciest

kind kinder kindest

lazy lazier laziest

large larger largest

likely likelier likeliest

late later latest

light lighter lightest

lively livelier liveliest

long longer longest

little (amount) less least

little (size) littler littlest

lovely lovelier loveliest

lonely lonlier loneliest

low lower lowest

loud louder loudest

many more most

mean meaner meanest

mad madder maddest

messy messier messiest

moist moister moistest

mild milder mildest

naughty naughtier naughtiest

narrow narrower narrowest

near nearer nearest

nasty nastier nastiest

new newer newest

neat neater neatest

nice nicer nicest

noisy noisier noisiest

needy needier neediest

oily oilier oiliest

odd odder oddest

old older/elder oldest/eldest

popular more popular most popular

polite politer politest

plain plainer plainest

poor poorer poorest

proud prouder proudest

pure purer purest

pretty prettier prettiest

quiet quieter quietest

quick quicker quickest

raw rawer rawest

rare rarer rarest

ripe riper ripest

rich richer richest

rough rougher roughest

roomy roomier roomiest

risky riskier riskiest

rusty rustier rustiest

rude ruder rudest

renowned more renowned most renowned

safe safer safest

sad sadder saddest

sane saner sanest

salty saltier saltiest

shallow shallower shallowest

scary scarier scariest

sharp sharper sharpest

short shorter shortest

shiny shinier shiniest

silly sillier silliest

shy shyer shyest

sincere sincerer sincerest

simple simpler simplest

sleepy sleepier sleepiest

skinny skinnier skinniest

slow slower slowest

slim slimmer slimmest

small smaller smallest

smart smarter smartest

smelly smellier smelliest

smooth smoother smoothest

smoky smokier smokiest

soon sooner soonest

soft softer softest

sorry sorrier sorriest

sore sorer sorest

sour sourer sourest

steep steeper steepest

spicy spicier spiciest

stingy stingier stingiest

strict stricter strictest

strange stranger strangest

sunny sunnier sunniest

strong stronger strongest

sweet sweeter sweetest

sweaty sweatier sweatiest

tall taller tallest

tasty tastier tastiest

thick thicker thickest

tan tanner tannest

thin thinner thinnest

tiny tinier tiniest

thirsty thirstier thirstiest

true truer truest

tough tougher toughest

ugly uglier ugliest

wealthy wealthier wealthiest

warm warmer warmest

weird weirder weirdest

weak weaker weakest

wet wetter wettest

wild wilder wildest

wide wider widest

worldly worldlier worldliest

wise wiser wisest

worthy worthier worthiest

windy windier windiest

young younger youngest