Positive Degree

Study the following models.

Positive	Comparative	Superlative
Very few boys in the class are as tall as John.	John is taller than any other boys in the class.	John is the tallest boy in the class.
	John is taller than most other boys in the class.	John is one of the tallest boy in the class.

Adjective and Adverbs have three degrees, Positive, Comparative and Superlative.

Positive Degree:

The Pasitive Degree is used to denote the mere existence of quality.

The Positive Degree of an adjective in comparison 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.

• It is a tall building.
• Apple is sweet to taste.

Comparative Degree

The Comparative Degree is used to compare the qualities of two persons or things.

The Comparative Degree denotes the existence of a higher degree of the quality than the positive. It is used when two things (or two sets of things) are compared.

• This building is taller than any other building.
• Apple is sweeter than pear.

Superlative Degree

The Superlative Degree denotes the existence of the highest degree of the quality. It is used when more than two things are compared.

• This is the tallest building.
• Apple is the sweetest fruit.

The Superlative Degree is used when more than two nouns or things are compared.

• Johnsy is kind (Positive Degree)
• Johnsy is kinder than Rosy (Comparative Degree)
• Johnsy is the kindest of all (Superlative Degree)

List of Degrees of Comparison

MODEL-1:

By adding ‘er’ and ‘est’
POSITIVE	COMPARATIVE	SUPERLATIVE
bright	brighter	brightest
black	blacker	blackest
bold	Bolder	boldest
clever	cleverer	cleverest
cold	colder	coldest
fast	faster	fastest
great	greater	greatest
high	higher	highest
kind	kinder	kindest
long	longer	longest
small	smaller	smallest
strong	stronger	strongest
sweet	sweeter	sweetest
tall	taller	tallest
young	younger	youngest

MODEL-2:

By adding ‘r’ and ‘st’
POSITIVE	COMPARATIVE	SUPERLATIVE
brave	braver	bravest
fine	finer	finest
large	larger	largest
nice	nicer	nicest
noble	nobler	noblest
pale	paler	palest
simple	simpler	simplest
wise	wiser	wisest
white	whiter	whitest

MODEL-3:

By deleting the final ‘y’ and adding ‘ier’ and ‘iest’
POSITIVE	COMPARATIVE	SUPERLATIVE
costly	costlier	costliest
dry	drier	driest
easy	easier	easiest
happy	happier	happiest
heavy	heavier	heaviest
lazy	lasier	lasiest
mercy	mercier	merciest
wealthy	wealthier	wealthiest

MODEL-4:

By doubling the final consonats
POSITIVE	COMPARATIVE	SUPERLATIVE
big	bigger	biggest
dim	dimmer	dimmest
fat	fatter	fattest
hot	hotter	hottest
thin	thinner	thinnest

MODEL-5:

By using more and most
POSITIVE	COMPARATIVE	SUPERLATIVE
active	more active	most active
attractive	more attractive	most attractive
beautiful	more beautiful	most beautiful
brilliant	more brilliant	most brilliant
careful	more careful	most careful
courageous	more courageous	most courageous
cunning	more cunning	most cunning
difficult	more difficult	most difficult
famous	more famous	most famous
faithful	more faithful	most faithful
proper	more proper	most proper
popular	more popular	most popular
splendid	more splendid	most splendid

MODEL-6:      

Irregular Comparisons
POSITIVE	COMPARATIVE	SUPERLATIVE
bad	worse	Worst
evil	worse	Worst
good	better	Best
ill	worse	Worst
far	farther	Farthest
well	better	Best
late	later	Latest
little	less	Least
much	more	Most
many	more	Most
near	nearer	Nearest
old	older	Oldest
old	elder	Eldest