Most adjectives and adverbs can be compared. The comparative degree compares two persons or things the superlative degree compares three or more persons or things. (See also comparisons .)
Our kitten is smaller than our cat. [comparative]
Our kitten is the smallest one we've ever had. [superlative]
As in these examples, most one-syllable words and some two-syllable words use the comparative ending -er and the superlative ending -est. Most adjectives and adverbs with two or more syllables form the comparative degree by using the word more and the superlative degree by using the word most.
This chair is more comfortable than that one. This is the most comfortable chair I've ever had.
Some adjectives and adverbs may use either means of expressing degree.
Our neighbor is the most able handyman in the neighborhood. He was the ablest handyman in the area.
A few adjectives and adverbs have irregular forms of comparison.
| Adjectives | COMPARATIVE | SUPERLATIVE |
| good | better | best |
| well | better | best |
| bad | worse | worst |
| ill | worse | worst |
| little | less | least |
| many | more | most |
| some | more | most |
| much | more | most |
| Adverbs | | |
| well | better | best |
| ill | worse | worst |
| badly | worse | worst |
Absolute words (unique, perfect, round) cannot logically be compared. Careful writers often use the phrase more nearly with absolute words to express comparison (more nearly perfect). Or they use another modifier, such as unusual instead of unique.
The superlative form is sometimes used in expressions that do not really express comparison (best wishes, deepest sympathy, highest praise, most sincerely).
When the adjective or adverb comes between the two things being compared, add than as well as the comparative form.
Nothing is lovelier than a day in June. [Lovelier comes between nothing and day.]
The summer months seem to go faster than the winter months. [Faster comes between summer months and winter months.]
Comparative degree (Gradus comparativus)
The comparative degree expresses a higher quality of thing or person as compared with the same quality of other things or persons. It is formed by adding the suffixes –ior for masculine & feminine and –ius for neuter to the stem of adjectives (obtained from the genitive form without its ending):
The comparative degree expresses a higher quality of thing or person as compared with the same quality of other things or persons. It is formed by adding the suffixes –ior for masculine & feminine and –ius for neuter to the stem of adjectives (obtained from the genitive form without its ending):
| Nominative form | Stem | Comparative degree | |
| mf | n | ||
| longus, 3 liber, -era, -erum sacer, -cra, -crum acer, acris, acre brevis, -e clemens, -enis | long- liber- sacr- acr- brev- clement- | longior liberior sacrior acrior brevior clementior | longius liberius sacrius acrius brevius clementius |
The comparative degree is declined on the pattern of the consonant stems of the III declension:
| Case | Singular | Plural | ||
| mf | n | mf | n | |
| Nom. Gen. Dat. Acc. Abl. Voc. | longior longioris longiori longiorem longiore longior | longius longioris longiori longius longiore longius | longiores longiorum longioribus longiores longioribus longiores | longiora longiorum longioribus longiora longioribus longiora |
Degrees of Comparison
Read the following sentences:
- John is tall.
- Peter is taller than John.
- Harry is the tallest of the three.
In sentence 1, the adjective tall merely says something about John’s height. It doesn’t state how tall John is. In sentence 2, the adjective taller is used to compare John’s height with Peter’s height.
In sentence 3, the adjective tallest is used to compare Harry’s height with the height of John and Peter.
We have thus seen that adjectives change in form to show comparison. These different forms of the adjective are called the degrees of comparison.
In the examples given above, the adjective tall is said to be in the positive degree. The adjective taller is said to be in the comparative degree and the adjective tallest is said to be in the superlative 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. Adjectives in the positive degree are used when no comparison is made.
The comparative degree of an adjective shows a higher degree of the quality than that is present in the positive degree. It is used when two things or two sets of things are compared.
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