COMPARISON OF ADJECTIVES
When we want to compare two or
more nouns using adjectives, we use the comparative and superlative forms of
the adjective to show the comparison between the nouns.
Example: Honey is sweet,
sugar is sweeter but victory is the sweetest.
In this sentence, we are
comparing the three nouns using the positive, comparative and superlative forms
of the word ‘sweet’.
POSITIVE FORM -
These are the simple adjectives
that simply describe the noun without comparing it to another - big, sweet,
clean, etc.
·
She has a big
black dog.
·
He is a sweet
boy.
·
The cupboard is
clean.
COMPARATIVE FORM -
These are used when we are comparing two
nouns and need to show which noun possesses the adjective or character in a
greater or lesser amount, when compared with- the other. - bigger, sweeter,
cleaner, etc.
·
I have a big
dog but hers is bigger.
·
He is sweeter
than the other boys.
·
The cupboard is
cleaner than before.
SUPERLATIVE FORM -
This form is used when three or
more nouns are being compared and we need to show that one or more of the nouns
posses the adjective or characteristic to the highest amount possible. We
usually add ‘the’ before the superlative form. - Biggest, sweetest, cleanest,
etc.
·
She has the biggest
dog in the colony.
·
He is the sweetest
boy in his class.
·
The cupboard is
the cleanest thing in the house.
Let’s understand more,
Read the following sentences:
1. Abdul is tall.
2. Peter is taller than
Abdul.
3. Akshay 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.
·
Peter is smarter than John.
·
Which of the two sisters is the prettier?
·
Apples are dearer than oranges.
The superlative degree of an adjective denotes the highest
degree of the quality. It is used when more than two things or sets of things
are compared.
·
Ramesh is the smartest boy in the class.
·
Iron is the most useful of all metals.
·
Arun is the most
clever/cleverest boy in
the neighborhood.