Degrees of Comparison  

Definition:

A degree of comparison is the form of an adjective or an adverb used to compare two or more things.  These Adjectives or Adverbs have three degrees of comparison namely, Positive, Comparative and Superlative.

 

Examples: 

• Snehith is a clever student.  (Positive Degree)
• Snehith is cleverer than Robin. (Comparative Degree)  
• Snehith is the cleverest of all the students in the class. (Superlative Degree)

 

The Positive Degree

The Positive Degree does not show any comparison. It is merely used to describe one person, group or thing and shows us the existence of quality.  

 

Adjectives:

 clever, angry, great, sunny, strong, tall, thick, devotional, beautiful etc.,

Adverbs:

fast, angrily, quietly, slowly, seriously, beautifully, devotionally etc.,

 

In Positive Degree, we use the words AS….AS / NOT SO …AS / AT LEAST and VERY FEW / NO OTHER / SOME OTHER.

 

• Lord Ganesha is a powerful God.
• Ashoka is a great king.
• This baby is cute.
• Hyderabad is as busy as Bangalore.
• Jono is not so happy as his brother.
• No other Newspaper in India is so popular as The Hindu.
• Very few cities in India are as historical as Warangal.
• Some buildings are at least as old as this in the city.

 

The Comparative Degree

The Comparative Degree compares two things, persons or groups to show more or less degree of the same quality of an adjective.

 

Adjectives:

 cleverer, angrier,  greater, sunnier, stronger, taller, thicker, more devotional, more beautiful etc.,

 

Adverbs:

faster, more angrily, more quietly, more slowly, more seriously, more beautifully, more devotionally etc.,

 

In Comparative Degree, we use the words like  -ER…..THAN / MORE THAN  and MANY OTHER / MOST OTHER / SOME OTHER.

 

Examples:

• Siri is richer than her friend.
• This mobile is costlier than that.
• Bangalore is not busier than Hyderabad.
• His brother is kinder than Jono.

 

• The Hindu is more popular than any other Newspaper in India.
• Warangal is more historical than many other cities in India
• This building is not older than some other buildings in the city.

 

Points to Focus:

 

Certain Adjectives Inferior to, Superior to, Senior to, Junior to, Prior to, Anterior to, Posterior to which end in OR are followed by the preposition ‘to’  but not ‘than’.

 

Examples: 

• Latha is senior to my sister. ( But not senior than)
• Rahul is junior to me. (But not junior than)
• iPhone mobile is superior to Samsung mobile. (But not superior than)

 

Certain Comparatives – Former, Latter, Upper, Elder, Inner, Outer, Utter and Hinder and Five Latin Comparatives – Interior, Exterior, Ulterior, Major and Minor are used only in Positive Degree.

 

Examples: 

• The exterior walls of this building are built of granite.
• He is an expert in interior decorations.
• I don’t continue to talk about these minor issues.
• Jahnavi is my elder sister.

We use ‘to’ with the word prefer or preferable but not ‘than’.

• I prefer coffee to tea.
• Tea without milk is preferable to coffee.

 

The Superlative Degree

The Superlative Degree compares more than two things, persons or groups to show the highest or the lowest degree of the same quality of an adjective. 

 

Adjectives:

 cleverest, angriest,  greatest, sunniest, strongest, tallest, thickest, most devotional, most beautiful etc.,

 

Adverbs:

fastest, most angrily, most quietly, most slowly, most seriously, most beautifully, most devotionally etc.,

 

In Superlative Degree, we use the words like -ST / -EST OR MOST / ONE OF THE MOST  and Definite Article THE before the Superlative Degree.

 

• You are the best friend of mine.
• Greeshma is the cleverest of all the girls in the class.
• The Sun is the brightest star in the sky.
• This is the tastiest dish I have ever eaten.

 

• The Hindu is the most popular Newspaper in India. (only)
• Warangal is one of the most historical cities in India (one of)
• English is not the most difficult of all languages in the world. (not only)

 

How to form Comparative and Superlative Degrees:

There are two methods to form comparative and superlative degrees.

 

Add suffix method: 

We add suffixes –er and –est when the adjectives are short to form degrees of comparison.

 

Add adverb method. 

We add adverbs like more or less and most or least when the adjectives are long i.e., more than three syllables to form degrees of comparison.

 

Method	Positive Degree	Comparative Degree	Superlative Degree
Add suffix method  (at the end of the adjective or adverb)	clever, great, big	–er   cleverer, greater, bigger	–est cleverest, greatest,  biggest
Add adverb method (before the adjective or adverb	intelligent	more intelligent, less comfortable	most intelligent, least comfortable

Interchange of the Degrees of Comparison:

 

Let us see how to change the degrees of comparison of an adjective/adverb without changing the original meaning of the sentence.

 

Observe the following table and learn it perfectly. Interchanging the Degrees of Comparison will no longer be a difficult task.

 

 

Interchange of Degrees of Comparison – MODEL – I 

Degree	MODEL – I Rule	When two equal things are in comparison
P.D.	as + adjective + as	Mamtha is as tall as Manasa.
C.D.	not +adjective + than	Manasa is not taller than Mamatha

 

Examples:

• Medicine is as good as Engineering. (P.D.)
• Engineering is not better than Medicine. (C.D.)

 

• Ashwini runs as fast as Usha. (P.D.)
• Usha does not run faster than Ashwini. (C.D.)

 

• Iron is as useful as copper. (P.D.)
• Copper is not more useful than Iron. (C.D.)

 

• This room is as big as that room. (P.D.)
• That room is not bigger than this room. (C.D.)

 

• Ooty is as cool as Kodaikanal. (P.D.)
• Kodaikanal is not cooler than Ooty. (C.D.)

 

• She is as intelligent as her brother. (P.D.)
• Her brother is not more intelligent than she. (not her) (C.D.)

 

• I am as regular as he. (not him) (P.D.)
• He is not more regular than I. (not me) (C.D.)

 

• Can he jump as high as you? (P.D.)
• Can’t you jump higher than he? (C.D.)

 

• I like him as well as you. (P.D.)
• I do not like you better than him. (C.D.) (here not he)

 

• Water is as necessary for life as air.
• Water is no less necessary for life than air. (or)
• Air is not more necessary for life than water.

 

• Your shirt is as colourful as my shirt.
• My shirt is not more colourful than your shirt. (or that of yours)

 

• Goutham is at least as hardworking as his brother. (P.D.)
• His brother is not more hardworking than Goutham. (C.D.)

 

Worksheet – I Questions:

Change the following sentences into the other degree.

 

• Vizag beaches are at least as spectacular as Goa beaches.
• Would you write as humorously as your sister? 
• She speaks as loud as her husband. 
• Bahubali is as interesting as Magadheera.
• IX class children are as mischievous as X class children.

 

Worksheet – I Answers:

• Goa beaches are not more spectacular than Vizag beaches. 
• Wouldn’t your sister write more humorously than you? 
• Her husband does not speak louder than she.
• Magadheera is not more interesting than Bahubali. 
• X class children are not more mischievous than IX class Children.

 

Interchange of Degrees of Comparison – MODEL – II 

Degree	MODEL – II Rule	When two unequal things are in comparison
P.D.	not so+adjective+as	A tiger is not so big as an elephant.
C.D.	adjective+than	An elephant is bigger than a tiger.

 

Examples:

 

• The sword is not so mighty as the pen. (P.D.)
• The pen is mightier than the sword. (C.D.)

 

• The hare is not so slow as the tortoise. (P.D.)
• The tortoise is slower than the hare. (C.D.)

 

• Walking is not so fast as running. (P.D.)
• Running is faster than walking. (C.D.)

 

• Men are not so short as women. (P.D.)
• Women are shorter than men. (C.D.)

 

• Ravi is not so weak as Ramesh. (P.D.)
• Ramesh is weaker than Ravi. (C.D.)

 

• I do not know him so well as you. (P.D)
• You know him better than I do. (C.D.)

 

• He is not so sharp as she. (not her) (P.D.)
• His brother is sharper than he. (not him) (C.D.)

 

• He does not like her so much as me. (me is right here) (P.D.)
• He likes me more than her. ( her is right here) (C.D.)

 

• The Statue of Liberty is not so tall as the Statue of Unity. (P.D.)
• The Statue of Unity is taller than the Statue of Liberty. (C.D.) 

 

• It is not so easy to practise as to preach. (P.D.)
• It is easier to preach than to practice. (C.D.)

 

• My friend doesn’t dance as well as she sings. (P.D.)
• My friend sings better than she dances. (C.D.)

 

• Sanjay is not as good a singer as a writer. (P.D.)
• Sanjay is a better writer than a singer. (C.D.)

 

• It is not so well to serve in heaven as to reign in hell. (P.D.)
• It is better to reign in hell than to serve in heaven. (C.D.)

 

• Kalam was not so good an orator as a scientist. (P.D.)
• Kalam was better a scientist than an orator. (C.D.)

 

• You do not have so much experience as I (have). (P.D.)
• I have more experience than you. (C.D.)

 

• Silver is not as precious as gold. (P.D.)
• Gold is more precious than silver. (C.D.)

 

Worksheet – II Questions:

Change the following sentences into the other degree.

• A foolish friend is not as good as a wise enemy. (P.D.)
• America is not so populous as India. (P.D.)
• Isn’t the tiger so powerful as the lion? (P.D.)
• Srinu does not speak so convincingly as Venu. (P.D.)
• Ravinder does not write the poems so interestingly as Bhopal. (P.D.)
• The other students did not answer the question so well as Sanju. (C.D.)
• Preethi is not so spiritual as her sister. (P.D.)
• Newspaper ads are not so effective as TV ads. (P.D.)
• My motorbike is not so recent as your motorbike. (P.D.)
• The director’s new movie is not so exciting as his last one. (P.D.)

 

Worksheet – II Answers:

• A wise enemy is better than a foolish friend. (C.D.)
• India is more populous than America. (C.D.)
• Is the lion more powerful than the tiger? (C.D.)
• Venu speaks more convincingly than Srinu. (C.D.)
• Bhopal writes the poems more interestingly than Ravinder. (C.D.)
• Sanju answered the question better than the other students. (P.D.)
• Her sister is more spiritual than Preethi. (C.D.)
• TV ads are more effective than newspaper ads. (C.D.)
• Your motorbike is more recent than my motorbike. (C.D.)
• The director’s last movie is more exciting than the new one. (C.D.)

 

Interchange of Degrees of Comparison – MODEL – III 

Degree	MODEL – III Rule	No other  (only the best)
P.D.	no other+so+adjective+as	No other school is so famous as Lead India School in the city.
C.D.	-er/more+adjective+than +any other	Lead India School is more famous than any other school in the city
S.D.	the + est/most+adjective	Lead India School is the most famous school in the city.

 

Examples:

• No other democracy in the world is so large as India. (P.D.)
• India is larger than any other democracy in the world. (C.D.)
• India is the largest democracy in the world. (S.D.)

 

• No other river in the world is so long as the Nile. (P.D.)
• The Nile is longer than any other river in the world. (C.D.)
• The Nile is the longest of all the rivers in the world. (S.D.)

 

• No other desert in the world is so large as the Sahara. (P.D.)
• The Sahara is larger than any other river in the world. (C.D.)
• Sahara is the largest desert in the world. (S.D.)

 

• No other bird is so small as Hummingbird. (P.D.)
• Hummingbird is smaller than any other bird. (C.D.)
• Hummingbird is the smallest of all the birds. (S.D.)

 

• No other planet in the universe is so big as Jupiter. (P.D.)
• Jupiter is bigger than any other planet in the universe. (C.D.)
• Jupiter is the biggest planet in the universe. (S.D.)

 

• No other Ocean is so deep as the Pacific Ocean. (P.D.)
• The Pacific Ocean is deeper than any other Ocean. (C.D.)
• The Pacific Ocean is the deepest of all Oceans. (S.D.)

 

• No other peak in the world is so high as Mt. Everest. (P.D.)
• Mt. Everest is higher than any other peak in the world. (C.D.)
• Mt. Everest is the highest peak in the world. (S.D.)

 

• No other river in India is so long as the Ganges. (P.D.)
• The Ganges is longer than any other river in India. (C.D.)
• The Ganges is the longest river in India.

 

• No other metal available is so useful as Iron. (P.D.)
• Iron is more useful than any other metal available. (C.D.)
• Iron is the most useful metal available. (S.D.)

 

• No other poet in English is so great as Shakespeare. (P.D.)
• Shakespeare is greater than any other poet in English. (C.D.)
• Shakespeare is the greatest of all poets in English. (S.D.)

 

• No other queen in South India was so powerful as Rani Rudrama. (P.D.)
• Rani Rudrama was more powerful than any other queen in South India. (C.D.)
• Rani Rudrama was the most powerful queen in South India. (S.D.)

 

• No other scripture for Hindus is so holy as the Bhagavad Gita. (P.D.)
• The Bhagavad Gita is holier than any other scripture for Hindus. (C.D.)
• The Bhagavad Gita is the holiest scripture for Hindus. (S.D.)

 

• No other story is so remarkable as this. (P.D.)
• This is more remarkable than any other story. (C.D.)
• This is the most remarkable story. (S.D.)

 

• No other monument in India is so magnificent as the Taj Mahal. (P.D.)
• The Taj Mahal is more magnificent than any other monument in India. (C.D.)
• The Taj Mahal is the most magnificent monument in India. (S.D.)

 

• No other man was so strong as Bhim. (P.D.)
• Bhim was stronger than any other man. (C.D.)
• Bhim was the strongest man. (S.D.)

 

Worksheet – III Questions:

Change the following sentences into the other degrees.

 

• No other fighter was so tough was Bruce-Lee. 
• No other language is so difficult as Chinese.
• No other food she has ever prepared is so delicious as this.
• No other Prime Minister is so influential as Narendra Modi.
• No other businessman in the town is so successful as Vijay.
• No other nature poet is so eminent as Wordsworth.
• Nothing in the world is so precious as being honest.

 

Worksheet – III Answers:

• Bruce-Lee was tougher than any other fighter.
• Bruce-Lee was the toughest fighter.

 

• Chinese is more difficult than any other language.
• Chinese is the most difficult of all languages.

 

• his is more delicious than any other food she has ever prepared.
• This is the most delicious food she has ever prepared.

 

• Narendra Modi is more influential than any other Prime Minister.
• Narendra Modi is the most influential Prime Minister.

 

• Vijay is more successful than any other businessman in the town.
• Vijay is the most successful businessman in the town.

 

• Wordsworth is more eminent than any other nature poet. 
• Wordsworth is the most eminent of all the nature poets.

 

• Being honest is more precious than any other thing in the world.
• Being honest is the most precious thing in the world.

 

Interchange of Degrees of Comparison – MODEL – IV 

Degree	MODEL – IV Rule	Most other / Many other (one of the best)
P.D.	very few+as+adjective +as	Very few boys are as intelligent as Ricky in the group.
C.D.	-er/more+adjective+than +many/most other	Ricky is more intelligent than many/most other boys in the group.
S.D.	one of the + -est/ most+ adjective	Ricky is one of the most intelligent boys in the group.

 

Examples:

 

• Very few Mughal Emperors were as successful as Akbar. (P.D.)
• Akbar was more successful than many other Mughal Emperors. (C.D.)
• Akbar was one of the most successful Mughal Emperors. (S.D.)

 

• Very few languages in the world are as interesting as English. (P.D.)
• English is more interesting than many other languages in the world. (C.D.)
• English is one of the most interesting languages in the world. (S.D.)

 

• Very few playwrights are as great as Kalidasa. (P.D.)
• Kalidasa is greater than many other playwrights. (C.D.)
• Kalidasa is one of the greatest playwrights. (S.D.)

 

• Very few principals this school has recruited are as efficient as Shiva. (P.D.)
• Shiva is more efficient than many other principals this school has recruited. (C.D.)
• Shiva is one of the most efficient principals this school has recruited. (S.D.)

 

• Very few countries are as rich as America in the world. (P.D.)
• America is richer than many other countries in the world. (C.D.)
• America is one of the richest countries in the world. (S.D.)

 

• Very few TV channels are as popular as CNN. (P.D.)
• CNN is more popular than many other TV channels in India. (C.D.)
• CNN is one of the most popular TV channels in India. (S.D.)

 

• Very few animals are as faithful as the dog.  (P.D.)
• The dog is more faithful than many other animals. (C.D.)
• The dog is the most faithful of all animals. (S.D.)

 

• Very few awards for schools in India are as prestigious as Wipro Earthian. (P.D.)
• Wipro Earthian is more prestigious than many other awards for schools in India. (C.D.)
• Wipro Earthian is the most prestigious award for schools in India. (S.D.)

 

• Very few organizations to develop the English Language are as reputed as British Council. (P.D.)
• British Council is more reputed than many other organizations to develop the English Language. (C.D.)
• British Council is one of the most reputed organizations to develop the English Language. (S.D.)

 

• Very few animals living in the forest are as ferocious as The tiger. (P.D.)
• The tiger is more ferocious than many other animals living in the forest. (C.D.)
• The tiger is one of the most ferocious animals living in the forest. (S.D.)

 

Worksheet – IV Questions:

Change the following sentences into the other degrees.

 

• Very few waterfalls in America are as spectacular as Niagara.
• Very few emperors were as kind-hearted as Ashoka.
• Very few poets in English are as romantic as Keats.
• Very few TV Serials are as popular as Ramayan.
• Very few books I selected are as inspiring as Wings of Fire.

 

Worksheet – IV Answers:

• Niagara is more spectacular than many other waterfalls in America.
• Niagara is one of the spectacular waterfalls in America. 

 

• Ashoka was more kind-hearted than many other emperors. 
• Ashoka was one of the most kind-hearted emperors. 

 

• Keats is more romantic than many other poets in English
• Keats is one of the most romantic poets in English.

 

• Ramayan is more popular than many other TV Serials.
• Ramayan is one of the most popular TV Serials.

 

• Wings of Fire is more inspiring than many other books I selected.
• Wings of Fire is one of the most inspiring books I selected.

 

Interchange of Degrees of Comparison – MODEL – V 

Degree	MODEL – V Rule	Some other  (not the best)
P.D.	some +at least + as+adjective + as	Some Newspapers in English are at least as informative as Deccan Chronicle.
C.D.	not + -er/more+adjective +than +some other	Deccan Chronicle is not more informative than some other Newspapers in English.
S.D.	not the + -est / most + adjective + of all	Deccan Chronicle is not the most informative of all Newspapers in English.

 

Examples:

• Some teachers in this school are at least as good as Mr. Kareem. (P.D.)
• Mr. Kareem is not greater than some other teachers in this school. (C.D.)
• Mr. Kareem is not the best of all teachers in this school. (S.D.)

 

• Some places in India are at least as cool as Mysore. (P.D.)
• Mysore is not cooler than some other places in India. (C.D.)
• Mysore is not the coolest of all places in India. (S.D.)

 

• Some countries in the world are at least as hot as India. (P.D.)
• India is not hotter than some other countries in the world.
• India is not the hottest of all countries in the world. (S.D.)

 

• Some brands are at least as popular as Panasonic. (P.D.)
• Panasonic is not more popular than some other brands. (C.D.)
• Panasonic is not the most popular of all brands. (S.D.)

 

• Some places are at least as expensive as New York in America. (P.D.)
• New York is not more expensive than some other places in America. (C.D.)
• New York is not the most expensive of all places in America. (S.D.)

 

• Some subjects are at least as difficult as Mathematics. (P.D.)
• Mathematics is not more difficult than some other subjects. (C.D.)
• Mathematics is not the most difficult of all subjects. (S.D.)

 

• Some flowers are at least as delicate as the roses. (P.D.)
• The roses are not more delicate than some other flowers. (C.D.)
• The roses are not the most delicate of all flowers. (S.D.)

 

• Some girls in the class are at least as short as Soumya. (P.D.)
• Soumya is not shorter than some other girls in the class. (C.D.)
• Soumya is not the shortest of all girls in the class. (S.D.)

 

• Some islands are at least as large as Greenland. (P.D.)
• Greenland is not larger than some other islands. (C.D.)
• Greenland is not the largest of all islands. (S.D.)

 

• Some places in India are at least as beautiful as Ladakh. (P.D.)
• Ladakh is not more beautiful than some other places in India. (C.D.)

                                                  (or)

• Some places in India are not less beautiful than Ladakh. (C.D.)
• Ladakh is not the most beautiful of all places in India. (S.D.)

 

Worksheet – V Questions:

Change the following sentences into the other degrees.

 

• Some women are at least as dynamic as Indra Nooyi.
• Some metals are at least as precious as gold.
• Some buildings are at least as decorative as this. 
• Some women in the world were as beautiful as Helen of Troy. 

 

Worksheet – V Answers:

• Indra Nooyi is not more dynamic than some other women.
• Indra Nooyi is not the most dynamic of all women.

 

• Gold is not more precious than some other metals.
• Gold is not the most precious of all metals.

 

• This is not more decorative than some other buildings.
• This is not the most decorative of all buildings.

 

• Helen of Troy was not more beautiful than some other women in the world.
• Helen of Troy was not the most beautiful of all the women in the world. 

 

Comparison of Adjectives

Short Adjectives:

 

We add –er or –est if it is preceded by two vowels or another consonant.

Here the final consonant is not doubled.

Positive degree	Comparative degree	Superlative degree
bright	brighter	brightest
black	blacker	blackest
bold	bolder	boldest
broad	broader	broadest
clever	cleverer	cleverest
cold	colder	coldest
dear	dearer	dearest
deep	deeper	deepest
fast	faster	fastest
great	greater	greatest
hard	harder	hardest
high	higher	highest
kind	kinder	kindest
long	longer	longest
old	older	oldest
rich	richer	richest
short	shorter	shortest
small	smaller	smallest
smart	smarter	smartest
strong	stronger	strongest
sweet	sweeter	sweetest
tall	taller	tallest
thick	thicker	thickest
young	younger	youngest
weak	weaker	weakest

 

We add –er or –est and double the final consonant if preceded by one vowel.

 

Positive Degree	Comparative Degree	Superlative Degree
big	bigger	biggest
dim	dimmer	dimmest
fat	fatter	fattest
hot	hotter	hottest
red	redder	reddest
thin	thinner	thinnest
sad	sadder	saddest
slim	slimmer	slimmest

 

We add –r and –st to the positive degree ending in ‘e’ to make comparative and superlative.

 

Positive Degree	Comparative Degree	Superlative Degree
able	abler	ablest
brave	braver	bravest
fine	finer	finest
free	freer	freest
large	larger	largest
nice	nicer	nicest
noble	nobler	noblest
pure	purer	purest
pale	paler	palest
simple	simpler	simplest
sure	surer	surest
wise	wiser	wisest
white	whiter	whitest
wide	wider	widest

 

If an adjective ends in –y, we replace y with i and add –er or –est  to form degrees of comparison.

 

Positive Degree	Comparative Degree	Superlative Degree
chewy	chewier	chewiest
costly	costlier	costliest
crazy	crazier	craziest
dry	drier	driest
gloomy	gloomier	gloomiest
easy	easier	easiest
happy	happier	happiest
healthy	healthier	healthiest
heavy	heavier	heaviest
holy	holier	holiest
lazy	lazier	laziest
mercy	mercier	merciest
pretty	prettier	Prettiest
ugly	uglier	ugliest
wealthy	wealthier	wealthiest
worthy	worthier	worthiest

 

We add –er and-est to the positive degree when it ends in -y to form degrees of comparison.

 

Positive Degree	Comparative Degree	Superlative Degree
gay	gayer	gayest
grey	greyer	greyest

 

Irregular adjectives:

 

Some Adjectives do not follow the normal patterns of the above grammatical rules to form degrees of comparison.  They are known as irregular Adjectives. 

 

Positive Degree	Comparative Degree	Superlative Degree
bad/evil/ill	worse	worst
fun	more/less fun	most/least fun
good/well	better	best
far	farther/further	farthest/furthest
fore	former	foremost
late	later	latest (time)
late	latter	last (person)
little	less	least
much/many	more	most
near	nearer	nearest
nigh	nigher	nighest / next
old	older/elder	oldest/eldest

 

There are also some adjectives that can take suffix or adverbs like more/less or most/least to form degrees of comparison.

 

Positive Degree	Comparative Degree	Superlative Degree
clever	cleverer or  more/less clever	cleverest or  most/least clever
likely	likelier or  more/less likely	likeliest or  most/least likely
narrow	narrower or  more/less narrow	narrowest or  most/least narrow
quiet	quieter or  more/less quiet	quietest or  most/least quiet
simple	simpler or  more/less simple	simplest or  most/least simple

 

Long Adjectives:

 

Adjectives with three or more syllables are called long adjectives. Here, instead of adding suffixes, we use the words more/less before Comparative Degree and most/least before Superlative Degree.

 

Positive Degree	Comparative Degree	Superlative Degree
active	more/less active	most/least active
amazing	more/less amazing	most/least amazing
attractive	more/less attractive	most/least attractive
beautiful	more/less beautiful	most/least beautiful
brilliant	more/less brilliant	most/least brilliant
careful	more/less careful	most/least careful
caring	more/less caring	most/least caring
cautious	more/less cautious	most/least cautious
courageous	more/less courageous	most/least courageous
cunning	more/less cunning	most/least cunning
dangerous	more/less dangerous	most/least dangerous
desirous	more/less desirous	most/least desirous
democratic	more/less democratic	most/least democratic
difficult	more/less difficult	most/least difficult
famous	more/less famous	most/least famous
faithful	more/less faithful	most/least faithful
gifted	more/less gifted	most/least gifted
honest	more/less honest	most/least honest
honourable	more/less honourable	most/least honourable
industrious	more/less industrious	most/least industrious
intelligent	more/less intelligent	most/least intelligent
interesting	more/less interesting	most/least interesting
important	more/less important	most/least important
laborious	more/less laborious	most/least laborious
proper	more/less proper	most/least proper
popular	more/less popular	most/least popular
respectful	more/less respectful	most/least respectful
splendid	more/less splendid	most/least splendid
suitable	more/less suitable	most/least suitable

 

Comparison of Adverbs

 

By adding -er in the comparative form and –est in the superlative form to the one-syllable adverbs.

 

Positive Degree	Comparative Degree	Superlative Degree
cheap	cheaper	cheapest
deep	deeper	deepest
fast	faster	fastest
hard	harder	hardest
high	higher	highest
late	later	latest
in	inner	inmost/innermost
long	longer	longest
low	lower	lowest
loud	louder	loudest
near	nearer	nearest
out	outer/utter	utmost/uttermost/outer most
up	upper	up most/upper most
slow	slower	slowest
soon	sooner	soonest

 

Some irregular Comparative adverbs:

 

Positive Degree	Comparative Degree	Superlative Degree
early	earlier	earliest
badly	worse	worst
far	farther/further	farthest/furthest
little	less	least
much/many/some	more	most
good/well	better	best

 

Comparative adverbs with two forms:

 

Positive Degree	Comparative Degree	Superlative Degree
cheap/cheaply	cheaper/more cheaply	cheapest/most cheaply
loud/loudly	louder/more loudly	loudest/most loudly
quick/quickly	quicker/more quickly	quickest/most quickly
slow/slowly	slower/more slowly	slowest/most slowly

 

Comparative Adverbs which end in -ly or have three or more syllables: 

 

Positive Degree	Comparative Degree	Superlative Degree
angrily	more/less angrily	most/least angrily
brightly	more/less brightly	most/least brightly
carefully	more/less carefully	most/least carefully
dimly	more/less dimly	most/least dimly
efficiently	more/less efficiently	most/least efficiently
effectively	more/less effectively	most/least effectively
freely	more/less freely	most/least freely
frequently	more/less frequently	most/least frequently
generally	more/less generally	most/least generally
gladly	more/less gladly	most/least gladly
horribly	more/less horribly	most/least horribly
heavily	more/less heavily	most/least heavily
importantly	more/less importantly	most/least importantly
intently	more/less intently	most/least intently
loudly	more/less loudly	most/least loudly
quietly	more/less quietly	most/least quietly
recently	more/less recently	most/least recently
sadly	more/less sadly	most/least sadly
strangely	more/less strangely	most/least strangely
sweetly	more/less sweetly	most/least sweetly
terribly	more/less terribly	most/least terribly

 

There are some adverbs which do not have degrees of comparison

 

again	first	daily	yesterday	here
there	now	then	never	sometimes

 

Recommended Readings:

Besides Degrees of Comparison, you are recommended to concentrate on the following for a better understanding of the adjectives.

 

• What is an Adjective
• Proper Adjectives
• Adjectives of Quality (Qualitative Adjectives/Descriptive Adjectives)
• Adjectives of Quantity (Quantitative Adjectives)
• Adjectives of Number (Numeral Adjectives)
• Demonstrative Adjectives
• Interrogative Adjectives
• Distributive Adjectives
• Possessive Adjectives (Pronominal)
• Emphasizing Adjectives
• Exclamatory Adjectives
• Participle Adjectives
• Relative Adjectives
• Compound Adjectives