What are the Three Degrees of Comparison? (With Examples & Chart)
Degrees of comparison in English grammar show how adjectives and adverbs compare qualities between people or things. Understanding the three degrees—**positive**, **comparative**, and **superlative**—is essential for accurate and expressive English writing, helping students score better in exams and communicate more clearly in daily and academic conversations.
Degrees of Comparison: Types and Definitions
| Degree | Definition | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Positive | Describes a quality without comparison | Ria is tall. |
| Comparative | Compares two entities using “-er” or “more” | Ria is taller than Neha. |
| Superlative | Compares three or more, showing highest/lowest | Ria is the tallest in her class. |
**Three degrees of comparison** allow you to express differences in quality or quantity. They are widely tested in school grammar exams and play a key role in spoken English when making comparisons.
Rules for Forming Degrees of Comparison
There are basic rules for forming the comparative and superlative degrees from the positive degree. Understanding these rules, including exceptions, helps avoid mistakes that often occur in school tests and editing tasks.
1. One-syllable adjectives:
Add “-er” for comparatives and “-est” for superlatives. Example: fast, faster, fastest.
2. Two-syllable adjectives ending in ‘y’:
Change “y” to “i” and add “-er”/“-est”. Example: happy, happier, happiest.
3. Adjectives with two or more syllables (except those ending in ‘y’):
Use “more”/“most” or “less”/“least”. Example: beautiful, more beautiful, most beautiful.
4. Irregular adjectives:
Some adjectives have unique forms. Example: good, better, best | bad, worse, worst | far, farther/further, farthest/furthest.
5. Comparatives use ‘than’:
When making a comparison, always use ‘than’ (e.g., “He is smarter than me.”).
Degrees of Comparison Examples
See how different adjectives follow the rules through these common examples:
| Positive | Comparative | Superlative |
|---|---|---|
| Short | Shorter | Shortest |
| Large | Larger | Largest |
| Busy | Busier | Busiest |
| Interesting | More interesting | Most interesting |
| Good | Better | Best |
| Bad | Worse | Worst |
| Far | Farther/Further | Farthest/Furthest |
Practice with these forms helps you answer board-style English grammar questions and builds a stronger vocabulary for essays and speech.
Common Mistakes in Degrees of Comparison
Avoid these errors to score higher in assignments and tests:
Do not use double comparatives or superlatives (Incorrect: “more better”, Correct: “better”).
Always use ‘than’ in comparative sentences (e.g., “taller than” not “taller then”).
Never use ‘most’/‘more’ with adjectives that already take “-est”/“-er” endings.
Some adjectives, like “unique”, “perfect”, or “empty”, do not have comparative or superlative forms.
Adverbs also follow degree rules: “quickly, more quickly, most quickly”.
How to Use Degrees of Comparison in Sentences
Degrees of comparison make communication clearer by showing exact differences. They are useful for both spoken and written English, especially when describing people, places, or objects in school essays, stories, or daily interactions.
**Positive Degree:** “Priya is talented.” (No comparison)
**Comparative Degree:** “Priya is more talented than Sneha.” (Comparison between two)
**Superlative Degree:** “Priya is the most talented student in the class.” (Comparison among three or more)
Practice Exercise: Identify the Degree
| Sentence | Degree |
|---|---|
| This book is more exciting than the last. | Comparative |
| She has the quietest voice in the team. | Superlative |
| Arun is as brave as Rahul. | Positive |
| Summer is hotter than spring. | Comparative |
| He is the most responsible boy in the school. | Superlative |
Regular practice with such comparisons helps in entrance exams and CBSE/ICSE board English papers and supports overall fluency.
Summary of Degrees of Comparison
Mastering degrees of comparison strengthens your grammar skills, enhances clarity in writing and speech, and prepares you for top performance in all academic English assessments. Vedantu’s resources and examples ensure you avoid mistakes and apply the correct form every time for confident, high-scoring communication.
