More on Degrees of Adjectives

 

Positive, Comparative and Superlative Degree 

There are two types of  ‘Adjectives’ :

  • Regular Adjective
  • Irregular Adjective

Regular Adjective :–

Those adjectives that have certain rules to change them from Positive to Comparative or Superlative degrees are called regular adjectives.

  1. Rule – 1  :–

If  there are 3 letters, repeat the last consonant letter and add ‘er’ and ‘est’ for Comparative and Superlative degree respectively.

Positive Comparative Superlative
Fat Fatter Fattest
Red Redder Reddest
Mad Madder Maddest
Big Bigger Biggest
Sad Sadder Saddest
  1. Rule – 2 ( More / Most ) :–

Count the number of  letters. If  there are 6 letters or more than 6 letters, add More and Most to change the degree.

Positive Comparative Superlative
Beautiful More beautiful Most beautiful
Difficult More difficult Most difficult
Proper More proper Most proper
Excellent More excellent Most excellent
Shameful More shameful Most shameful
Important More important Most important
Attractive More attractive Most attractive
Learned More learned Most learned
Fortunate More fortunate Most fortunate
Numerous More numerous Most numerous

Exceptions : Exact, clever, severe lovely, wealthy, etc.

  1. Rule – 3 :–

The adjectives ending with ‘e’ take ‘r’ and ‘st’ to change the degree.

Positive Comparative Superlative
Wise Wiser Wisest
Noble Nobler Noblest
White Whiter Whitest
Fine Finer Finest
Large Larger Largest
  1. Rule – 4 :–

If  consonant ‘y’ is used at the end of  the word, ‘ier’ and ‘iest’ are used to change the degree.

Positive Comparative Superlative
Heavy Heavier Heaviest
Merry Merrier Merriest
Easy Easier Easiest
Dry Drier Driest
Lovely Lovelier Loveliest
  1. Rule – 5 :–

Generally adjectives take ‘er’ and ‘est’ to change degree.

Positive Comparative Superlative
Kind Kinder Kindest
Great Greater Greatest
Young Younger Youngest
Tall Taller Tallest
Clever Cleverer Cleverest
  1. Rule – 6 :–

No use of  ‘er’ and ‘est’ in regular adjectives.

In case,  there is one person and his own two qualities are compared :

e.g. Ravi is more kind than clever.

Ø Irregular Adjective :–

Irregular adjectives have no rules. Only you have to learn by heart.

Positive Comparative Superlative
Far Farther Farthest
Many / Much More Most
Little Less / Lesser Least
Late Later Latest
Old Older / Elder Oldest / Eldest
Fore Former Foremost
Good / well Better Best
Bad / Evil / Ill Worse Worst
In Inner Innermost / In most
Out Outer Utmost / Outer most
Fore Further Furthest