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Positive, Comparative,

Superlative Degrees

Using Adjectives Correctly inRelationships

M. B. Pardington, 2010

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Start with an adjective.

large

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This sentence shows the use of

largein thepositive degree.

This hippopotamusis large.

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When you compare the largehippopotamus to another thing,

you have to use the comparative

degree. This means that the

word has to change.

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There are 2 ways that you can

change large to the comparative

degree:

Add er

to the end of the word

Add more to the front of the word

large + er = larger

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The hippopotamus is

largerthan the pig.

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Some adjectives, especiallythose with 3 syllables or

more, use more instead ofer. Heres an example:

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The hippopotamus is more

intelligentthan the chicken.

1 + 1 = 2 2

4

= 16

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But what should we do if we want

to compare our large

hippopotamus with more than just

one other thing? What should wedo if we want to compare our large

hippopotamus to.lets say.3other things?

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We would then use the adjective in

the superlative degree, and that

means that our word would haveto change again.

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There are 2 ways that you can

change large to the superlative

degree:

Add est

to the end of the word

Add most to the front of the word

large + est = largest

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The hippopotamus is the

largestone in the bunch.

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Heres an example where you

would use most in front of an

adjective.

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The hippopotamus is the most

courteousanimal of the group.

Move

it or

lose it!

Youre

outtahere! Hit the

highway,

big guy!

May I please

be excused?

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So, we have learned that we can

use an adjective to show

relationships in the comparativeand superlative degrees:

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larger (comparing 2 things)

largest (comparing more than 2 things)

more intelligent (comparing 2 things)most intelligent (comparing more than 2 things)

more courteous (comparing 2 things)

most courteous (comparing more than 2 things)

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Like many things in the Englishlanguage, there are some

exceptions:

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Some words change differently in

the comparativeand superlative

degrees.

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For example,lets consider the word good:

POSITIVE: good

COMPARATIVE: better

SUPERLATIVE: best

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This grade is good.

This grade is better than that grade.

The is the bestgrade of all.

B+

A- B+

A

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Heres another example of unusual

changes frompositive, comparative,and superlativedegrees:

POSITIVE: bad

COMPARATIVE: worse

SUPERLATIVE: worst

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Keep an eye out for them!