The comparison of how much quantity is there in a noun is called degrees of comparison. There are three types of degree of comparison.
1. Positive degree
2. Comparative degree
3. Superlative degree
Positive Degree
When we use an adjective to make sense about the general quality, condition of a noun, it is called degree of comparison, then that adjective is called a positive degree. Adjectives of positive degree are placed in the middle of as. So, and pronouns are used in nominative cases after as. Like:
Shahrukh is as handsome as Salman.
The chair is light.
Comparative Degree
When we have to make the comparison between persons, things, and substances, then it is called an adjective comparative degree. In this degree, “then” is used after the adjective. The pronoun is used after “than” in the nominative case.
Example:
Bilkish is beautiful than muskrat.
India is more peaceful than Pakistan.
Superlative Degree
When two or more persons, objects or substances are compared in an adjective and express the highest degree of quality, an adjective is called a superlative degree. Pooja is the most beautiful girl in the house. Ramu kaka is the oldest man in the city.
Some Important Rules for Degree of Comparison
Rules for converting a positive degree to a comparative or superlative degree – A comparative and superlative degree is formed by adding “er” and “est” to the last adjective of a positive degree.
| Adjective | Comparative Degree | Superlative Degree |
| tall | taller | tallest |
| fat | fatter | fattest |
| big | bigger | biggest |
| sad | sadder | saddest |
Rule 2. If there is an “e” in the last of a positive degree, then only “r” or “s” is added.
| Positive Degree | Comparative Degree | Superlative Degree |
| able | abler | ablest |
| brave | braver | bravest |
| close | closer | closest |
| fine | finer | finest |
Rule 3: If there is “y” in the last of the Adjective of a positive degree and there is a Consonant before “y”, change the ‘y’ to ‘i’ and add ‘er ‘est’ to the positive, respectively. The degree is made a Comparative and Superlative degree.
| Positive Degree | Comparative Degree | Superlative Degree |
| happy | happier | happiest |
| simple | simpler | simplest |
| busy | busier | busiest |
| tangled | more tangled | most tangled |
Rule 4: If there is ‘y’ at the end of the adjective of a positive degree or a vowel before ‘y’, then only ‘er’ and ‘est’ are added to form a comparative degree superlative degree, respectively. Cannot convert ‘y’ to ‘i’.
| Positive Degree | Comparative Degree | Superlative Degree |
| gay | gayer | gayest |
| grey | greyer | gayest |
Degree of Comparison Rule 6: Comparative and superlative degrees are made by adding “more” and “most” to the Adjective of a positive degree of two or more syllables.
| Positive Degree | Comparative Degree | Superlative Degree |
| beautiful | more beautiful | most beautiful |
| courageous | more courageous | most courageous |
| learned | more learned | most learned |
| splendid | more splendid | most splendid |
Rule 7: Adjectives of some positive degree are such that their comparative or superlative is different. These are called irregular formations.
| Positive Degree | Comparative Degree | Superlative Degree |
| good | better | best |
| bad | worse | worst |
| little | less/lesser | lest |
| much | more | most |
Interchange of the Degree of Comparison
Now we will know how the degree of adjective or adverb can be changed without changing the meaning of a sentence. Example:
He is as good as Ram. (P.D.)
Ram is not better than he. (C.D.)
Salman reads as carefully as she does. (P.D.)
She does not read carefully than Salman. (C.D.)
We follow some interchange rules such as degrees.
Step 1: The object of positive degree is written in place of the subject in a comparative degree.
Step 2. Use of Verb
Step 3. If not is used to a positive degree, then not is used in the comparative degree. On the other hand, if not is used to a positive degree, then in comparative, not is used.
Step 4. So….as… and as….as are removed.
Step 5. The adjective of positive degree should be written in comparative. Step 6. After this, then is used.
Step 7. The subject of positive degree is written as in comparative degree.
E.g., He is as good as Ram. (P.D.)
Ram is not better than he. (C.D.)
More examples of interchange of degree
1. They work as much as I do. (P.D.)
I do not work more than they. (C.D.)
2. This book is as helpful as that. (P.D.)
That book is not more helpful than this. (C.D.)
3. The sword is not as mighty as the pencil. (P.D.)
The pencil is mightier than the sword. (C.D.)
Rule 2: Comparative degree is converted to the positive degree in this way.
Example – 1. Varsha is more beautiful than Sweta. (CD)
Sweta is not so beautiful as Varsha. (P.D.)
2. He is not taller than you. (C.D.)
You are as tall as he. (P.D.)
3. Bread is more valuable than gold. (C.D.)
Gold is not so beneficial as bread. (P.D.)
Fast like birds. (P.D.)
Step (1): Write the place of Subject in Comparative degree & Objective positive degree.
Step (2): Use appropriate Verb.
Step (3): If not is used in the comparative degree, do not use not in the positive degree. If it is not used in the comparative degree, use not in positive. That is, write Affirmative by changing it to Negative and Negative to Affirmative.
Step (4): Change to Adjective of Comparative degree & Adjective Positive degree and keep it between as or so as.
Step (5): Remove the than.
Step (6): After this, write the Noun or Pronoun used as Subject of Comparative degree in place of Object in Positive degree:
You are stronger than he. (C.D.)
He is not so strong as you. (P.D.)
Gold is not heavier than platinum (C.D.)
Platinum is as heavy as gold. (P.D.)
Degree of Comparison PDF Download
Degree of Comparison FAQ’s
- Bilkish is not as beautiful as Monika.
- I am as tall as my sister.
- Bikram is not as handsome as his father.
- They are as powerful as a king.
- This book is not so interesting as that.
- A cold drink is not more tasteful than coffee.
- That student was not more honest than Sohan.
- Ramu is as bad as Raman.
Answer – List of the degree of comparison
Positive Degree |
Comparative Degree |
Superlative Degree |
| active | more active | the most active |
| bad | worse | worst |
| beautiful | more beautiful | most beautiful |
| big | bigger | the biggest |
| black | blacker | the blackest |
| bright | brighter | the biggest |
| clean | cleaner | the cleanest |
| cleaver | cleverer | the cleverest |
| confused | more confused | the most confused |
| cruel | crueller | the cruellest |
| dark | darker | the darkest |
| difficult | more difficult | the most difficult |
| dirty | dirtier | the dirtiest |
| fascinating | more fascinating | the most fascinating |
| famous | more famous | the most famous |
| far | farther/further | the farthest/furthest |
| fast | faster | the fastest |
| fat | fatter | the fattest |
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