Comparison of Adjectives

The Formation of Degrees of Comparison

	Positive degree	Comparative degree	Superlative degree
a).	long gay big pretty	longer gayer bigger prettier	the longest the gayest the biggest the prettiest
b).	useful correct difficult	more useful more correct more difficult	the most useful the most correct the most difficult
c).	good bad many / much little	better worse more less	the best the worst the most the least

The Positive Degree

Usage: the positive degree is used to denote:
1). a quality of a thing without comparing it to another thing;
2). the same degree of quality in two or more things (as… as, not so… as).

Key examples: 
My room is large.
Ann’s room is as large as mine.
Jane’s room is not so large as Ann’s.

For study:

1. Ann’s wardrobe is as dark as my wardrobe (or as mine). 
2. Ann’s writing table is as new as my writing table. 
3. Ann’s easy chair is as comfortable as my chair. 
4. Ann’s divan is as low as my divan.

1. Jane’s wardrobe is not so dark as Ann’s.
2. Jane’s writing table is not so new as Ann’s. 
3. Jane’s easy chair is not so comfortable as Ann’s. 
4. Jane’s divan is not so low as Ann’s.

The Comparative Degree

Usage: the comparative degree is used to express a higher degree of quality.

Example:
The Scottish rivers are swifter than the rivers in England.

For study:

1. The Scottish summer is cooler than the summer in England. 
2. The Scottish winter is colder than the winter in England. 
3. The Scottish population is fewer than the population of England. 
4. The Scottish towns are smaller than the towns of England. 
5. The Scottish mountains are more magnificent than the mountains of Wales.

The Superlative Degree

Usage: the superlative degree is used to express the highest degree of quality.

Key example:
The Severn is the longest river in England.

For study:

1. The Exe is the shortest river in England. 
2. The Thames is the busiest river in England. 
3. The Avon is the most peaceful river in England. 
4. The Wye is the most beautiful river in England. 
5. The Clyde is the most important river in Scotland.