Comparision of Adjective

COMPARISON OF ADJECTIVES

 . Read these sentences:


Rama's mango is sweet.
Hari's mango is sweeter than Rama's.
Govind's mango is the sweetest of all.
In sentence 1, the adjective sweet merely tells us that Rama's mango has the quality of sweetness, without saying how much of this quality it has.

In sentence 2, the adjective sweeter tells us that Hari's mango, compared with Rama's, has more of the quality of sweetness.

In sentence 3, the adjective sweetest tells us that of all these mangoes Govind's mango has the greatest amount or highest degree of the quality of sweetness.

We thus see that Adjectives change in form (sweet, sweeter, sweetest) to show comparison. They are called the three Degrees of Comparison.

The Adjective sweet is said to be in the Positive Degree.
The Adjective sweeter is said to be in the Comparative Degree.
The Adjective sweetest is said to be in the Superlative Degree.

The Positive Degree of an Adjective is the Adjective in its simple form. It is used to denote the mere existence of some quality of what we speak about. It is used when no comparison is made.

The Comparative Degree of an Adjective denotes a higher degree of the quality than the Positive, and is used when two things (or sets of things) are compared; as, This boy is stronger than that.

Which of these two pens is the better?
Apples are dearer than oranges.

The Superlative Degree of an Adjective denotes the highest degree of the quality, and is used when more than two things (or sets of things) are compared; as, This boy is the strongest in the class.

Note 1:- There is another way in which we can compare things. Instead of saying 'Rama is stronger than Balu we can say 'Balu is less strong than Rama'. Instead of saying 'Hari is the laziest boy in the class', we can say 'Hari is the least industrious boy in the class7.

Note 2:- The Superlative with most is sometimes used where there is no idea of comparison, but merely a desire to indicate the possession of a quality in a very high degree; as,

This is most unfortunate.
It was a most eloquent speech.
Truly, a most ingenious device!

This usage has been called the Superlative of Eminence, or the Absolute Superlative.


Formation of Comparative and Superlative

Most Adjectives of one syllable, and some of more than one, form the Comparative by adding er and the Superlative by adding est to the positive.

Positive -- Comparative -- Superlative

Sweet -- sweeter -- sweetest
Small -- smaller -- smallest
Tall -- taller -- tallest
Bold -- bolder -- boldest
Clever -- cleverer -- cleverest
Kind -- kinder -- kindest
Young -- younger -- youngest
Great -- greater -- greatest

When the Positive ends in e, only r and st are added.
Brave -- braver -- bravest
Fine -- finer -- finest
White -- whiter -- whitest
Large -- larger -- largest
Able -- abler -- ablest
Noble -- nobler -- noblest
Wise -- wiser -- wisest

When the Positive ends in j, preceded by a consonant, the y is changed into i before adding er and est.
Happy -- happier -- happiest
Easy -- easier -- easiest
Heavy -- heavier -- heaviest
Merry -- merrier -- merriest
Wealthy -- wealthier -- wealthiest

When the Positive is a word of one syllable and ends in a single consonant, preceded by a short vowel, this consonant is doubled before adding er and est.
Red -- redder -- reddest
Big -- bigger -- biggest
Hot -- hotter -- hottest
Thin -- thinner -- thinnest
Sad -- sadder -- saddest
Fat -- fatter -- fattest

Adjectives of more than two syllables form the Comparative and Superlative by putting more and most before the Positive.

Positive -- Comparative -- Superlative

Beautiful -- more beautiful -- most beautiful
Difficult -- more difficult -- most difficult
Industrious -- more industrious -- most industrious
Courageous -- more courageous -- most courageous


Two-syllable adjectives ending infill (e.g. useful), less (e.g. hope less), ing (e.g. boring) and ed (e.g. surprised) and many others (e.g. modern, recent, foolish, famous, certain) take more and most.

The following take either er and est or more and most. :
polite
simple
feeble
gentle
narrow
cruel
common
handsome
pleasant
stupid
She is politer/more polite than her sister.
He is the politest/most polite of them.


The-Comparative-in er is not used when we compare two qualities in the same person or thing. If we wish to say that the courage of Rama is greater than the courage of Balu, we say
He is later than I expected.
I have not heard the latest news.
The latter chapters are lacking in interest.
The last chapter is carelesslv written
Ours is the last house in the street.
      Rama is braver than Balu.

But if we wish to say that the courage of Rama is greater than his prudence, we must say, Rama is more brave than prudent.

When two objects are compared with each other, the latter term of comparison must exclude the former; as,

Iron is more useful than any other metal. If we say,
Iron is more useful than any metal,

that is the same thing as saying 'Iron is more useful than iron' since iron is itself a metal.

Irregular Comparison

The following Adjectives are compared irregularly, that is, their Comparative and Superlative are not formed from the Positive:-

Positive -- Comparative -- Superlative
Good, well -- better -- best
Bad, evil, ill -- worse -- worst
Little -- less, lesser -- least
Much -- more -- most (quantity)
Many -- more -- most (number)
Late -- later, latter -- latest, last
Old -- older, elder -- oldest, eldest
Far -- farther -- farthest
(Nigh) -- (nigher) -- (nighest), next
(Fore) -- (former) -- foremost, first
(Fore) -- further -- furthest
(In) -- inner -- inmost, innermost
(Up) -- upper -- upmost, uppermost
(Out) -- outer, (utter) -- utmost, uttermost

Note:- The forms nigh, nigher, nighest, fore and utter are outdated.

Exercise in Grammar

Compare the following Adjectives:-

Black, excellent, ill, gloomy, mad, safe, bad, unjust, gay, able, dry, timid, ugly, true, severe, exact, agreeable, difficult, little, few, numerous, merry.

      The double forms of the Comparative and Superlative of the Adjectives are used in      different ways.
Later, latter; latest, last. - Later and latest refer to time; latter and last refer to position.


Elder, older; eldest, oldest.- Elder and eldest are used only of persons, not of animals or things; and are now confined to members of the same family. Elder is not used with than following. Older and oldest are used of both persons and things.

John is my elder brother.
Tom is my eldest son.
He is older than his sister.
Rama is the oldest boy in the eleven.
This is the oldest temple in Kolkata.

Farther, further.- Both farther and further are used to express distance. Further, not farther, is used to mean “additional”.
Kolkata is farther/further from the equator than Colombo.
After this he made no further remarks.
I must have a reply without further delay.

Nearest, next.- Nearest means the shortest distance away. Next refers to one of a sequence of things coming one after the other.
Mumbai is the seaport nearest to Europe.
Where is the nearest phone box?
Karim's shop is next to the Post Office.
My uncle lives in the next house.

Exercise in Composition

Fill the blank spaces with 'later' or 'latter' :-
1. The majority accepted the --- proposal.
2. The --- part of the book shows signs of hurry.
3. At a --- date, he was placed in charge of the whole taluka.
4. I prefer the --- proposition to the former.
5. Is there no --- news than last week's?

Fill the blank spaces with ‘older’ or ‘elder’ :-
1.I have an --- sister.
2.Rama is --- than Had by two years.
3.His --- brother is in the Indian Police Service.
4.She is the --- of the two sisters.
5.The nephew is --- than his uncle.

Fill the blank spaces with 'oldest' and 'eldest' :-
1. Rustam is the --- of my uncle's five sons.
2. He is the --- member of the School Committee.
3. That is Antonio, the duke's --- son.
4. The --- mosque in the town is near the railway station.
5. Mr. Smith is the --- teacher in the school.





Fill the blank spaces with 'farther' or 'further':-
1. I can't walk any ---.
2. No --- reasons were given.
3. He walked off without --- ceremony.
4. Until --- orders Mr. K.S. Dave will act as Headmaster of Nira High School.
5. To let, a bungalow at Ridge Road. For --- particulars apply to Box. No. 65.




(e) Fill the blank spaces with 'latest' or 'last':-

The --- news from China is very disquieting.
The --- time I saw him, he was in high spirits.
To-day is the --- day for receiving lenders.
We expect to get the --- news in a few hours.
The --- Moghul Emperor came to an ignominious end.

Fill the blank spaces with 'nearest' or 'next':-
1. This is the --- post office to my house.
2. The pillar-box is --- to my house.
3. The burglar was taken to the --- police station.
4. His house is --- to mine.
5. The --- railway station is two miles from here.

Certain English Comparatives have lost their comparative meaning and are used as Positive. They cannot be followed by than. These are:-
Former, latter, elder, upper, inner, outer, utter.

Both the tiger and (he leopard are cats; the former animal is much larger than the latter.

The inner meaning of this letter is not clear.
The soldiers ran to defend the outer wall.
My elder brother is an engineer.
This man is an utter fool.

Certain Comparatives borrowed from Latin have no Positive or Superlative degree. They all end in or, not er. They are twelve in all. Five of them have lost their Comparative meaning, and are used as Positive Adjectives. These are:-

Interior, exterior, ulterior, major, minor.

The exterior wall of the house is made of stone; the interior walls are of wood.

His age is a matter of minor importance.
I have no ulterior motive in offering you help.

The other seven are used as Comparative Adjectives but are followed by to instead of than

The comparative degree is generally followed by than; but Comparative Adjectives ending in -or are followed by the preposition to; as,
Inferior, superior, prior, anterior, posterior, senior, junior.

Hari is inferior to Ram in intelligence.
Rama's intelligence is superior to Hari's.

His marriage was prior to his father's death.
He is junior to all his colleagues.
All his colleagues are senior to him.

Adjectives expressing qualities that do not admit of different degrees cannot, strictly speaking, be compared; as,

Square, round, perfect, eternal, universal, unique. Strictly speaking, a thing cannot be more square, more round, more perfect. But we say, for instance,



Exercise in Grammar

Point out the Adjectives and name the Degree of Comparison of each:-

The poor woman had seen happier days.
Do not talk such nonsense.
Make less noise.
That child has a slight cold.
A live ass is stranger than a dead lion.
Say the same thing twice over.

Soloman was one of the wisest men.
Hunger is the best sauce.
His simple word is as good as an oath.
There was not the slightest excuse for it.
My knife is sharper than yours.
Small people love to talk of great men.
Of two evils choose the less.
I hope the matter will be cleared up some day.
Your son makes no progress in his studies.
Open rebuke is better than secret love.
We never had such sport.
I have other things to attend lo.
Hari is the idlest boy in the class.
I promise you a fair hearing.
There is much to be said on both sides.
He gave the boys much wholesome advice.
He thinks he is wiser than his father.
No news is good news.
Bangladesh has the largest tea garden in the world.
Lead is heavier than any other metal.
I congratulated him on his good fortune.
He has many powerful friends.
The longest lane has a turning.

Exercise in Grammar

Make three columns, and write the following Adjectives in the Positive, Comparative and Superlative Degrees:-
[Be careful to use the form of comparison that is pleasing to the ear.]

Shameful, clever, pretty, interesting, hopeful, honest, important, patient, rude, delightful, stupid, attractive, heavy, beautiful, fortunate, pleasant.



Exercise in Composition

Supply the proper form (Comparative or Superlative) of the Adjective:-
[Note:-The Comparative and not the Superlative should be used to compare two things.]

Good - How is your brother to-day? Is he ---?
Hot - May is --- here than any other month.
Pretty - Her doll is --- than yours.
Idle - Hari is the --- boy in the class.
Sharp - Your knife is sharp, but mine is ---.
Dear - Honour is --- to him than life.

Rich - He is the --- man in our town.
Old - Mani is two years --- than Rati.
Large - Name the --- city in the world.
          Good - He is the --- friend I have.
Bad - He is the --- boy of the two.
Bad - Raman's work is bad, Hari's is ---, but Govind's is the ---.
Ferocious - There is no animal --- than the tiger.
Bad - The trade is in a --- condition to-day than it was a year ago.
Tall - He is the --- of the two.
Dry - Sind is the --- part of Pakistan.
Useful - Iron is --- than any other metal.
Useful - Iron is the --- of all metals.
Great - Who is the --- living poet ?
Nutritious - I think he requires a --- diet.
Proud - It was the --- moment of his life.
Good -The public is the --- judge.
Little - That is the --- price I can take.
Light - Silver is --- than gold.

Exercise in Composition

Supply appropriate Comparatives or Superlatives to each of the following:-

Prevention is --- than cure.
Akbar had a --- region than Babar.
Sachin Tendulkar is the --- batsman in the world.
The pen is --- than the sword.
The --- buildings are found in America.
The Pacific is --- than any other ocean.
Which of the two girls has the --- dress?
Honour is --- to him than life.
This pen is --- than the other.
Who is the --- boy in the class ?
The Eiffel Tower is --- than Qutab Minar.
My uncle is --- than my father.
The multi-millionaire Mr. Sen is the --- in this town.
Wordsworth is a --- poet than Cowper.
Balu is the --- bowler in the eleven.
The streets of Mumbai are --- than those of Ahmedabad.
Ooty is --- than Chennai.
The piano was knocked down to the --- bidder.
Mount Everest is the --- peak of the Himalayas.
He writes a --- hand than his brother.
He writes the --- hand in his class.
He is one of the --- speakers in Punjab.
Who was the --- general, Alexander or Caesar?
The --- fables are those attributed to j45sop.
The Arabian Nights is perhaps the --- story-book,
Shakespeare is --- than any other English poet.

Of all countries, China has the --- population in the world.
Clouds float in the sky because they are --- than the air.
There are two ways of doing the sum, but this one is the ---.
      It is good to be clever, but it is --- to be industrious.
This is the --- of my two sons.
This is the --- that I can do?



Exercise in Composition

Change the following sentences by using 'less' or 'least' without changing the meaning:-
The mango is sweeter than the pine-apple.
Silver is more plentiful than gold.
This is the most useless of all my books.
Wolfram is one of the rarest minerals.
The wild-apple is the sourest of all fruits.
Iron is more useful than copper.

Interchange of the Degrees of Comparison

As the following examples show, it is possible to change the Degree of Comparison of an Adjective in a sentence, without changing the meaning of the sentence:-

Superlative - Lead is the heaviest of all metals.
Comparative - Lead is heavier than all other metals.
Comparative - Mahabaleshwar is cooler than Panchgani.
Positive - Panchgani is not so cool as Mahabaleshwar.
Positive - He is as wise as Solomon.
Comparative - Soloman was not wiser than he is.
Superlative - Shakuntala is the best drama in Sanskrit.
Comparative - Shakuntala is better than any other drama in Sanskrit.
Positive - No other drama in Sanskrit is so good as Shakuntala.
Superlative - Chennai is one of the biggest of Indian cities.
Comparative - Chennai is bigger than most other Indian cities.
Positive - Very few Indian cities are as big as Chennai.
Positive - Some poets are at least as great as Tennyson.
Comparative - Tennyson is not greater than some other poets, I Some poets are not less

great than Tennyson.
Superlative - Tennyson is not the greatest of all poets.

Exercise in Composition

Change the Degree of Comparison, without changing the meaning:-
Malacca is the oldest town in Malaysia.
Soya beans are at least as nutritious as meat.
No other planet is so big as Jupiter.
Very few boys are as industrious as Latif.
He would sooner die than tell a lie.
India is the largest democracy in the world.
Shakespeare is greater than any other English poet.
Samudra Gupta was one of the greatest of Indian Kings.
The tiger is the most ferocious of all animals.
Australia is the largest island in the world.
Lead is heavier than any other metal.
Some people have more money than brains.

A wise enemy is better than a foolish friend.
The Marwaries are not less enterprising than any other community in India.
I know him quite as well as you do.
You do not know him better than I do.
No other man was as strong as Bhim.
Some boys are the list as industrious as Suresh.
Mount Everest is the highest peak of the Himalayas.
Very few animals are as useful as the cow.
America is the richest country in the world.
It is easier to preach than to practise.
Iron is more useful than all the other metals.
Open rebuke is better than secret love.
The Sears Tower is the tallest building in the world.
Sir Surendranath was at least as great an orator as any other Indian.
Ooty is as healthy as any resort in India.
The pen is mightier than the sword.