The comparison of adjectives forms an essential part of English grammar syntax, allowing speakers and writers to express different degrees of quality, quantity, and number across positive, comparative, and superlative forms.
What is the Comparison of Adjectives?
Most Adjectives of Quality, and four Adjectives of Number and Quantity (much, little, many, few) have degrees of comparison. There are three degrees of comparison:
- (a) The Positive degree is the simplest form of the adjective: tall, beautiful.
- (b) The Comparative degree is the form used when a comparison is made between two persons or things: He is taller than you. It is more beautiful than that.
- (c) The Superlative degree is the form used when more than two things, or sets of things, are compared: He is the tallest boy in the class. She is the most beautiful of all.
What Are the Rules of Comparison?
Understanding how to transform adjectives correctly requires following established grammar rules and keeping common exceptions in mind.
Rule-1: One-Syllable Adjectives
Adjectives of one syllable are compared by adding er and est in the Comparative and Superlative degrees respectively: tall — taller, tallest; black—blacker, blackest.
Exceptions:
- (i) When the Positive ends in e, the e of er and est is dropped: wise–wiser, wisest; pale–paler, palest.
- (ii) When the Positive ends in y preceded by a consonant, y is changed into "i" before er and est: dry–drier, driest. But when a vowel precedes y, it is not changed: gay–gayer, gayest.
- (iii) If the Positive ends in a single consonant preceded by a single vowel, the consonant is doubled: red–redder, reddest. But if it ends in two consonants, or has two vowels before the final consonant, the latter is not doubled: thick–thicker, thickest; weak–weaker, weakest.
Rule-2: Multi-Syllable Adjectives
Adjectives of more than two syllables and most Adjectives of two syllables are compared by adding more and most, or less and least: beautiful–more or less beautiful, most or least beautiful; active–more or less active, most or least active.
Rule-3: Two-Syllable Adjectives Ending in le, y, er, and ow
All Adjectives of two syllables ending in le, y, er and ow are generally compared as adjectives of one syllable:
| Positive | Comparative | Superlative |
|---|---|---|
| Noble Happy Tender Narrow |
nobler happier tenderer narrower |
noblest happiest tenderest narrowest |
Rule-4: Irregular Comparison
Some adjectives follow irregular patterns when changing degrees. Explore more about Adjectives have Comparison to see how these forms function in context.
| Positive | Comparative | Superlative |
|---|---|---|
| Bad, evil, ill Far Fore Good Hind Late Little Many, much Near Nigh Old |
worse farther former (time) better hinder later, latter less, lesser more nearer nigher older, elder |
worst farthest foremost, first best hindmost latest, last least most nearest, next nighest, next oldest, eldest |
Rule-5: Words Used as Adjectives in Comparative and Superlative Only
Words not adjectives in the positive degree, but used as such in the comparative and the superlative:
| Positive | Comparative | Superlative |
|---|---|---|
| Forth In Out Out Up |
further inner outer, utter outer, utter upper |
furthest inmost, innermost outermost, uttermost outmost, utmost uppermost, upmost |
Rule-6: Adjectives Without a Comparative Form
Adjectives without a comparative form feature only positive and superlative structures:
| Positive | Superlative |
|---|---|
| Down Eastern Head Northern Southern Top Western |
downmost easternmost headmost northernmost southernmost topmost westernmost |
Rule-7: Uncomparable Adjectives
Adjectives expressing shape or material or time or the highest or lowest degree of some quality cannot be compared: round, square, earthen, golden, daily, annual, perfect, extreme, eternal, chief, Almighty, infinite, complete, supreme, unique, universal, dead, empty, etc.
Rule-8: Using Than and Of in Comparatives
Generally comparatives are followed by than (except in some cases):
Ram is taller than Shyam. I am weaker than he.
When, however, selection is implied, the comparative is preceded by the and followed by of:
Ram is the taller of the two.
Rule-9: Exclusion in Comparisons
When objects of the same class are compared by means of a comparative, their separation or exclusion should be distinctly shown by the use of any other, all other or no other:
He is better than any other boy (or all other boys,—not any boy) in the class. No other boy (not, no boy) is so good as he.
But in a comparison by Superlatives other is not used:
He is the best of all the boys (not, all other boys). The Himalayas are the highest of all mountains.
Rule-10: Latin Comparatives Followed by To
The Comparatives (originally Latin), inferior, junior, prior, senior, superior are followed by 'to', not by 'than' :
He is inferior to you in strength. You are junior to him in service. He is superior to you in every respect. He is senior to you in service.
Rule-11: Comparatives Followed Neither by Than Nor by To
former, latter, hinder, upper, inner, outer, elder, utter, etc. These are followed by of when selection is implied:
He got the upper hand. I am a member of the upper of the two chambers. He is a former teacher of this school. I want the former of the two.
Rule-12: The Use of "That" in Comparisons
The use of that in such comparisons as the following should be carefully noted:
Ram's house is better than that of Jadu. The brother of Karim is taller than that of Abdul. The population of India is larger than that of France. His name is as familiar as that of your brother.
If the first sentence were written as, "Ram's house is better than Jadu", it would have meant a comparison between Ram's house and Jadu, as man,—an absurdity. Similarly, in other sentences.
Conversely, note the absence of that in the following:
India is larger than France. The Indus is longer than the Ganga. I love your brother as much as Jadu.
Rule-13: Superlatives, Absolute Superlatives, and "Any"
- (a) Superlatives are generally preceded by the and followed by of, except when they are qualified by possessive pronouns or when they qualify the vocative case: He is the wisest of the brothers. He is my dearest friend. Dearest friend, come here at once.
- (b) The Absolute Superlative, or Superlative of Eminence — The Superlative, often with a most, is sometimes used to express a very great degree of a quality, with no idea of comparison: It is a most interesting book. He is a most wicked man. He received me in the politest way.
- (c) Superlative with "any" — We often have such sentences as: He is the most popular of any man here. The Americans are the richest of any people in the world. Though not strictly grammatical, the usage has come to stay.
Rule-14: Avoiding Double Comparatives or Superlatives
Double Comparatives or Superlatives should not be used. We should say: I am happier (not, more happier) than he. He is the noblest (not, the most noblest) of the brothers.
Rule-15: Adjectives of Different Degrees
Adjectives of different degrees cannot be joined by and :
Incorrect : He is the strongest and very tall boy in the class.
Correct : He is the strongest and tallest boy in class.
Incorrect: This town is more populous and very prosperous.
Correct: This town is more populous and more prosperous. Or, This town is very populous and very prosperous.
Rule-16: Uses of Specific Adjectives Explained
- (a) Which and what may be used for persons and things in all genders and numbers: Which book or books do you want? What boy or boys can o it? Which man or men will go ?
- (b) Either means (i) one or other of two, or (ii) each of two, and is followed by a singular noun. This can be done in either way (one way or the other). There are towns on either bank (i.e., both banks) of the Ganga.
- (c) Neither means not either, (i.e., not the one and not the other), and is followed by a singular noun: I want neither pen.
- (d) Preferable has a comparative force, and hence does not require more before it. It is followed by to. Thus, we should write : Health is preferable (not more preferable) to riches.
- (e) Each and Every are followed by the singular number. In phrases like every three hours, every = each group of.
NOTE: Do not use the comparative degree after the word Comparatively, which in itself contains the idea of comparison. Thus, write, "I am comparatively well (not better) today." "He is comparatively rich."
Rule-17: Adjectives Used as Nouns
An Adjective is sometimes used as a Noun in the following cases:
- (a) As an Abstract Noun (singular): He is a lover of the good (=goodness in general) and the true (=truth in general).
- (b) As a Common Noun denoting a whole class it is then preceded by the, and has a plural sense: The rich (=rich persons) are not always happy. The brave (=brave persons) deserve rewards.
- (c) As a name for some particular part of a thing: He was given the white (=the white portion) of an egg. He entered into the thick (=thickest parts) of the forest.
- (d) As a complete noun: Respect your betters. A few other Adjectives of this kind are Indians, Europeans, Moderates, Liberals, mortals, nobles, etc. They take the possessive inflexion and the plural sign like other Nouns.
- (e) In a number of phrases: at all, at last, at present, in general, in short, in secret, before long, for good, for better, on high, from bad to worse, the long and the short, in black and white, etc.
Rule-18: Nouns Used as Adjectives
Nouns are often used as Adjectives (Epithet Nouns): a letter box, a gold ring, a goods train, the summer vacation, etc.
Rule-19: Position of Adjectives
- (a) The Position of Adjective: A single Adjective used attributively is generally placed before the noun it qualifies: a good man; the white horse; ten men; a large army.
- (b) Exceptions: But the Adjective is often placed after the noun:
- (i) In poetry: "He sang to lords and ladies gay." "Shepherds all and maidens fair."
- (ii) For the sake of emphasis: This will bring on miseries untold. Asoke the Great; Richard the Lion-hearted.
- (iii) Where the adjective has some qualifying words or phrase : He is a man rich in resources. This is a house too big for my purpose. This horse, more beautiful than yours, belongs to him.
- (iv) When several Adjectives qualify the same noun: There dwelt a miller hale and bold. I want a boy, honest, industrious and active. The captain, fearless and resolute, charged the enemy.
- (v) In some phrases: Time immemorial, body politic, heir apparent, Viceroy designate, President elect, Knight errant, Lords Spiritual, Lords Temporal, sum total, God Almighty.
EXERCISE FOR PRACTICE
Key Takeaways
- Adjectives change forms through positive, comparative, and superlative degrees to express varied levels of quality or quantity.
- One-syllable adjectives typically take -er and -est, while multi-syllable adjectives require more and most.
- Latin comparatives like senior and junior are followed by "to" rather than "than."
- Double comparatives and superlative constructions must be strictly avoided.
Quick Practice
Try your hand at these quick grammar exercises and drop your answers in the comments section below:
- Write the comparative and superlative forms of the adjective happy.
- Correct this sentence if needed: "He is senior than me."
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the three degrees of comparison?
The three degrees of comparison are the positive degree (simplest form, e.g., tall), the comparative degree (comparing two things, e.g., taller), and the superlative degree (comparing more than two things, e.g., tallest).
Which words follow Latin comparatives instead of "than"?
Latin comparatives such as inferior, junior, prior, senior, and superior are followed by "to" instead of "than."
Can all adjectives be compared?
No, adjectives expressing shape, material, time, or absolute qualities (such as round, square, golden, eternal, or complete) cannot be compared.