Comparison in Adjectives  Explained 

Comparison in adjectives, also known as degrees of comparison in adjectives, refers to the various levels of comparing nouns. Adjectives are words that describe, qualify, and modify nouns or elements that function as nouns in sentences and they can be compared in three ways, namely;

1. Positive degree

2. Comparative degree

3. Superlative degree

Positive degree

The positive degree is a level of comparison of adjectives at the base form. This can also be known as zero comparison as it simply refers to an adjective at its base level. For example;

1. Happy

2. Kind

3. Smart

4. Weak

5. Ebullient

Comparative degree

This is a level of comparison that involves the comparison of two or more objects in a sentence. The comparative form of an adjective is created by adding the bound morpheme -er to a base form adjective. For example; stronger, smarter, faster, greater, funnier as in;

1. He is smarter than the other boys.

2. She is faster than you.

3. She is better than you at maths.

4. You look nicer than the other girls.

5. The building is taller than ours.

The comparative form can also be achieved when "more" is placed before polysyllabic adjectives in their base forms. For example;

1. Dola is more handsome than James.

2. Jasmine is more creative than you think.

3. Luthor more inspiring than the other villains.

4. He is more daring than his brothers.

5. She is more articulate than the lecturer.

Superlative Adjective 

This is the form of comparison, or degree of comparison used when an adjective is at an extreme position. By this, what is meant is that the superlative form is the form an adjective assumes when it is at the highest or lowest degree possible. It is formed by adding the bound morpheme -est to an adjective in its base form. For example; fastest, luckiest, sweetest, mildest, etc. As in;

1. He is the greatest king to walk the earth.

2. She is the youngest child here. 

3. He has the smoothest palms ever.

4. Rachael's skin is the softest.

5. Maddie is the prettiest girl in the class. 

The superlative form can also be achieved by adding "more" before polysyllabic adjectives (adjectives with more than two syllables) in their base form for example;

1. It is the most interesting book I've read.

2. He is the most careful person I've met.

3. They have the most amazing view of the moon.

4. She has the most disturbing theory of evolution.

5. It is the least Interesting movie I've ever watched.

You would also notice that such superlative forms are always preceded by the definite article: the, in sentences.

Related posts:

• Comparing Adjectives with Determiners
• Restrictive clauses vs Non restrictive clauses