Degrees of Adjectives

Degrees of adjectives refer to the different forms of an adjective used to indicate the level or intensity of a quality or attribute.

Types of Degrees of Adjectives 

There are three degrees of adjectives: 

1. Positive degree, 

2. Comparative degree, and 

3. Superlative degree

Rules of Degree of Adjectives

Positive Degree: The positive degree is the simplest form of an adjective used to describe a noun without making any comparison.

        Example: The cat is cute.

Comparative Degree: The comparative degree is used to compare two nouns or two sets of nouns. There are three main rules for forming the comparative degree:

        For short adjectives (one or two syllables), add "-er" to the end of the adjective.

        Example: The cat is cuter than the dog.

        For long adjectives (more than two syllables), use "more" before the adjective.

        Example: The cat is more beautiful than the dog.

        For adjectives ending in "y," change the "y" to "i" before adding "-er."

        Example: The cat is happier than the dog.

Superlative Degree: The superlative degree is used to compare one noun or one set of nouns with all others in a group. Here are the rules for forming the superlative degree:

        For short adjectives (one or two syllables), add "-est" to the end of the adjective.

        Example: The cat is the cutest in the litter.

        For long adjectives (more than two syllables), use "most" before the adjective.

        Example: The cat is the most beautiful in the litter.

        For adjectives ending in "y," change the "y" to "i" before adding "-est."

        Example: The cat is the happiest in the litter.

For adjectives of one syllable ending in a single vowel followed by a single consonant, double the final consonant before adding "-er" or "-est" in the comparative and superlative degrees, respectively.

        Example: big - bigger - biggest, hot - hotter - hottest, sad - sadder - saddest

For adjectives of two syllables ending in "-y," the "-y" is changed to "i" before adding "-er" or "-est" in the comparative and superlative degrees, respectively.

        Example: happy - happier - happiest, pretty - prettier - prettiest, funny - funnier - funniest

For adjectives of two or more syllables, use "more" before the adjective in the comparative degree and "most" before the adjective in the superlative degree.

        Example: interesting - more interesting - most interesting, beautiful - more beautiful - most beautiful, intelligent - more intelligent - most intelligent

Some adjectives have irregular comparative and superlative forms that need to be memorized.

        Example: good - better - best, bad - worse - worst, little - less - least, far - farther/further - farthest/furthest

Some adjectives have irregular comparative and superlative forms that are entirely different words.

        Example: good - better - best, bad - worse - worst, many/much - more - most, little - less - least

Remember to consider the number of syllables and the ending of the adjective when forming the comparative and superlative degrees.

List of Adjectives that follow the regular pattern of adding "-er" for the comparative form and "-est" for the superlative form:

Additional list of Adjectives that are adding "-er" for the comparative form and "-est" for the superlative form:

More lost of Adjectives that add "-er" for the comparative form and "-est" for the superlative form: