Degrees of comparision

Degrees of comparison. How to change sentences from one degree to another degree, what are the rules to be followed have been discussed. Types of degrees and models of degrees have been discussed. There are four models but mostly three models used.

1. Adjectives : Degrees of Comparison Dr.T.Ramesh Babu Assistant Professor (A), Department of H&SS, JNTUA College of Engineering Pulivendula

2. Degrees of Comparison The Degrees of Comparison in English grammar are made with the adjective and adverb words to show how big or small, high or low, more or less, many or few etc. of the qualities, numbers and positions of the nouns ( persons, places and things) in comparison to the mentioned in another part of a sentence or expression. An adjective is a word which qualifies (shows how big or small, high or low, more or less, many or few etc.) a noun or a pronoun in a given sentence .

3. Degrees of Comparison We can use adjectives to compare objects, animals, people or ideas [ the quality of a particular Noun to that of another particular Noun] . These are called degrees of comparison There are three kinds of Degrees of Comparison in English. When we use an adjective to describe just one object, person, etc., we call this the P ositive D egree . For example: Rani is strong. When we use an adjective to compare two objects, people, etc., we call this the comparative degree .

4. Degrees of Comparison An adjective can be attributive ( comes before a noun) or predicative ( comes under predicate part) Eg . Ravi is a tall man.(‘tall-adjective –attributive) This man is tall.(‘tall’- adjective predicative) An adverb is a word which adds to the meaning of the main verb (how it is done, when it is done etc.) of a sentence or expression. It normally ends with ‘ ly ’ but there are some adverbs that are without ‘ ly ’. eg . Rani ate her lunch quickly. Rajesh speaks clearly. They write fast.

5. Degrees of Comparison We use comparison to convey the thought clearly. We make statement about a person / place/ thing as matter of fact or it appears. We make a positive statement. These statements are said to be in the positive / plain degree. ‘This watermelon is sweet’. Here, we speak about a watermelon and its quality of sweetness without indicating how sweet it is. There is no point of reference.

6. Degrees of Comparison 2. The other type of statement is when we compare two things to indicate which is better than the other. ‘ This watermelon is sweeter than that watermelon’. Here , we have the watermelons and we compare the sweetness of one against another to convey that ‘this’ watermelon is sweeter than ‘that’ watermelon. Now, we get a clear picture and we normally will choose the sweeter watermelon. These statements are said to be in ComparativeDegree , because they compare two persons/places/things.

7. Degrees of Comparison A statement that compares two things is said to be Comparative Degree. 3. Finally, when we have more than two things to convey a thought, that one among the many is the superior among them, we give a different type of statement. It helps us to choose the best among the many things. If we have three mangoes, how do we say which is the best in terms of taste? When more than three things are present, if we say ‘This is sweeter, we will find it difficult to understand to which of the remaining two is ‘sweeter’. Therefore , we use ‘Superlative’.

8. Degrees of Comparison When more than two persons/places/things are to be compared, we use a form of statement, that points out which is the best or superior to other persons/places/things. These types of statements are said to be in ‘Superlative Degree’. Eg . This is the sweetest watermelon. Therefore, there are three types of comparison. Positive : When we make an absolute or matter of fact statement.

9. Degrees of Comparison Comparative: When we make a comparison between two or more persons/places/things . Superlative : When we make a statement, when more than two persons/places/things are involved. The three degrees are: 1) Positive Degree 2) Comparative Degree 3) Superlative Degree

10. Degrees of Comparison 1 ) Positive Degree: The adjective will be in the singular form and it is used to denote the mere existence of some quality of what we speak about. It is used where no comparison is made. Plain adjective (without ‘ er ’/’ est ’ or ‘more/most’ not used) should be used. Ex: R.K. Narayan is a popular writer. Explanation: When the mere quality of a noun is said, the adjective is said to be in positive degree.

11. Degrees of Comparison 2) Comparative Degree: When an Adjective is in comparison in between two Nouns of the same quality, the adjective is said to be in Comparative Degree. In the Comparative Degree ‘ er ’ is added to the adjective. And a many syllable word takes ‘ more ’ before it. (Ex: more beautiful, more important, more interesting etc.) NOTE: Article ‘the’ is not used before the adjective in Comparative Degree . Ex: Kolkata is larger than Mumbai. Cricket is more interesting game than football.

12. Degrees of Comparison 3) Superlative Degree: When the comparison is among more than two nouns, the adjective is said to be in Superlative Degree . In Superlative Degree, ‘- est ’ is added to the adjective. If the word has many syllables, the adjective takes ‘ most ’ before the adjective. And the Definite article, ‘the’ is used before the adjective in Superlative Adjective . Ex: the best, the greatest, the most popular. Ex: Mount Everest is the highest peak in the world .

13. Degrees of Comparison The rules to form comparatives and superlatives: 1. One syllable adjective ending in a silent ‘e’ –nice. Comparative - add ‘r’ - nicer Superlative - add ‘ st ’ – nicest 2. One syllable adjective ending in one vowel and one consonant –big Comparative - the consonant is doubled and ‘ er ’ added - bigger Superlative - the consonant is doubled and ‘ est ’ is added – biggest.

14. Degrees of Comparison 3.One syllable adjective ending in more than one consonant or more than a vowel- high, cheap Comparative - ‘- er ’ is added - higher, cheaper Superlative - ‘- est ’ is added - highest, cheapest 4. A two syllable adjective ending in ‘Y’ – happy Comparative - ‘y’ becomes ‘ i ’ and ‘ er ’ is added - happier Superlative - ‘y’ becomes ‘ i ’ and ‘ est ’ is added -happiest

15. Degrees of Comparison 5. Two or more syllabled adjectives without ‘y’ at the end – exciting Comparative – more+ the adjective + than –more exciting than Superlative - most+ the adjective + than – the most exciting

16. Degrees of Comparison Irregular comparatives and superlatives: Adjectives Comparatives Superlatives bad worse worst far ( distance) farther farthest far ( extent ) further furthest good better best little less least many more most much more most

17. Degrees of Comparison INTERCHANGE OF THE DEGREES OF COMPARISON: Interchanging the sentences in one degree to another degree: To interchange a sentence to another, it is very easy to follow the rules and regulations. For this, there are 3 models to change positive degree to comparative or superlative Degree. These 3 models are depended on structures. Every model has 3 structures except the 3 rd model. In the third model, there is no superlative degree. Ex: 1. No Other peak in the world is so high as Mount Everest. 2.Very few countries in the world are as great as India. 3. Some cities are at least as big as London. 4. Italy is not so great as India.

18. Degrees of Comparison Models: Positive Comparative Superlative Model:1 No other... As good as better than any other the best Model:2 Very few .... As good as better than most other one of the best Model:3 Not so good as better than no superlative Note: When the comparison is between two. There is no superlative degree.

19. Degrees of Comparison (PD: Positive Degree, CD: Comparative Degree, SD: Superlative Degree) Model: I PD: No other + Singular Noun + Phrase + Singular Verb + So (adjective) as + Subject CD : Subject + Verb + Adjective ( er /more) +than any other + Singular Noun +Phrase SD: Subject+ Verb + Definite Article(the) +Adjective ( est /most) +Noun + Phrase Ex: 1. No other poet in English is so popular as Shakespeare . (P.D) 2. The USA is stronger than any other nation in the world. (C.D) 3.. Kashmir is the most beautiful place in India. (S.D)

20. Degrees of Comparison Model II : PD: Very few + Plural Noun + Phrase+ Plural Verb (are/were) +as------as+ Subject CD : Subject + Verb + Adjective (- er /more ) + than many/ other + plural noun + Phrase SD: Subject + Verb + one of the +Adjective (- est /most )+plural noun +Phrase Ex: 1. India is one of the greatest countries in the world. (S.D) 2. Vani is cleverer than many other girls in our class (C.D) 3. Very few rivers in India are as long as the Godavari . ( P.D)

21. Degrees of Comparison MODEL III : CD : Subject(I) + Verb + Adjective (- er /more ) + than + Subject (II) PD : Subject (II) + Verb + not + so….as +Subject (I) ***Note: In this model, we don’t have the Superlative Degree. Ex: 1. Sheela is cleverer than Leela . ( C.D) 2. Gopal is not so strong as Bheema .(P.D) 3. Sword is not so mighty as pen. (P.D.) 4. Mysore is more beautiful than Bangalore. ( C.D)

22. Degrees of Comparison The following Adjectives are compared irregularly, that is, their Comparative and Superlatives 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

23. Degrees of Comparison Old -- older, elder -- oldest, eldest Far -- farther -- farthest (Nigh) -- ( nigher ) -- ( nighest ), next (Fore) -- (former) -- foremost, first ( Far) -- further -- furthest (In) -- inner -- inmost, innermost (Up) -- upper -- upmost, uppermost (Out) -- outer, (utter) -- utmost, uttermost

24. Degrees of Comparison Assignment: 1 Change the Degree of Comparison, without changing the meaning: 1. Malacca is the oldest town in Malaysia. 2. Soya beans are at least as nutritious as meat. 3. No other planet is so big as Jupiter. 4. Very few boys are as industrious as Latif . 5. He would sooner die than tell a lie. 6. India is the largest democracy in the world. 7. Shakespeare is greater than any other English poet. 8. Samudra Gupta was one of the greatest of Indian Kings. 9. The tiger is the most ferocious of all animals. 10. Australia is the largest island in the world. 11. Lead is heavier than any other metal. 12. Some people have more money than brains. 13. A wise enemy is better than a foolish friend. 14. I know him quite as well as you do. 15.Dhoni is one of the most successful captains.

25. Please feel free to ask queries? Thank You