Degrees of Comparison

Degrees of comparison, also known as the degrees of adjectives, refer to the different forms of an adjective that indicate the level or degree of a quality possessed by a noun. There are three degrees of comparison:

• Positive Degree: It is the basic form of an adjective. It is used to describe one thing or person.

Example: She is a good singer.

• Comparative Degree: It is used to compare two things or people. It is typically formed by adding er to the adjective or using more before it.

Example: She is a better singer than her sister.

• Superlative Degree: It is used to compare more than two things or people and to show the

highest degree. It is typically formed by adding est to the adjective or using most before it. Example: She is the best singer in the choir. •

Irregular Forms: Some adjectives have irregular comparative and superlative forms. Example: good, better, best

• "Than" in Comparatives: When using comparatives, the word than is commonly used to make the comparison clear.

Example: She is taller than her brother.

• Use of Articles: In superlatives, articles like the are often used before the adjective to indicate the highest degree.

Example: He is the tallest boy in the class.

• Comparing Equal Qualities: Use as + adjective + as to express equality in comparison

Example: She is as tall as her friend.

• Comparing for Cause and Effect: It is used to show a direct relationship between two things or actions, where changes in one correlate with changes in the other.

Example: The harder you study, the higher your grades will be.

Exercise C

Fill in with the appropriate degrees of adjectives to complete the sentences:

1. The (tall) giraffe in the zoo was named Henry.

2. This problem seems

(difficult) than the one we solved yeste (beautiful) artwork in the school exhib 3. Maria's drawing is the

4. My little sister is

(young) than me, but she's very smart. .... (exciting) adventure I've ever been on. 5. That was the

6. Your handwriting is (neat) in the class.

7. The (friendly) cat in the neighbourhood loves to be petted.

8. This is the (important) lesson we'll learn this semester.

9. His answer was the ....(correct) one in the quiz.

10. The (old) book in the library is a rare manuscript.

Exercise D

Read the bio data of Sarah and Emily given below. Then, fill in the blanks in the

passage using Comparative Degree.

Sarah

Emily

Name: Sarah

Age: 15 years

Height: 5 feet 2 inches

Weight: 115 pounds

Favourite Subject: Mathematics

Hobbies: playing basketball, reading books

Name: Emily

Age: 15 years

Height: 5 feet 4 inches

Weight: 120 pounds

Favourite Subject: English

Hobbies: playing tennis, writing stories

Fill in the gaps with the right forms for comparatives:

Sarah and Emily are both 15 years old. Sarah is (short) than Emily. She is only 5 feet 2 inches tall while Emily is 5 feet 4 inches tall. However, Sarah is (thin) than Emily. She weighs only 115 pounds while Emily weighs 120 pounds. Sarah's favourite subject is Mathematics, and she is likes English more. In fact, Sarah is playing tennis and writing stories. However, Emily is (good) at it than Emily, who (good) at Mathematics than anyone (fast) than Emily on the basketball court

else in her class. Sarah also runs Sarah's hobbies are playing basketball and reading books, while Emily's hobbies are (creative) than Sarah

when it comes to writing stories.

Exercise E

Complete each sentence by using as + adjective + as to express equality in comparisons:

1. The laptop is 2. This restaurant is (expensive) the desktop computer.

(popular) the one downtown.

3. The movie was (exciting) the book

4. The twins are (identical) each other

5. The new phone is

(powerful) the old one.

6. My cat is

(playful) your dog

7. His performance was 8. The two teams are

(impressive) hers.

9. The coffee at this cafe is (friendly) his sister

10. Mark is

(skilled) each other.

Exercise F

Fill in the blanks with the correct degree of adjectives to make meaningful sentences:

1. The harder you study, the

(good) you will understand the material.

2. The more you practise playing the piano, the

(much) your skills will improve.

3. The

(early) you wake up in the morning, the more you can finish your tasks.

4. The

(fast (little) junk food you eat, the better your health will improve.

) you run, the (soon) you will reach the finish line.

5. The

(close) you get to the deadline, the (high) the

6. The

7. The higher you turn up the volume, the

(loud) the music will become.

pressure becomes.

8. The be outside ......(low) the temperature drops, the more dangerous it becomes to

9. The more you invest, the (great) the potential returns.

10. The more you read, the......... (broad) your vocabulary becomes.

20. the coffee at this cafe is....... (delicious) the one I had yesterday.