List of Degree of Adjectives in English - Definition, Infographics and PDF

List of Degree of Adjectives PDF!

Table of Contents

What is an adjective?

Adjectives are words that describe nouns. Basically, an adjective describes or modifies noun/s and pronoun/s in a sentence, primarily by describing a particular quality of the word they are modifying.

What are Degrees of Adjectives?

Adjectives have three degrees that compare one thing to another, positive degree, comparative degree, and superlative degree. To describe, quantify, modify or identify nouns/pronouns, adjectives are used in specific conditions.

Here are the three degrees of adjectives:

Positive Degree
Comparative Degree
Superlative Degree

Positive degree

‘Positive degree’ simply expressed the quality of a person, place or things.

Examples:

(a) Ali is a brave boy.

(b) Sana is a good student.

(d) They are bad boys.

Comparative degree

A degree of adjective which is used to compare two personality or things or their qualities is called ‘comparative Degree’

Examples:

(a) She is brave than her friend.

(b) Prevention is better than cure.

Superlative Degree

A degree of adjectives compare more than two personality or things or their qualities is called ‘superlative degree’.

Examples:

(a) This is a most interesting book.

(b) Jan is the wisest boy in the class.

Degree of Adjectives

Rules to make a degree of adjectives

Rule No. 1.

Most one-syllable adjectives and some two-syllable adjectives from the “comparative degree” by adding “er” to the positive degree, and the “superlative degree” by adding “est” to the positive degree.

Positive	Comparative	Superlative
Poor	poorer	poorest
Clever	cleverer	cleverest
Quick	quicker	quickest
Young	younger	youngest
Cheap	cheaper	cheapest
Tall	taller	tallest
Black	blacker	blackest
Weak	weaker	weakest
High	higher	highest
Warm	warmer	warmest
Short	shorter	shortest
Large	larger	largest
Long	longer	longest
Old	older	oldest
Clean	cleaner	cleanest
Strong	stronger	strongest
Brave	braver	bravest
Small	smaller	smallest
Great	greater	greatest
Able	abler	ablest

Rule No. 2.

If the positive form is a one-syllable word that ends in a single consonant followed by a single vowel, the consonant is doubled before “er” and “est” are added.

Positive	Comparative	Superlative
Sad	sadder	saddest
Glad	gladder	gladdest
Dim	dimmer	dimmest
Hot	hotter	hottest
Fat	fatter	fattest
Thin	thinner	thinnest
Big	bigger	biggest

Rules No.3.

If the positive form ends in a “y” followed by a consonant, the “y” is transformed to a “I” before “er” or “est” is added.

Positive	Comparative	Superlative
Heavy	heavier	heaviest
Happy	happier	happiest
Easy	easier	easiest
Busy	busies	busiest

Rules No.4.

By adding “more” and “most” before the positive degree, most adjectives with two or more syllables can be converted to comparative and superlative degrees.

Positive	Comparative	Superlative
Useful	more useful	most useful
Powerful	more powerful	most powerful
Honest	more honest	most honest
Famous	more famous	most famous
Difficult	more difficult	most difficult
Comfortable	more comfortable	most comfortable
Beautiful	more beautiful	most beautiful
Active	more active	most active

Some adjectives make their degrees in an irregular manner.

Positive	Comparative	Superlative
Up	upper	uppermost
Much	more	most
Good	batter	best
Many	more	most
Little	less	least
Bad	worse	worst