Degrees of Comparison

Definition: An adjective can draw a comparison between two or more things when describing, modifying, or quantifying nouns or
pronouns in a sentence. Degree refers to the intensity, comparison, or superlative quality of an adjective. It enables us to compare
and contrast various entities or describe something in relation to others.

একটি বিশেষণ একটি িাশকে বিশেষে িা সিনাশের

ব িণনা,
ব পবরির্বন িা পবরোপ করার সেয় দুটি িা র্শর্াবিক জিবনশসর েশিে র্ু লনা করশর্ পাশর। বিগ্রী একটি বিশেষণ
এর র্ীব্রর্া, র্ু লনা, িা উচ্চ গুণোন বিাঝায়। এটি আোশদরশক বিবিন্ন সত্তার র্ু লনা এিং বিসাদৃেে িা অনেশদর সাশে সম্পবকবর্ বকছু িণনা
ব করশর্ সক্ষে কশর।

Three degrees of comparison

 Positive Degree: When an adjective defines or describes only one thing without drawing any comparison between it and
another thing, it is known as a positive degree. Example, the weather is beautiful today.
 Comparative Degree: When comparing one noun or pronoun to another, comparative degree is applied. Only two things
are being compared in these cases. Words like ‘than’ and ‘to’ are used after a comparative adjective.
 Superlative Degree: Superlative degree is used to compare two or more nouns. An article ‘the’ is used before a superlative
degree when modifying a particular noun.

Usual structure of various degrees

Positive : Obj + v + as/ so + adj + as + sub
Comparative : Sub/obj + v + adj + than + obj/sub
Superlative : Sub/obj + v + the + adj + obj/sub

Several changes in different degrees:

Positive Degree Comparative Degree Superlative Degree

Very few (Plural) than most other/than many other one of the
No other (Singular) than any other the
No other (Singular) than all/than all other the (adjective Gi ci of all)
Object than Not applicable

Affirmative → Negative
Negative → Affirmative

Less --- than _vK‡j

 as/so ----- as n‡e|
 Affirmative – Negative
 Negative – Affirmative
 Subject Ges Object Gi †Kvb cwieZ©b n‡e bv|

Less ----- than any other _vK‡j

 at least as/so ------ as any other n‡e|
 Affirmative – Negative
 Negative – Affirmative
 Subject Ges Object Gi †Kvb cwieZ©b n‡e bv|

Important Notes:
My + Obj → Mine
Your + Obj → Yours
Our + Obj → Ours
Her + Obj → Hers
Their + Obj → Theirs
His + Obj → His
This + Obj → This
That + Obj → That
Adjectives in different degrees
Adjectives with two forms of inflection
Besides some adjectives that just don’t follow the rules, there are also some adjectives that can follow the rules of either category.
However, certain forms are often preferred over others in most contexts, and the validity and correctness of some forms are
debated.
Positive Degree Comparative Degree Superlative Degree

clever cleverer/more clever cleverest/ most clever

common commoner/more common commonest/most common

gentle gentler/more gentle gentlest/most gentle

hollow hollower/more hollow hollowest/most hollow

humble humbler/more humble humblest/most humble

likely likelier/more likely likeliest/most likely

narrow narrower/more narrow narrowest/most narrow

polite politer/more polite politest/most polite

quiet quieter/more quiet quietest/most quiet

simple simpler/more simple simplest/most simple

stupid stupider/more stupid stupidest/most stupid

Note: Some Latin Comparatives are widely used in English Language. In comparative degree ‘than’ is used after adjectives
but in these Latin Comparatives ‘to’ is used after adjective instead of ‘than’. The words are given below:

Anterior Superior Junior

Posterior Inferior Senior
Exterior Interior Minor
Ulterior Prior Major

Example: I am junior to Flora

The quality of the mangoes is inferior to that.