What are adjectives of degree?

Grammar Toolkit

Adjectives of degree

Grammar Toolkit

Adjectives of degree

Adjectives of degree show how things compare with each other.

the positive degree

the superlative degree, for

comparing three or more things

the comparative degree, for

comparing two things

taller

tall

tallest

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Adjectives of degree

What are the different adjectives of degree?

Positive degree Comparative degree Superlative degree

small smaller

wild

sad

safer

luckiest

smallest

wildestwilder

sadder saddest

safest

luckierlucky

safe

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Adjectives of degree

For adjectives of one syllable, add r or er to make the comparative degree and est to make

the superlative degree.slow slower slowest

For some adjectives of two syllables, also add er and est.

easy easier easiest

For most adjectives of two syllables — and for all longer adjectives — add more to make the comparative degree and

most to make the superlative degree.

narrow narrower narrowest

active more active most active

beautiful more beautiful most beautiful

Adjectives that already end in a suffix always get more and most.

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Adjectives of degree

Add er or est to these sentences.Alice’s drink is cold____ than mine.This is the tough____ meat I’ve tasted.That was the silli_____ film I have ever seen.

Add more or most to these sentences.

You couldn’t be _______ nervous than me.The _______ poisonous spider in the world comes from Brazil.Steffi does want to go skating but Voula is a lot _______ eager.

erestest

mostmore

more

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Adjectives of degree

Some adjectives are irregular — they don’t follow a pattern.

Positive degree Comparative degree Superlative degree

good

bad

many

little

best

worstworse

more most

least

better

less

Some adjectives cannot be compared because they describe something that cannot be changed.dead perfect excellent priceless unique right round

Grammar Toolkit

Adjectives of degree

• An adjective describes a noun or pronoun. • Adjectives of degree show how things compare with each

other. There are three degrees of comparison: positive (one thing), comparative (to compare two things) and superlative (to compare three or more things).

• There are rules for forming adjectives of degree (e.g. wide, wider, widest), but irregular adjectives don’t follow the rules (e.g. good, better, best).

• Some adjectives don’t have comparative and superlative degrees (e.g. excellent).

• In the following sentence, the adjectives of degree are red: I am faster than Jake, but Olly is the fastest player in our team.

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Adjectives of degree

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