Degrees of comparison are the different inflections of adjectives used to compare the qualities and characteristics of multiple nouns. There are three degrees of comparison, although technically the first degree actually indicates a lack of any comparison. The positive degree of comparison is the basic form of an adjective used for describing one noun. The comparative degree is the form an adjective takes when comparing two nouns. The superlative degree is the form of an adjective used to show the greatest or least display of a characteristic within a group of three or more nouns.

Positive Degree

The positive degree is the basic form of an adjective used for describing a single noun. No modification of the adjective is required to form the positive degree.

Teddy likes the red truck.

Sue wrote a very long research paper.

Mr. Allen is a very nice man.

Comparative Degree

The comparative degree is where things start to get interesting. We generally form the comparative degree of an adjective by adding “-er” to the end of it or by placing “more” or “less” before it. For adjectives having only one syllable and adjectives having two syllables and ending with “y,” we form the comparative degree by adding “-er” according to the appropriate spelling rules:

1. For one-syllable adjectives with a final consonant preceded by one vowel, we must double the final consonant and add “-er.”
2. For one-syllable adjectives having two vowels or another consonant before the final consonant, we simply add “-er” without doubling the final consonant.
3. For one- or two- syllable adjectives that already end in “e,” we simply add “r.”
4. For two-syllable adjectives ending in “y,” we simply change the “y” to “i” and add “-er.”

Spelling Rule	Positive Degree	Comparative Degree
1	big	bigger
2	smart	smarter
3	strange	stranger
4	angry	angrier

For two-syllable adjectives not ending in “y” and adjectives that are longer than three syllables, we form the comparative degree by placing “more” or “less” before the adjective.

Positive Degree	Comparative Degree
graceful	more/less graceful
interesting	more/less interesting
generous	more/less generous
impressive	more/less impressive

Superlative Degree

The superlative degree is generally formed by adding “-est” to the end of the adjective or by putting “most” or “least” in front of it. We use the same categorizations and spelling rules as we do with the comparative degree. For adjectives having only one syllable and adjectives having two syllables and ending with “y,” we form the comparative degree by adding “-est” according to the appropriate spelling rules:

1. For one-syllable adjectives with a final consonant preceded by one vowel, we must double the final consonant and add “-est.”
2. For one-syllable adjectives having two vowels or another consonant before the final consonant, we simply add “-est” without doubling the final consonant.
3. For one- or two-syllable adjectives that already end in “e,” we simply add “st.”
4. For two-syllable adjectives ending in “y,” we simply change the “y” to “i” and add “-est.”

Spelling Rule	Positive Degree	Comparative Degree	Superlative Degree
1	big	bigger	biggest
2	smart	smarter	smartest
3	strange	stranger	strangest
4	angry	angrier	angriest

For two-syllable adjectives not ending in “y” and adjectives that are longer than three syllables, we form the comparative degree by placing “most” or “least” before the adjective.

Positive Degree	Comparative Degree	Superlative Degree
graceful	more/less graceful	most/least graceful
interesting	more/less interesting	most/least interesting
generous	more/less generous	most/least generous
impressive	more/less impressive	most/least impressive

Irregular Adjectives

As frustrating as it may be, there are always some words that just don’t follow the rules. Some adjectives that would seem to fit neatly into one of the categories above are inflected differently than we might expect. Some common irregular adjectives include:

Positive Degree	Comparative Degree	Superlative Degree
good/well	better	best
bad/ill	worse	worst
fun	more/less fun	most/least fun
little	less	least
many	more	most

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

Adjectives Without Logical Inflections

There are certain adjectives that cannot be logically compared, although we often compare them anyway. For example, something must either be perfect or not. If something is perfect, it cannot be more or less perfect. If it is anything less than perfect, then it simply cannot be described as perfect. The same goes with “unique.” If something is unique, it is the only one of its kind. As it is the only one of its kind, it cannot be more or less unique than something else.

We run into similar problems with shapes and measurements. Technically speaking, something is either square, or it is not. A square must meet precise specifications. If its sides are not congruent or its angles are not all 90 degrees, then it is not square. “straight” works the same way. If something is anything less than straight, however slightly, then it is crooked.

Despite the logical dilemmas we unwittingly create, we often use contradictory comparisons like these in everyday speech without anyone noticing. However, illogical comparisons are best avoided in professional and academic writing.

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