Degrees of Comparison: What They Are and How To Use Them

Do you know what the degrees of comparison are? This article will provide you with all of the information you need on degrees of comparison, including its definition, usage, example sentences, and more!

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What are superlatives?

According to Your Dictionary, degrees of comparison are used to compare similar things with different qualities. Superlative adjectives and comparative adjectives, are used to compare one noun to another noun, create the comparative form and superlative degrees of adjectives. We often think of these as “er” and “est” adjectives for regular adjectives, but for irregular adjectives, the comparative degree might present differently. 

If the adjective ends in “y” you must first swap that for an “i” before adding -est. If the adjective has a consonant + single vowel + consonant spelling, the final consonant is doubled before adding the ending. The superlative form or superlative degree would be considered the “most” or “est.” This also often changes with one-syllable adjectives and two-syllable adjectives. These statements can be used to a positive degree or negative degree. 

One can use the positive degree of an adjective or the negative comparative degree of an adjective to compare it to other things in the simple form. A positive degree of comparison uses a positive adjective in its varying degrees of comparison.

What are degree of comparison examples?

Superlatives and comparatives can be used in many different contexts in the English language. Trying to use a word or literary technique in a sentence is one of the best ways to memorize what it is, but you can also try making flashcards or quizzes that test your knowledge. Try using this term of the day in a sentence today! Below are a couple of examples of superlatives and comparatives from Your Dictionary, Your Dictionary, Grammarly and EF that can help get you started incorporating this tool into your everyday use. 

  •  My date was the biggest catfish I’ve ever met. 
  •  I am the shortest person in my family.
  •  Andy drew a better blue bird and robin than Einstein.
  •  April felt less than the beautiful women.
  •  I found this assignment a little easier than the last one.
  •  Learning Japanese is more difficult than learning Italian.
  •  He bought the best car with his lottery fortune.
  •  My new car is a lot quieter than my old rickety one.
  •  I went farther than my friend when we walked around the park.
  •  Jupiter is the biggest planet in our solar system.
  •  Jim and Jack are both my friends, but I like Jack better.
  •  This box is smaller than the one I lost.
  •  He had the best shoulder in America as a pitcher.
  •  I can’t find my most comfortable jeans.
  •  A pint is less than a quart.
  •  Your dog runs faster than Jim’s dog.
  •  She is the best dancer in my hometown, and has superior technique. She is going to win a world record.
  •  You play tennis better than I do.
  •  My brother is taller than I am, but he is older too.
  •  It’s farther from New York to Austin than it is from New York to Nashville.
  •  She is the smartest girl in our class.
  •  A pint is less than a quart.
  •  The runt of the litter is the smallest.
  •  It’s farther from New York to Austin than it is from New York to Nashville.
  •  I like cats better than dogs.
  •  He was the worst driver in any state I’d ever seen, from Alaska to Florida.
  •  You are more polite than Joey.
  •  Mike is funnier than Isaac.
  •  My house is bigger than yours.
  •  My brother is clumsier than me.
  •  This book is more boring than the last one.
  •  His cat is larger than my dog.
  •  The Pacific Ocean is deeper than the Arctic Ocean.
  •  I ran pretty far yesterday, but I ran even farther today.
  •  Learning Japanese is more difficult than learning Italian.
  •  The Earth is larger than the moon.
  •  The first person did more difficult tricks than the second.
  •  I do badly in math, but at least I’m not the worst .
  •  Your grade is worse than mine.
  •  Mount Everest is the highest mountain in the world.
  •  She is the most likely to win a Nobel Prize.
  •  In high school, I won Best Smile, Best Eyes, Best Sneeze, Best Nickname, and Most Likely to Win an Olympic Medal.
  •  You dance better than I do.
  •  Michael Jordan’s records mean he is most likely to be in the hall of fame.
  •  That was the best movie ever.
  •  The rock flew higher than the roof.
  •  This sweater is less expensive than that one.
  •  At graduation, he was voted most likely to win the Hunger Games. 
  •  My brother is taller than I am, but he is older too.
  •  Your grade is worse than mine.
  •  This house is more exciting than ever.
  •  My house is larger than hers.
  •  I love that we live much closer to the beach now.
  •  The politician has the best laugh during the debates.
  •  The Earth is larger than the moon.
  •  A rose is more beautiful than a daisy.
  •  Sam is the most handsome boy in the whole school.
  •  She is my best friend. I would live on a deserted island with her.
  •  Jerry is the least worried about the game.
  •  The Pacific Ocean is deeper than the Arctic Ocean.
  •  This is the most interesting book I have ever read.
  •  You might be tall, but I am taller.
  •  He won a Grammy for best entertainer.
  •  They voted on biggest prankster, biggest drama king, best person, biggest flirts, and biggest gossip to put the int yearbooks as yearbook superlatives.

Overall, degrees of comparison are used to compare nouns to one another, and include comparatives and superlatives.

Sources:

  1. Examples of Comparative and Superlative Adjectives for Kids | Your Dictionary 
  2. Examples of Comparative Adjectives | Your Dictionary 
  3. Comparative and Superlative Adjectives: Rules | Grammarly 
  4. The comparative and the superlative | EF | Global Site