Grammar: Degrees of Comparison

Grammar

Degrees of Comparison

Comparison can be made using the three forms of an adjective.

Adjective is a word that describes or qualifies a noun. It gives more information about a noun.

(e.g.)The tiger is a strong animal.

There are three degrees of comparison

(1) Positive (e.g.) Kumar is a kind man.

(2) Comparative (e.g.) Tsunami is more destructive than Cyclone.

(3) Superlative (e.g.) Mount Everest is the highest peak in the world.

Read the following examples.

The Positive Degree is used to express or describe a quality.

The Positive Degree of an adjective states the characteristic of the noun.

       (e.g.) It is a tall building.

       (e.g.) Mango is sweet to taste.

The Comparative Degree is used when two things (or two sets of things) are compared.

      (e.g.)This building is taller than any other building.

       (e.g.)Mango is sweeter than pineapple.

The Superlative Degree is used when more than two things are compared.

      (e.g.) This is the tallest building.

      (e.g.) Mango is the sweetest fruit.

Examples

Prabhu is young. (Positive Degree)

Prabhu is younger than Amirtha. (Comparative Degree)

Prabhu is the youngest of all. (Superlative Degree)

A. Work with a partner and fill in the table with information about your locality. You may add more information, if necessary. When you finish filling the table, write a short paragraph comparing the two places.

PARAGRAPH ON COMPARING TWO PLACES:

My place is Krishnapuram. My partner's place is Vallanadu. The railway station is 4 km from my place and 5 km from my partner's place. My place is nearer to the railway station. The nearest air port is at Tuticorin. My partner is nearer to the air port. There are two malls in my place but there is only one in my partner's place. Temples in my place are more than my partner's place. I am as far away as my partner from the sea. In my place there are three lakes. My Partner has five lakes in his place. The same over Thamirabarani flows in my place as well as my partners place. We have good road ways and railway facilities for our travel.

B. Give your opinion and compare the items in each picture using -er, more, less, or an irregular form. Use the words. You may form your sentences in more than one way.

1. healthy, wholesome, calorific

a) Fresh food is healthier than junk food.

b) Fresh food is more wholesome than junk food

c) Fresh food is more calorific than junk food

2. eco-friendly, economical, safer

a) Cycling is more eco - friendly than motor cycling

b) Cycling is more economical than motor cycling

c) Cycling is safer than motor cycling

3. educational, interesting, trendy

a) A mobile phone is more educational than a radio

b) A mobile phone is more Interesting than a radio

c) A mobile phone is trendier than radio

4. safe, comfortable, quick

a) Train journey is safer than bus journey

b) Train journey is more comfortable than bus journey.

c) Train journey is quicker than bus journey

5. cozy, costly, sturdy

a) A sofa is cozier than a chair

b) A sofa is costlier than a chair

c) A sofa is sturdier than a chair

C. Look at the bar-graph. Write five sentences using the appropriate degrees of comparison.

Answer:

1. Bungee jumping is the most popular adventure sports in 2017

2. Paragliding is as popular as surfing in 2001.

3. Rock climbing in 2017 is as popular as paragliding and surfing in 2011.

4. Surfing is the least popular adventure sort in the year 2017.

5. In the year 2011 Rafting is as popular as Bungee jumping.