Degrees of Comparison

Degrees of Comparison refers to the ways that objects are compared in English.

There are three degrees of comparison in English.

Comparative Degree
Examples:

In example 1, we use the Inflectional Affix -er after the adjective (tall) to create a comparative adjective, "taller". We usually use this form if the adjective is two syllables or less.
 * 1) "He is taller than me."
 * 2) "He is more intelligent than me."
 * taller
 * fatter
 * bigger
 * smaller

In example 2, we use the helper word "more" instead of -er to mark the comparison. This is usually used for words longer than 3 syllables.
 * more intelligent
 * more handsome
 * more beautiful

Superlative Degree
Examples:
 * 1) "He is the tallest person"
 * 2) "He is the most intelligent person I know."

In example 1, we use the Inflectional Affix -est after the adjective (tall) to create a comparative adjective, "taller". We usually use this form if the adjective is two syllables or less.
 * tallest
 * fattest
 * biggest
 * smallest

In example 2, we use the helper word "most" instead of -er to mark the comparison. This is usually used for words longer than 3 syllables.


 * most intelligent
 * most handsome
 * most beautiful

Positive Degree
Examples: In these examples, the adjective is not modified to by an Inflectional Affix. Instead, the plain form of the adjective is used.
 * 1) He is as tall as John.
 * 2) There is no one as intelligent as Albert.

Some Controversy
Some people say that the plain form of the adjective is the positive form. Therefore, they say that this sentence is an example of positive degree of comparison:


 * John is tall.

For me, this seems like a bit strange... I'm happy to simply class this a statement which uses the plain form of the adjective. No actual comparison is being made, so I don't feel comfortable labelling this as an example of the positive degree of comparison.