How to Use the Comparative Degree Effectively
The comparative degree is used to compare two people, things, or situations, indicating that one has a higher or lower degree of a certain quality than the other. It is one of the three degrees of comparison (positive, comparative, superlative).How to form the comparative degree:
1. For short adjectives (typically one syllable)
Add -er to the adjective.
Examples
🔮small becomes smaller
🔮fast becomes faster
Explanation: The word smaller means that one object is less large than another.
2. For adjectives ending in -e:
Examples
🔮small becomes smaller
🔮fast becomes faster
Explanation: The word smaller means that one object is less large than another.
2. For adjectives ending in -e:
Just add -r
Examples:
🔮large becomes larger
🔮wide becomes wider
Explanation: Larger means one thing is bigger in size compared to another.
3. For short adjectives ending with a consonant + vowel + consonant:
Examples:
🔮large becomes larger
🔮wide becomes wider
Explanation: Larger means one thing is bigger in size compared to another.
3. For short adjectives ending with a consonant + vowel + consonant:
Double the final consonant and add -er
Examples:
🔮big becomes bigger
Examples:
🔮big becomes bigger
🔮hot becomes hotter
Explanation: Bigger indicates that one object is of greater size than another.
4. For adjectives with two or more syllables:
Explanation: Bigger indicates that one object is of greater size than another.
4. For adjectives with two or more syllables:
Use more before the adjective.
Examples
🔮beautiful becomes more beautiful
🔮intelligent becomes more intelligent
Explanation: More beautiful suggests that one person or thing is considered to have greater beauty than another.
5. For adjectives ending in -y:
Examples
🔮beautiful becomes more beautiful
🔮intelligent becomes more intelligent
Explanation: More beautiful suggests that one person or thing is considered to have greater beauty than another.
5. For adjectives ending in -y:
Change the -y to -i and add -er.
Examples:
🔮happy becomes happier
🔮busy becomes busier
Explanation: Happier means one person or situation has more happiness compared to another.
Uses of the comparative degree:
1. Comparison between Two Items:
Explanation: The comparative degree is primarily used when comparing two items or individuals.
Examples
🔮Kavi is taller than his brother.
🔮This book is more interesting than the last one.
🔮My car is faster than yours.
2. Expressing preference:
Explanation: It can also be used to show a preference between two options.
Examples
🔮I prefer summer because it's warmer than winter.
🔮She likes tea more than coffee.
3. Describing changes or trends:
Explanation: The comparative degree is often used to describe how something is changing over time or comparing trends.
Examples
🔮The days are getting shorter as winter approaches.
🔮Technology is becoming more advanced every year.
4. Forming double comparatives:
Explanation: Double comparatives use two comparatives to show that something increases or decreases continuously.
Examples:
🔮happy becomes happier
🔮busy becomes busier
Explanation: Happier means one person or situation has more happiness compared to another.
Uses of the comparative degree:
1. Comparison between Two Items:
Explanation: The comparative degree is primarily used when comparing two items or individuals.
Examples
🔮Kavi is taller than his brother.
🔮This book is more interesting than the last one.
🔮My car is faster than yours.
2. Expressing preference:
Explanation: It can also be used to show a preference between two options.
Examples
🔮I prefer summer because it's warmer than winter.
🔮She likes tea more than coffee.
3. Describing changes or trends:
Explanation: The comparative degree is often used to describe how something is changing over time or comparing trends.
Examples
🔮The days are getting shorter as winter approaches.
🔮Technology is becoming more advanced every year.
4. Forming double comparatives:
Explanation: Double comparatives use two comparatives to show that something increases or decreases continuously.
Examples
🔮The weather is getting hotter and hotter.
🔮He is becoming more and more confident.
5. Negative comparatives
Explanation: Sometimes, the comparative form is used to show that something is less of a quality than another.
Examples
Special Cases
Irregular Comparatives:
The comparative degree is essential in English for making comparisons, showing preferences, or describing changes, making it a key part of effective communication.
🔮The weather is getting hotter and hotter.
🔮He is becoming more and more confident.
5. Negative comparatives
Explanation: Sometimes, the comparative form is used to show that something is less of a quality than another.
Examples
🔮This task is less difficult than the previous one.
🔮She is less experienced than her colleague.
🔮She is less experienced than her colleague.
Special Cases
Irregular Comparatives:
Some adjectives have irregular comparative forms.
Examples
🔮good becomes better
🔮bad becomes worse
Explanation: Better means something is of higher quality or more desirable than something else.
Examples
🔮good becomes better
🔮bad becomes worse
Explanation: Better means something is of higher quality or more desirable than something else.
The comparative degree is essential in English for making comparisons, showing preferences, or describing changes, making it a key part of effective communication.
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