Formation of Comparative and Superlative
81. Most Adjectives of one syllable, and some of more than one, form the Comparative
by adding er and the Superlative by adding est to the positive.
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Positive -- Comparative -- Superlative
Sweet -- sweeter -- sweetest
Small -- smaller -- smallest
Tall -- taller -- tallest
Bold -- bolder -- boldest
Clever -- cleverer -- cleverest
Child - children - min
Young -- younger -- youngest
Great -- greater -- greatest
When the Positive ends in e, only r and st are added.
Brave -- braver -- bravest
Fine -- finer -- finest
White -- whiter -- whitest
Large -- larger -- largest
Able -- abler -- ablest
Noble -- nobler -- noblest
Wise -- wiser -- wisest
When the Positive ends in j, preceded by a consonant, the y is changed into i before
adding is and est.
Happy -- happier -- happiest
Easy -- easier -- easiest
Heavy -- heavier -- heaviest
Merry -- merrier -- merriest
Wealthy -- wealthier -- wealthiest
When the Positive is a word of one syllable and ends in a single consonant, preceded by a
short vowel, this consonant is doubled before adding er and est.
Red -- redder -- reddest
Big -- bigger -- biggest
Hot -- hotter -- hottest
Thin -- thinner -- thinnest
Sad -- sadder -- saddest
Fat -- fatter -- fattest
82. Adjectives of more than two syllables form the Comparative and Superlative by
putting more and most before the Positive.
Positive -- Comparative -- Superlative
Beautiful -- more beautiful -- most beautiful
Difficult -- more difficult -- most difficult
Industrious -- more industrious -- most industrious
Courageous -- more courageous -- most courageous
Two-syllable adjectives ending infill (e.g. useful), less (e.g. hope less), ing (e.g. boring)
and ed (e.g. surprised) and many others (e.g. modern, recent, foolish, famous, certain)
take more and most.
The following take either er and est or more and most. :
polite
simple
feeble
gentle
narrow
cruel
common
handsome
pleasant
stupid
She is politer/more polite than her sister.
He is the politest/most polite of them.
A work from S CHAND & COMPANY LTD
83. The-Comparative-in er is not used when we compare two qualities in the same person
or thing. If we wish to say that the courage of Rama is greater than the courage of Balu,
we say
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Rama is braver than Balu.
But if we wish to say that the courage of Rama is greater than his prudence, we must say,
Rama is more brave than prudent.
84. When two objects are compared with each other, the latter term of comparison must
exclude the former; as,
Iron is more useful than any other metal.
If we say,
Iron is more useful than any metal,
that is the same thing as saying 'Iron is more useful than iron' since iron is itself a metal.
Irregular Comparison
85. The following Adjectives are compared irregularly, that is, their Comparative and
Superlative are not formed from the Positive:-
Positive -- Comparative -- Superlative
Good, well -- better -- best
Bad, evil, ill -- worse -- worst
Little -- less, lesser -- least
Much -- more -- most (quantity)
Many -- more -- most (number)
Late -- later, latter -- latest, last
Old -- older, elder -- oldest, eldest
Far -- farther -- farthest
(Nigh) -- (nigher) -- (nighest), next
(Fore) -- (former) -- foremost, first
(Fore) -- further -- furthest
(In) -- inner -- inmost, innermost
(Up) -- upper -- upmost, uppermost
(Out) -- outer, (utter) -- utmost, uttermost
Note:- The forms nigh, nigher, nighest, fore and utter are outdated.
Exercise in Grammar 13
Compare the following Adjectives:-
Black, excellent, ill, gloomy, mad, safe, bad, unjust, gay, able, dry, timid, ugly, true,
severe, exact, agreeable, difficult, little, few, numerous, merry.
86. The double forms of the Comparative and Superlative of the Adjectives given in § 85
are used in different ways.
Later, latter; latest, last. - Later and latest refer to time; latter and last refer to position.
He is later than I expected.
I have not heard the latest news.
The latter chapters are lacking in interest.
The last chapter is carelesslv written
Ours is the last house in the street.
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Elder, older; eldest, oldest.- Elder and eldest are used only of persons, not of animals or
things; and are now confined to members of the same family. Elder is not used with than
following. Older and oldest are used of both persons and things.
John is my elder brother.
Tom is my eldest son.
He is older than his sister.
Rama is the oldest boy in the eleven.
This is the oldest temple in Kolkata.
Farther, further.- Both farther and further are used to express distance. Further, not
farther, is used to mean “additional”.
Kolkata is farther/further from the equator than Colombo.
After this he made no further remarks.
I must have a reply without further delay.
Nearest, next.- Nearest means the shortest distance away. Next refers to one of a
sequence of things coming one after the other.
Mumbai is the seaport nearest to Europe.
Where is the nearest phone box?
Karim's shop is next to the Post Office.
My uncle lives in the next house.
Exercise in Composition 14
(a) Fill the blank spaces with 'later' or 'latter' :-
1. The majority accepted the --- proposal.
2. The --- part of the book shows signs of hurry.
3. At a --- date, he was placed in charge of the whole taluka.
4. I prefer the --- proposition to the former.
5. Is there no --- news than last week's?
(b) Fill the blank spaces with ‘older’ or ‘elder’ :-
1. I have an --- sister.
2. Rama is --- than Had by two years.
3. His --- brother is in the Indian Police Service.
4. She is the --- of the two sisters.
5. The nephew is --- than his uncle.
(c) Fill the blank spaces with 'oldest' and 'eldest' :-
1. Rustam is the --- of my uncle's five sons.
2. He is the --- member of the School Committee.
3. That is Antonio, the duke's --- son.
4. The --- mosque in the town is near the railway station.
5. Mr. Smith is the --- teacher in the school.
(d) Fill the blank spaces with 'farther' or 'further':-
1. I can't walk any ---.
2. No --- reasons were given.
3. He walked off without --- ceremony.
4. Until --- orders Mr. K.S. Dave will act as Headmaster of Nira High School.
5. To let, a bungalow at Ridge Road. For --- particulars apply to Box. No. 65.
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(e) Fill the blank spaces with 'latest' or 'last':-
1. The --- news from China is very disquieting.
2. The --- time I saw him, he was in high spirits.
3. To-day is the --- day for receiving lenders.
4. We expect to get the --- news in a few hours.
5. The --- Moghul Emperor came to an ignominious end.
(j) Fill the blank spaces with 'nearest' or 'next':-
1. This is the --- post office to my house.
2. The pillar-box is --- to my house.
3. The burglar was taken to the --- police station.
4. His house is --- to mine.
5. The --- railway station is two miles from here.
87. Certain English Comparatives have lost their comparative meaning and are used as
Positive. They cannot be followed by than. These are:-
Former, latter, elder, upper, inner, outer, utter.
Both the tiger and (he leopard are cats; the former animal is much larger than the latter.
The inner meaning of this letter is not clear.
The soldiers ran to defend the outer wall.
My elder brother is an engineer.
This man is an utter fool.
88. Certain Comparatives borrowed from Latin have no Positive or Superlative degree.
They all end in or, not er. They are twelve in all. Five of them have lost their
Comparative meaning, and are used as Positive Adjectives. These are:-
Interior, exterior, ulterior, major, minor.
The exterior wall of the house is made of stone; the interior walls are of wood.
His age is a matter of minor importance.
I have no ulterior motive in offering you help.
The other seven are used as Comparative Adjectives but are followed by to instead of
than (See § 89)
89. The comparative degree is generally followed by than; but Comparative Adjectives
ending in -or are followed by the preposition to; as,
Inferior, superior, prior, anterior, posterior, senior, junior.
Hari is inferior to Ram in intelligence.
Rama's intelligence is superior to Hari's.
His marriage was prior to his father's death.
He is junior to all his colleagues.
All his colleagues are senior to him.
90. Adjectives expressing qualities that do not admit of different degrees cannot, strictly
speaking, be compared; as,
Square, round, perfect, eternal, universal, unique. Strictly speaking, a thing cannot be
more square, more round, more perfect. But we say, for instance,
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Exercise in Grammar 15
Point out the Adjectives and name the Degree of Comparison of each:-
1. The poor woman had seen happier days.
2. Do not talk such nonsense.
3. Make less noise.
4. That child has a slight cold.
5. A live ass is stranger than a dead lion.
6. Say the same thing twice over.
7. Soloman was one of the wisest men.
8. Hunger is the best sauce.
9. His simple word is as good as an oath.
10. There was not the slightest excuse for it.
11. My knife is sharper than yours.
12. Small people love to talk of great men.
13. Of two evils choose the less.
14. I hope the matter will be cleared up some day.
15. Your son makes no progress in his studies.
16. Open rebuke is better than secret love.
17. We never had such sport.
18. I have other things to attend lo.
19. Hari is the idlest boy in the class.
20. I promise you a fair hearing.
21. There is much to be said on both sides.
22. He gave the boys much wholesome advice.
23. He thinks he is wiser than his father.
24. No news is good news.
25. Bangladesh has the largest tea garden in the world.
26. Lead is heavier than any other metal.
27. I congratulated him on his good fortune.
28. He has many powerful friends.
29. The longest lane has a turning.
Exercise in Grammar 16
Make three columns, and write the following Adjectives in the Positive, Comparative and
Superlative Degrees:-
[Be careful to use the form of comparison that is pleasing to the ear.]
Shameful, clever, pretty, interesting, hopeful, honest, important, patient, rude, delightful,
stupid, attractive, heavy, beautiful, fortunate, pleasant.
A work from S. CHAND & COMPANY LTD.
Exercise in Composition 17
Supply the proper form (Comparative or Superlative) of the Adjective:-
[Note:-The Comparative and not the Superlative should be used to compare two things.]
1. Good - How is your brother to-day? Is he ---?
2. Hot - May is --- here than any other month.
3. Pretty - Her doll is --- than yours.
4. Idle - Hari is the --- boy in the class.
5. Sharp - Your knife is sharp, but mine is ---.
6. Dear - Honour is --- to him than life.
7. Rich - He is the --- man in our town.
8. Old - Mani is two years --- than Rati.
9. Large - Name the --- city in the world.
10. Good - He is the --- friend I have.
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11. Bad - He is the --- boy of the two.
12. Bad - Raman's work is bad, Hari's is ---, but Govind's is the ---.
13. Ferocious - There is no animal --- than the tiger.
14. Bad - The trade is in a --- condition to-day than it was a year ago.
15. Tall - He is the --- of the two.
16. Dry - Sind is the --- part of Pakistan.
17. Useful - Iron is --- than any other metal.
18. Useful - Iron is the --- of all metals.
19. Great - Who is the --- living poet ?
20. Nutritious - I think he requires a --- diet.
21. Proud - It was the --- moment of his life.
22. Good -The public is the --- judge.
23. Little - That is the --- price I can take.
24. Light - Silver is --- than gold.
Exercise in Composition 18
Supply appropriate Comparatives or Superlatives to each of the following:-
1. Prevention is --- than cure.
2. Akbar had a --- region than Babar.
3. Sachin Tendulkar is the --- batsman in the world.
4. The pen is --- than the sword.
5. The --- buildings are found in America.
6. The Pacific is --- than any other ocean.
7. Which of the two girls has the --- dress?
8. Honour is --- to him than life.
9. This pen is --- than the other.
10. Who is the --- boy in the class ?
11. The Eiffel Tower is --- than Qutab Minar.
12. My uncle is --- than my father.
13. The multi-millionaire Mr. Sen is the --- in this town.
14. Wordsworth is a --- poet than Cowper.
15. Balu is the --- bowler in the eleven.
16. The streets of Mumbai are --- than those of Ahmedabad.
17. Ooty is --- than Chennai.
18. The piano was knocked down to the --- bidder.
19. Mount Everest is the --- peak of the Himalayas.
20. He writes a --- hand than his brother.
21. He writes the --- hand in his class.
22. He is one of the --- speakers in Punjab.
23. Who was the --- general, Alexander or Caesar?
24. The --- fables are those attributed to j45sop.
25. The Arabian Nights is perhaps the --- story-book,
26. Shakespeare is --- than any other English poet.
27. Of all countries, China has the --- population in the world.
28. Clouds float in the sky because they are --- than the air.
29. There are two ways of doing the sum, but this one is the ---.
30. It is good to be clever, but it is --- to be industrious.
31. This is the --- of my two sons.
32. This is the --- that I can do?
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Exercise in Composition 19
Change the following sentences by using 'less' or 'least' without changing the meaning:-
1. The mango is sweeter than the pine-apple.
2. Silver is more plentiful than gold.
3. This is the most useless of all my books.
4. Wolfram is one of the rarest minerals.
5. The wild-apple is the sourest of all fruits.
6. Iron is more useful than copper.
Interchange of the Degrees of Comparison
91. As the following examples show, it is possible to change the Degree of Comparison
of an Adjective in a sentence, without changing the meaning of the sentence:-
Superlative - Lead is the heaviest of all metals.
Comparative - Lead is heavier than all other metals.
Comparative - Mahabaleshwar is cooler than Panchgani.
Positive - Panchgani is not so cool as Mahabaleshwar.
Positive - He is as wise as Solomon.
Comparative - Soloman was not wiser than he is.
Superlative - Shakuntala is the best drama in Sanskrit.
Comparative - Shakuntala is better than any other drama in Sanskrit.
Positive - No other drama in Sanskrit is so good as Shakuntala.
Superlative - Chennai is one of the biggest of Indian cities.
Comparative - Chennai is bigger than most other Indian cities.
Positive - Very few Indian cities are as big as Chennai.
Positive - Some poets are at least as great as Tennyson.
Comparative - Tennyson is not greater than some other poets, I Some poets are not less
great than Tennyson.
Superlative - Tennyson is not the greatest of all poets.
Exercise in Composition 20
Change the Degree of Comparison, without changing the meaning:-
1. Malacca is the oldest town in Malaysia.
2. Soya beans are at least as nutritious as meat.
3. No other planet is so big as Jupiter.
4. Very few boys are as industrious as Latif.
5. He would sooner die than tell a lie.
6. India is the largest democracy in the world.
7. Shakespeare is greater than any other English poet.
8. Samudra Gupta was one of the greatest of Indian Kings.
9. The tiger is the most ferocious of all animals.
10. Australia is the largest island in the world.
11. Lead is heavier than any other metal.
12. Some people have more money than brains.
13. A wise enemy is better than a foolish friend.
14. The Marwaries are not less enterprising than any other community in India.
15. I know him quite as well as you do.
16. You do not know him better than I do.
17. No other man was as strong as Bhim.
18. Some boys are the list as industrious as Suresh.
19. Mount Everest is the highest peak of the Himalayas.
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20. Very few animals are as useful as the cow.
21. America is the richest country in the world.
22. It is easier to preach than to practise.
23. Iron is more useful than all the other metals.
24. Open rebuke is better than secret love.
25. The Sears Tower is the tallest building in the world.
26. Sir Surendranath was at least as great an orator as any other Indian.
27. Ooty is as healthy as any resort in India.
28. The pen is mightier than the sword.
CHAPTER 11
ADJECTIVES USED AS NOUNS
92. Adjectives are often used as Nouns.
(1) As Plural Nouns denoting a class of persons; as,
The cautious (= cautious persons) are not always cowards.
The rich (= rich people) know not how the poor (= poor people) live. The wicked (=
wicked people) flee when no man pursueth, but the righteous (= righteous people) are
bold as a lion. Blessed are the meek.
(2) As Singular Nouns denoting some abstract quality; as,
The future (= futurity) is unknown to us.
He is a lover of the beautiful (= beauty in general)
(3) Some Adjectives actually become Nouns, and are hence used in both numbers:-
(a) Those derived from Proper Nouns; as, Australians, Canadians, Italians.-
(b) Some denoting persons; ace, juniors, seniors, mortals, inferiors, superiors, nobles,
criminals, savages, elders, minors.
(c) A few denoting things generally; as. secrets, totals, liquids, solids, valuables.
[Some adjectives arc used as Nouns only in (he plural; as, valuables, eatables]
(4) In certain phrases; as,
In general; in future; in short; in secret; before long; at present; for good;
at best; through thick and thin; for better or for worse; in black and white;
right or wrong; from bad to worse; the long and short.
In future I shall charge you for medical advice. In short, we know nothing.
The negotiations were carried on in secret.
I shall see you before long. Before long,
he will be appointed to a higher post.
At present, he is in pecuniary difficulties.
I do not want any more at present.
He has left India for good.
At best we shall get no more dividend than five paise in a rupee.
At best he is a clever versifier : but a poet he is certainly not.
It must be said to his credit that he stood by his friend through thick and thin.
I must have your teams down in black and white.
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Right or wrong, my country.
I am afraid the young man is going from bad to worse.
The long and short of it is that I distrust you.
Nouns used as Adjectives
93. The use of Nouns as Adjectives is very common in English; as,
I met a little cottage girl.
He is always playing computer games.
CHAPTER 12
POSITION OF ADJECTIVES
94. An Adjective used attributively is generally placed immediately before the noun; as,
King Francis was a hearty king, and loved a royal sport.
Where are you going, my pretty maid, with your rosy cheeks and golden hair?
O Captain ! my Captain ! our fearful trip is done.
Observe the difference in meaning between:-
(i) a great nobleman's son, and
(ii) a nobleman's great son.
95. In poetry, however, the Adjective is frequently placed after the noun; as.
Children dear, was it yesterday.
We heard the sweet bells over the bay.
man with sisters dear!
96. When several Adjectives are attached to one noun they are sometimes placed after it
for emphasis; as
There dwelt a miller hale and bold.
The King, fearless and resolute, at once advanced.
Franklin had a great genius, original, sagacious, and inventive.
97. When some word or phrase is joined to the Adjective to explain its meaning, the
Adjective is placed after its noun; as,
He was a man fertile in resource.
A Sikh, taller than any of his comrades, rushed forward.
98. In certain phrases the Adjective always comes after the noun; as
Heir apparent, time immemorial, lord paramount, viceroy elect, letters, patent, knights
temporal, notary public, body politic, God Almighty.
CHAPTER 13
THE CORRECT USE OF SOME ADJECTIVES
99. Some, any- To express quantity or degree some is used normally in affirmative
sentences, any in negative or interrogative sentences.
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I will buy some mangoes.
I will not buy any mangoes.
Have you bought any mangoes?
But any can be used after if in affirmative sentences.
If you need any money I will help you.
Some is used in questions which are really offers/requests or which expect the answer
“yes”.
Will you have some ice-cream? (Offer)
Could you lend me some money? (Request)
Did you buy some clothes? (= I expect you did.)
100. Each, every.- Each and every are similar in meaning, but every is a stronger word
than each; it means, 'each without exception'. Each is used in speaking of two or more
things; every is used only in speaking of more than two. Each directs attention to the
individuals forming any group, every to the total group. Each is used only when
the number in the group is limited and definite; every when the number is indefinite.
Every seat was taken.
Five boys were seated on each bench.
Every one of these chairs is broken.
Leap year falls in every fourth year.
He came to see us every three days [i.e., once in every period of three days].
It rained every day during my holidays.
I was away ten days and it rained each day.
101. Little, a little, the little.- Note carefully the use of-
(1) little,
(2) a little,
(3) the little.
Little = not much (i.e., hardly any). Thus, the adjective little has a negative meaning.
There is little hope of his recovery, i.e., he is not likely to recover.
He showed little concern for his nephew.
He has little influence with his old followers.
He showed little mercy to the vanquished.
He has little appreciation of good poetry.
A little = some though not much. 'A little' has a positive meaning-
There is a little hope of his recovery, i.e., he may possibly recover.
A little tact would have saved the situation.
A little knowledge is a dangerous thing.
