Learn on PengiElements of Language, 2nd CourseChapter 11: Using Modifiers Correctly: Comparison and Placement

Lesson 2: Degrees of Comparison

Grade 5 students learn about the three degrees of comparison — positive, comparative, and superlative — for adjectives and adverbs in this lesson from Chapter 11 of Elements of Language, 2nd Course. The lesson explains when to use each degree based on how many things are being compared, and covers the rules for forming comparative and superlative forms by adding -er/-est or using more/most depending on the number of syllables in the modifier.

Section 1

Degrees of Comparison

Definition

The three degrees of comparison are the positive, the comparative, and the superlative.

Explanation

Think of comparison like a ladder! The first step is the positive degree, where you simply describe one thing. The next step up is the comparative degree, which you use when you're comparing exactly two things. The very top step is the superlative degree, for comparing three or more things at once.

Examples

  • Positive: This is a heavy box. [The adjective heavy describes the box without comparing it to anything else.]
  • Comparative: My street is noisier than yours. [The adjective noisier compares two streets.]
  • Superlative: That was the funniest movie I have seen all year. [The adjective funniest compares one movie to many others.]

Section 2

Regular Comparison Rules

Definition

In regular comparison, modifiers form the comparative degree by adding –er or using more/less. They form the superlative degree by adding –est or using most/least.

Explanation

To figure out how to compare words, count the syllables! A syllable is like a single beat in a word. For short words with one beat, you usually add -er or -est. For longer words with three or more beats, you almost always use more or most before the word. Two-syllable words are the trickiest; some use endings and some use more/most.

Examples

  • big _bigger_ _biggest_ [A one-syllable word adds -er and -est.]
  • pretty _prettier_ _prettiest_ [A two-syllable word ending in -y often uses -ier and -iest.]
  • comfortable _more comfortable_ _most comfortable_ [A three-syllable word uses more and most.]

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Chapter 11: Using Modifiers Correctly: Comparison and Placement

  1. Lesson 1

    Lesson 1: Forms of Modifiers

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  2. Lesson 2Current

    Lesson 2: Degrees of Comparison

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  3. Lesson 3

    Lesson 3: Regular and Irregular Comparison of Adjectives and Adverbs

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  4. Lesson 4

    Lesson 4: Placement of Modifiers A

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  5. Lesson 5

    Lesson 5: Placement of Modifiers B

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Lesson overview

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Section 1

Degrees of Comparison

Definition

The three degrees of comparison are the positive, the comparative, and the superlative.

Explanation

Think of comparison like a ladder! The first step is the positive degree, where you simply describe one thing. The next step up is the comparative degree, which you use when you're comparing exactly two things. The very top step is the superlative degree, for comparing three or more things at once.

Examples

  • Positive: This is a heavy box. [The adjective heavy describes the box without comparing it to anything else.]
  • Comparative: My street is noisier than yours. [The adjective noisier compares two streets.]
  • Superlative: That was the funniest movie I have seen all year. [The adjective funniest compares one movie to many others.]

Section 2

Regular Comparison Rules

Definition

In regular comparison, modifiers form the comparative degree by adding –er or using more/less. They form the superlative degree by adding –est or using most/least.

Explanation

To figure out how to compare words, count the syllables! A syllable is like a single beat in a word. For short words with one beat, you usually add -er or -est. For longer words with three or more beats, you almost always use more or most before the word. Two-syllable words are the trickiest; some use endings and some use more/most.

Examples

  • big _bigger_ _biggest_ [A one-syllable word adds -er and -est.]
  • pretty _prettier_ _prettiest_ [A two-syllable word ending in -y often uses -ier and -iest.]
  • comfortable _more comfortable_ _most comfortable_ [A three-syllable word uses more and most.]

Book overview

Jump across lessons in the current chapter without opening the full course modal.

Continue this chapter

Chapter 11: Using Modifiers Correctly: Comparison and Placement

  1. Lesson 1

    Lesson 1: Forms of Modifiers

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  2. Lesson 2Current

    Lesson 2: Degrees of Comparison

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  3. Lesson 3

    Lesson 3: Regular and Irregular Comparison of Adjectives and Adverbs

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  4. Lesson 4

    Lesson 4: Placement of Modifiers A

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  5. Lesson 5

    Lesson 5: Placement of Modifiers B

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