English Grammar : Degree of Comparison

Learn Grammar | English Grammar : Degree of Comparison  | Degree of Comparison is a form that is often used in a sentence which refers to the existence of a level comparison between two things or more. The levels of comparison were divided into three groups:

a. Positive Degree
b. Comparative Degree
c. Superlative Degree
Consider the diagram below:


 

Degree	Adverb	Adjective
Positive Comparative Superlative	He types as quickly as Ani They work as hard as me He types more quickly than me They work harder than us He types the most quickly of all his friends. Dian works harder in her office	He is a good tennis player Niken is a teacher as Dian He is better tennis player Niken is cleverer than Ani He is the best tennis player Niken is the cleverest student in the class.

From the above table it can be seen that the degree of comparison can be:
a. Degree of adverb
b. Degree of adjective

A. Positive Degree
On the positive degree there is no comparison that express a deeper meaning or at least between two or more things in a sentence. In this degree there is only the expression positive sentences only and sometimes there is equality between one thing and another.
Formula :

Subject + be + as + adjective/adverb + as + noun/pronoun.

example :
His writing is as good as Ida's
He work as hard as Hasan

Can be expressed in positive sentences such as:
His writing is good
He works hard

note :
1. We encounter the possibility degree of comparison in a negative sentence
example :
He is not as clever as Hasan
He is nor so clever as Hasan

2. The possibility of positive degree we use "... the same ... as ....
The word that follows "... the same ......" should be in the form of the noun

B.Comparative Degree
Comparative degree further stated comparison between two things.
Formula :

1. Subject + be + adjective + -er + then...
2. Subject + verb + adverb + -er +...
3. Subject + verb + more adverb
Note :
1. As in the above formula for the adjectives that consist of one or two syllables, either adjective or adverb, we add-er behind the word.
2. For words of three syllables or more, we add more in front of the word.
3. For the adverb ending in-ly we add more in front of the word, although only two syllables.

Study the examples below:

• She is better than Badu
• They work harder
• Anet speaks more loudly
• He comes more early
• The rain came more heavily yesterday.

C. Superlative Degree
Degree Superlative most states the level of comparison between two things.
Formula :

Subject + (be)/ verb + the + adj. + est

(adv + est ;most + adj / adv )
Note:
1. As in the formula above to adjective consisting of one or two syllables, both adjective and adverb, we add-est behind the word.
2. For words of three syllables or more, we add the most in front of the word.
3. For the adverb ending in-ly we added the word most in front, although only consisting of two syllables.

Study the following examples:

• He is the best student in his class
• He is the cleverest student in his class
• He is the richest man in the village
• She works hardest among her friends
• Ida walked the most slowly of all her friends
• She sings the most beautifully of all her friends.

4. For words irregular we do not add-est / most, but we have to memorize it.

D. Doubled Comparison
Which meant doubled comparison is a sentence that begins with the composition of comparative degree. Formula :

The + Comparative + subject + verb + the + comparative + subject + verb
example :

• The hotter it is, the more miserable I felt.
• The higher we flew, the worse Erna felt.
• The more you study, the better you will be
• The more you practice, the more fluent you will be. 

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