Adjectives are an essential part of English grammar, helping us describe the qualities of nouns and pronouns. To compare these qualities or express their extremes, we use degrees of adjective with comparative and superlative forms. This concept allows us to say, for example, whether one thing is “better” than another or “the best” of all. Mastering these degrees of comparison is crucial for clear and effective communication, whether in speaking or writing.
In this guide, we’ll explore what degrees of adjectives are, how they work, and provide examples to help you use them confidently. By the end, you’ll understand the rules behind comparative and superlative forms and know how to avoid common mistakes.
Degrees of adjectives worksheet with answers
Degrees of adjective
| Positive | Comparative | Superlative |
| Angry | Angrier | Angriest |
| Bad | Worse | Worst |
| Beautiful | More beautiful | Most beautiful |
| Big | Bigger | Biggest |
| Bitter | More bitter | Most bitter |
| Black | Blacker | Blackest |
| Blue | Bluer | Bluest |
| Bright | Brighter | Brightest |
| Broad | Broader | Broadest |
| Broken | More broken | Most broken |
| Brown | Browner | Brownest |
| Busy | Busier | Busiest |
| Calm | Calmer | Calmest |
| Cheap | Cheaper | Cheapest |
| Clean | Cleaner | Cleanest |
| Clear | Clearer | Clearest |
| Clever | Cleverer | Cleverest |
| Close | Closer | Closest |
| Cold | Colder | Coldest |
| Comfortable | More comfortable | Most comfortable |
| Common | More common | Most common |
| Crazy | Crazier | Craziest |
| Dangerous | More dangerous | Most dangerous |
| Dark | Darker | Darkest |
| Dead | Deader | Deadest |
| Deep | Deeper | Deepest |
| Delicious | More delicious | Most delicious |
| Different | More different | Most different |
| Dirty | Dirtier | Dirtiest |
| Dry | Drier | Driest |
| Early | Earlier | Earliest |
| Easy | Easier | Easiest |
| Empty | Emptier | Emptiest |
| Expensive | More expensive | Most expensive |
| Famous | More famous | Most famous |
| Far | Farther | Farthest |
| Fast | Faster | Fastest |
| Fat | Fatter | Fattest |
| Few | Fewer | Fewest |
| Fine | Finer | Finest |
| Flat | Flatter | Flattest |
| Free | Freer | Freest |
| Fresh | Fresher | Freshest |
| Full | Fuller | Fullest |
| Funny | Funnier | Funniest |
| Gentle | Gentler | Gentlest |
| Good | Better | Best |
| Green | Greener | Greenest |
| Happy | Happier | Happiest |
| Hard | Harder | Hardest |
| Healthy | Healthier | Healthiest |
| Heavy | Heavier | Heaviest |
| High | Higher | Highest |
| Hot | Hotter | Hottest |
| Huge | Huger | Hugest |
| Important | More important | Most important |
| Interesting | More interesting | Most interesting |
| Kind | Kinder | Kindest |
| Large | Larger | Largest |
| Late | Later | Latest |
| Lazy | Lazier | Laziest |
| Light | Lighter | Lightest |
| Little | Littler | Littlest |
| Long | Longer | Longest |
| Loud | Louder | Loudest |
| Low | Lower | Lowest |
| Lucky | Luckier | Luckiest |
| Mean | Meaner | Meanest |
| Messy | Messier | Messiest |
| Narrow | Narrower | Narrowest |
| Near | Nearer | Nearest |
| Neat | Neater | Neatest |
| New | Newer | Newest |
| Nice | Nicer | Nicest |
| Noisy | Noisier | Noisiest |
| Old | Older | Oldest |
| Open | Opener | Openest |
| Patient | More patient | Most patient |
| Poor | Poorer | Poorest |
| Popular | More popular | Most popular |
| Pretty | Prettier | Prettiest |
| Quick | Quicker | Quickest |
| Quiet | Quieter | Quietest |
| Rare | Rarer | Rarest |
| Red | Redder | Reddest |
| Rich | Richer | Richest |
| Right | Righter | Rightest |
| Rough | Rougher | Roughest |
| Round | Rounder | Roundest |
| Sad | Sadder | Saddest |
| Safe | Safer | Safest |
| Salty | Saltier | Saltiest |
| Same | – | – |
| Serious | More serious | Most serious |
| Sharp | Sharper | Sharpest |
| Short | Shorter | Shortest |
| Simple | Simpler | Simplest |
| Skinny | Skinnier | Skinniest |
| Slow | Slower | Slowest |
| Small | Smaller | Smallest |
| Soft | Softer | Softest |
| Sour | Surer | Surest |
| Special | More special | Most special |
| Strange | Stranger | Strangest |
| Strong | Stronger | Strongest |
| Stupid | Stupider | Stupidest |
| Sweet | Sweeter | Sweetest |
| Tall | Taller | Tallest |
| Thick | Thicker | Thickest |
| Thin | Thinner | Thinnest |
| Tight | Tighter | Tightest |
| Tired | More tired | Most tired |
| True | Truer | Truest |
| Ugly | Uglier | Ugliest |
| Warm | Warmer | Warmest |
| Weak | Weaker | Weakest |
| Wet | Wetter | Wettest |
| White | Whiter | Whitest |
| Wide | Wider | Widest |
| Wild | Wilder | Wildest |
| Wise | Wiser | Wisest |
| Wonderful | More wonderful | Most wonderful |
| Young | Younger | Youngest |
| Yellow | Yellower | Yellowest |
What Are the Degrees of Adjectives?
Degrees of adjectives refer to the different forms an adjective can take to show varying levels of a quality. There are three main degrees:
- Positive Degree: Describes a quality without comparison (e.g., bright).
- Comparative Degree: Compares two things, showing that one has more or less of a quality (e.g., brighter).
- Superlative Degree: Highlights the highest or lowest level of a quality among three or more items (e.g., brightest).
These forms are essential in describing, comparing, and emphasizing traits in everyday conversations and writing.
How to Form Comparative and Superlative Adjectives
- One-Syllable Adjectives:
- Comparative: Add “-er” (e.g., tall → taller).
- Superlative: Add “-est” (e.g., tall → tallest).
- Two-Syllable Adjectives:
- For many adjectives, add “-er” or “-est” (e.g., narrow → narrower/narrowest).
- For others, use “more” or “most” (e.g., modern → more modern/most modern).
- Adjectives with Three or More Syllables:
- Use “more” for the comparative form and “most” for the superlative (e.g., beautiful → more beautiful/most beautiful).
- Irregular Adjectives:
- Some adjectives don’t follow the rules (e.g., good → better → best, bad → worse → worst).
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What are the degrees of adjectives with comparative and superlative examples?
The degrees of adjectives include positive, comparative, and superlative forms. Examples:
- Positive: happy
- Comparative: happier (e.g., She is happier today than yesterday.)
- Superlative: happiest (e.g., She is the happiest person in the room.)
How do I identify a comparative adjective?
A comparative adjective compares two people, things, or ideas and often ends in “-er” or uses “more” before the adjective. For instance:
- John is taller than Mark.
- This book is more interesting than that one.
What is the difference between comparative and superlative adjectives?
A comparative adjective shows the difference between two items, while a superlative adjective highlights the highest degree of quality among three or more items.
- Comparative: smarter (e.g., She is smarter than her brother.)
- Superlative: smartest (e.g., She is the smartest in her class.)
Can all adjectives form comparative and superlative degrees?
No, not all adjectives can be compared. Absolute adjectives like perfect, unique, or dead are not typically used in comparative or superlative forms because they represent absolute states.
Why are some adjectives irregular in their degrees?
Irregular adjectives, such as good → better → best, have historical origins in Old English and don’t follow modern rules. Learning these forms is essential because they are commonly used in everyday language.
What are some common mistakes in using degrees of adjectives?
- Using “-er” and “more” together (e.g., more faster is incorrect).
- Forgetting the article “the” before superlative forms (e.g., He is smartest should be He is the smartest).
- Comparing more than two items with a comparative adjective (e.g., She is better of all should be She is the best of all).
