1. Degrees of Comparison

2. 3 Degrees of Comparison Positive, Comparative, Superlative
Adjectives and adverbs can be changed to show degrees of comparison by:
Adding –er or –est
Adding more or most
Using entirely different words (irregular)

3. Degrees of Adjectives
Positive
Comparative
Superlative
High
Higher
Highest
Eager
More eager
Most eager
Good
Better
best
Degrees of Adverbs
Early
Earlier
Earliest
Eagerly
More eagerly
Most eagerly
Well

4. 1 or 2 syllable modifiers Comparative use –er or more
Superlative use –est or most
Positive
Comparative
Superlative
Green
Greener
Greenest
Healthful
More healthful
Most healthful

5. Adverbs that end in –ly Take more or most Positive Comparative
Superlative
Happily
More happily
Most happily
Painfully
More painfully
Most painfully

6. 3+ syllable modifiers Use more and most Positive Comparative
Superlative
Tolerant
More tolerant
Most tolerant
Protective
More protective
Most protective

7. Less and Least Less and least are another form of comparison Positive
Comparative
Superlative
Tolerant
Less tolerant
Least tolerant
Protective
Less protective
Least protective

8. Irregular Modifiers Irregular Modifiers Positive Comparative
Superlative
Bad, badly, ill
Worse
Worst
Far (distance)
Farther
Farthest
Far (extend)
Further
Furthest
Good, well
Better
Best
Late
Later
Last or latest
Little (amount)
Less
Least
Many, much
More
most

9. Bad Bad is an adjective. Badly is an adverb.
Do not use it to modify an action verb.
Badly is an adverb.
Use it after an action verb, but not after a linking verb.
Incorrect: Sam plays soccer bad.
Correct: Sam plays soccer badly.

10. Which one is correct? Maya felt badly about moving.
Maya felt bad about moving.

11. Good and Well Good is and advective.
It cannot be used as an adverb after an action verb.
Well is usually an adverb.
Correct: Keisha did well on her math test.
Correct: Keisha should be well soon.

12. Making Clear Comparisons
Use the comparative to compare 2 people, places, or things.
Use superlative for 3+ people, places, or things.
Comparative:
My sailboat is faster than Jerry’s.
Mom’s cooking is more delicious than Dad’s
This comedian is less funny than the first one.

13. Superlative: My sailboat is the fastest on the bay.
Mom’s dinners are her most delicious meals.
The least funny comedian performed first.
The superlative degree can be used for emphasis without comparing anything specific.
Ex: Champ has the silkiest coat.

14. Double Comparisons It is incorrect to: Use –er and more together.
Use –est and most together.
Incorrect: It’s more harder to swim than to dive.
Correct: It’s harder to dive than to swim.