The degree of comparison of adjectives in English

According to the norms of modern grammar, in English there are 3 degrees of comparison of adjectives. The first degree is positive. It is the standard form of the adjective. It has no shade of comparison and expresses only the qualitative state of the object or object. From this form, the remaining two degrees are formed: comparative and excellent. If we compare two subjects among themselves on qualitative indicators, then we use a comparative degree. When we want to deliberately select one item from a group of three or more, then we translate the adjective into an excellent degree.

In general, the rules for the formation of this grammatical category in English do not differ much from the formation of the degree of comparison of adjectives in the German language. You need to add special suffixes -er and -est to the base of the positive form or put more and most before it. So we get a comparative and superlative degree. And the latter always requires the use of the article the. The number of syllables in the word directly influences the way in which adjectives are compared. English, among other things, does not always allow the presence of this grammatical category. It is used only in qualitative adjectives. That is, words that perform the description function.

All monosyllabic adjectives are formed by adding -er and -est to the basis of the positive form: rich-richer-the richest . Two-syllable words ending in -ow, -le, -y, -er, also most often form degrees with the help of special suffixes: tender - tenderer - the tenderest . Forming the degree of comparison of adjectives in the above way, it is necessary to take into account some nuances of spelling. They are as follows.

1. If the adjective ends with a consonant, and in front of it is a stressed vowel, then the consonant doubles: wet - wetter - the wettest .

2. If the adjective ends with an unstressed -e, then this vowel before the suffix drops out: close-closer-the closest .

3. If the adjective ends with -y and the consonant before it, then -y changes to -i: lucky - luckier - the luckiest . If there is a vowel in front of y, the transformation does not occur.

The easiest way to remember is the way in which the degree of comparison of adjectives is formed, which consist of three or more syllables, as well as those that were formed from the sacrament. Before the positive form, simply put more and most. Then the adjective acquires the necessary degree of comparison without any changes in the basis: dangerous - more dangerous - the most dangerous, boring - more boring - the most boring . In the same way, degrees and disyllabic adjectives end in -al, -ish, -ant, -ive, -ent, -less, -ic, -ful, -ous: tragic - more tragic - the most tragic.

In English there is also a separate group of incorrect adjectives that, during the formation of the degree of comparison, do not obey the generally accepted grammatical norms and completely change the basis of the positive form.

As mentioned above, in English, not all adjectives have the ability to form degrees of comparison. These include:

• All relative adjectives ( wooden, European, daily, preparatory );
• Adjectives, which were borrowed in due time from the Latin language and carry a tinge of comparison or superiority ( former, inner, upper, optimal, proximal );
• Qualitative absolute adjectives, the meaning of which simply does not allow comparison ( dead, middle, principle, previous );
• Qualitative adjectives formed with the help of negative prefixes in- and un- at the beginning of a word ( incurable, inconvenient, unsuitable );
• Qualitative adjectives, the meaning of which has a tinge of comparison. Most often they end in the suffix -ish ( redish, blueish ).