In the following sentences what degree of quality do the different forms
of the adjective _large_ express?
1. John has a large ball.
2. I have a larger ball than John’s.
3. James has the largest ball in the yard.
In sentence number 2, two balls are _compared_. In sentence number 3,
three or more balls are _compared_. Hence the change of form of
adjectives to express different _degrees_ of quality is called
=comparison=.
The form of the adjective, which merely expresses the quality, is called
the =positive degree=; as, I have a _small_ pen.
The form of the adjective that expresses a higher or lower degree of the
quality, is called the =comparative degree=; as, Charles has a _smaller_
pen than mine.
The form of the adjective that expresses the highest or the lowest
degree of the quality, is called the =superlative degree=; as, The
teacher has the _smallest_ pen in the room.
Most adjectives of one syllable form the comparative by adding _er_ to
the simple form, and the superlative by adding _est_ to the same form;
as,
=Positive.= = Comparative.= =Superlative.=
tall, taller, tallest.
fine, finer, finest.
_Note._—If the simple form ends in _e_, one e is omitted in the
comparison.
Most adjectives of more than one syllable are composed by prefixing
_more_ and _most_, or _less_ and _least_ to the simple form; as,
=Positive.= =Comparative.= =Superlative.=
beautiful, more beautiful, most beautiful,
worthy, less worthy, least worthy.
The following adjectives of two syllables are often compared by adding
_er_ and _est_: _happy_, _pleasant_, _common_, _noble_, _able_,
_narrow_.