+264.+ We have found that adjectives are a very important part of our
speech for without them we could not describe the various objects about
us and make known to others our ideas concerning their various
qualities. But with the addition of these helpful words we can describe
very fully the qualities of the things with which we come into contact.
We soon find, however, that there are varying degrees of these
qualities. Some objects possess them in slight degree, some more fully
and some in the highest degree. So we must have some way of expressing
these varying degrees in the use of our adjectives.
This brings us to the study of comparison of adjectives. Suppose I say:
That orange is sweet, the one yonder is sweeter, but this one is
sweetest.
I have used the adjective _sweet_ expressing a quality possessed by
oranges in three different forms, _sweet_, _sweeter_ and _sweetest_.
This is the change in the form of adjectives to show different degrees
of quality. This change is called comparison, because we use it when we
compare one thing with another in respect to some quality which they
possess, but possess in different degrees.
The form of the adjective which expresses a simple quality, as _sweet_,
is called the positive degree. That which expresses a quality in a
greater degree, as _sweeter_, is called the comparative degree. That
which expresses a quality in the greatest degree, as _sweetest_, is
called the superlative degree.
+265.+ +Comparison is the change of form of an adjective to denote
different degrees of quality.+
+There are three degrees of comparison, positive, comparative and
superlative.+
+The positive degree of an adjective denotes simple quality.+
+The comparative degree denotes a higher degree of a quality.+
+The superlative degree denotes the highest degree of a quality.+
+266.+ Most adjectives of one syllable and many adjectives of two
syllables regularly add _er_ to the positive to form the comparative
degree, and _est_ to the positive to form the superlative degree, as:
_Positive_ _Comparative_ _Superlative_
sweet sweeter sweetest
cold colder coldest
soft softer softest
brave braver bravest
clear clearer clearest
+267.+ Adjectives ending in _y_ change _y_ to _i_ and add _er_ and _est_
to form the comparative and superlative degree, as:
_Positive_ _Comparative_ _Superlative_
busy busier busiest
lazy lazier laziest
sly slier sliest
witty wittier wittiest
+268.+ Many adjectives cannot be compared by this change in the word
itself, since the addition of _er_ and _est_ would make awkward or
ill-sounding words. Hence we must employ another method to form the
comparison of this sort of words. To say, _beautiful_, _beautifuller_,
_beautifullest_, is awkward and does not sound well. So we say
_beautiful_, _more beautiful_, _most beautiful_.
Many adjectives form the comparative and superlative degree by using
_more_ and _most_ with the simple form of the adjective, as:
_Positive_ _Comparative_ _Superlative_
beautiful more beautiful most beautiful
thankful more thankful most thankful
sensitive more sensitive most sensitive
wonderful more wonderful most wonderful
+269.+ Adjectives of two syllables, to which _er_ and _est_ are added to
form the comparison, are chiefly those ending in _y_ or _le_, such as:
_Positive_ _Comparative_ _Superlative_
happy happier happiest
noble nobler noblest
steady steadier steadiest
feeble feebler feeblest
able abler ablest
witty wittier wittiest
+270.+ Some adjectives, few in number, but which we use very often, are
irregular in their comparison. The most important of these are as
follows: (It would be well to memorize these.)
_Positive_ _Comparative_ _Superlative_
good better best
well " "
bad worse worst
ill " "
much more most
many " "
little less least
late later latest
latter last
far farther farthest
(up) adv. upper uppermost
(in) adv. inner innermost