Page 37 - Basic English Grammar Student Textbook short

Study Section 7: Advanced Modifiers

7.1 Connect

Now that you’ve got basic modifiers down pat, we are going to learn some more about modifiers,
but this lesson will be a bit more complex. So you have to put your thinking caps on and proceed
carefully to understand the next section of material.

7.2 Degrees of Comparison - Adjectives

In English, when comparing things or people, there are three degrees of comparison: positive,
comparative, and superlative.
Positive Degree – No Comparison

The positive degree is used with no comparison; only the adjective is used.
Examples:
1. My English teacher is firm in her discipline.
2. John is a skillful soccer player.
3. Silver and gold are valuable metals.
Comparative – Comparing 2
The comparative degree is used when only two items are being compared. To form the comparative degree,
follow these guidelines:
• Add -er to most one-syllable and a few two-syllable adjectives.
• Add more or less to most two-syllable and all three-plus-syllable adjectives.
Examples:
1. My English teacher is firmer (more firm also correct) in her discipline than my Bible teacher.
(comparing English teacher to Bible teacher – people)
2. John is a more skillful soccer player than William. (comparing John to William – two people)
3. Gold is more valuable than silver. (comparing gold to silver – two things)
Superlative – Comparing 3+

The superlative degree is used when three or more items are being compared. To form the superlative degree,
follow these guidelines:
• Add -est to most one-syllable and a few two-syllable adjectives.
• Add most or least to most two-syllable and all three-plus-syllable adjectives.
Examples:
1. My teacher is the firmest (or most firm) in her discipline of all the teachers.
(comparing teacher to all teachers)
2. John is the most skillful soccer player on the college's team.
(comparing John to all other players)
3. Gold is the most valuable of all metals. (comparing gold to all metals)

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