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| {{Mergeto|Comparative|date=August 2007}} | |||
| The '''degree of comparison''' of an adjective describes the relational value of an adjective or adjectival expression. An adjective may simply describe a quality (]); may compare the quality to that of another of its kind (]); may compare the quality to many or all others (]); or may describe it as having a very large degree of a quality (in Semitic linguistics, called an ]). | |||
| The degree of comparison may be expressed synthetically, through ], or analytically, through ]. In English, for example, most monosyllabic and some disyllabic adjectives have morphological degrees of comparison: ''green'' (absolute), ''greener'' (comparative), ''greenest'' (superlative); ''pretty'', ''prettier'', ''prettiest''; while most polysyllabic adjectives use syntax: ''complex'', ''more complex'', ''most complex''. | |||
| The absolute degree is the most basic form of the adjective, absolute because it does not describe a quality in relation to the qualities of others. | |||
| The comparative degree denotes a greater amount of a quality relative to something else. The phrase “Anna is taller than her father” means that Anna's degree of tallness is greater than her father's degree of tallness. | |||
| The superlative degree denotes the largest quality among a group, or among all things of a certain kind. | |||
| ==In various languages== | |||
| ==English usage== | |||
| Traditional English grammar uses the comparative form when comparing exactly two things, and the superlative when comparing three or more, but in informal usage this may not hold. | |||
| == Rhetorical use of unbalanced comparatives == | |||
| In some contexts, such as advertising or political speeches, absolute and relative comparatives are intentionally employed in a way that invites a comparison, and yet the basis of comparison is not established. This is a common ] device used to create an implication of significance where one may not actually be present. Although such usage is common, it is sometimes ]. | |||
| For example: | |||
| * Always! | |||
| * Why pay more? | |||
| * We work harder. | |||
| * We sell for less! | |||
| == See also == | |||
| * ] | |||
| ] | |||
Latest revision as of 12:28, 31 July 2012
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