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| {{Grammatical categories}} | |||
| In English grammar, the '''degree of comparison''' of an ] or ] describes the relational value of one thing with something in another clause of a sentence. An adjective may simply describe a quality, (the ''positive''); it may compare the quality with that of another of its kind ('']'' degree); and it may compare the quality with many or all others ('']'' degree). <ref>Tom McArthur, ed. (1992) ''The Oxford Companion to the English Language'', Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-214183-X</ref> In other languages it may describe a very large degree of a particular quality (in Semitic linguistics, called an ]). | |||
| The degree of comparison may be expressed ] or ]. In English, for example, most ] and some ] adjectives have morphological degrees of comparison: ''green'' (positive), ''greener'' (comparative), ''greenest'' (superlative); ''pretty'', ''prettier'', ''prettiest''; while most polysyllabic adjectives use syntax: ''complex'', ''more complex'', ''most complex''. | |||
| # The positive degree is the most basic form of the adjective, positive because it does not relate to any superior or inferior qualities of other things in speech. | |||
| # 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 most, the largest, etc., by which it differs from other things. | |||
| == 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 ].<ref name=GrammarGirl>{{cite web |url=http://grammar.quickanddirtytips.com/comparatives-versus-superlatives.aspx |title=Comparatives Versus Superlatives |first=Bonnie |last=Trenga |date=12 August 2008 |work=Grammar Girl |publisher=Quick and Dirty Tips}}</ref> | |||
| For example: | |||
| * Always! | |||
| * Why pay more? | |||
| * We work harder. | |||
| * We sell for less! | |||
| == English usage == | |||
| Traditional English grammar uses the comparative form when comparing exactly two things, and the superlative when comparing three or more, but in infor | |||
| | ''Most'' Sincere | |||
| |- | |||
| |Small | |||
| |Small''er'' | |||
| |Small''est'' | |||
| |} | |||
| == References == | |||
| <references/> | |||
| 2. World book encyclopedia volumes.. 2009 edition | |||
| ] | |||
| ] | |||
| ] | |||
Latest revision as of 12:28, 31 July 2012
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