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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 informal usage this may not hold. For instance, the phrase "May the best man win" may be used even when there are only two individuals competing; in traditional usage the correct phrase when there are two contestants would be "May the ''better'' man win".<ref name=GrammarGirl /> | |||
| {| class="wikitable" border="1" | |||
| |- | |||
| ! Positive | |||
| ! Comparative | |||
| ! Superlative | |||
| |- | |||
| | Good | |||
| | Bett''er'' | |||
| | B''est'' | |||
| |- | |||
| | Beautiful | |||
| | ''More'' Beautiful | |||
| | ''Most'' Beautiful | |||
| |- | |||
| | Big | |||
| | Bigg''er'' | |||
| | Bigg''est'' | |||
| |- | |||
| | Tall | |||
| | Tall''er'' | |||
| | Tall''est'' | |||
| |- | |||
| | Sincere | |||
| | ''More'' Sincere | |||
| | ''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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