Revision as of 22:22, 16 September 2007 editJ. Spencer (talk | contribs)Autopatrolled, Extended confirmed users, Pending changes reviewers27,584 editsm disambig morphology← Previous edit |
Revision as of 02:30, 19 September 2007 edit undo202.158.82.116 (talk) ←Blanked the pageNext edit → |
Line 1: |
Line 1: |
|
{{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 (] degree); may compare the quality to that of another of its kind (] degree); may compare the quality to many or all others (] degree); 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 == |
|
|
* ] |
|
|
|
|
|
] |
|