Comparison, in grammar, is the inflection of some adjectives and adverbs to express a greater or smaller degree of the quality the word denotes. Inflection means changing the form of a word.
The three degrees of comparison
are the positive, comparative, and superlative. The positive is the simple degree, as in, “This book is heavy“; “This book is interesting. ” The corresponding adverbs, heavily and interestingly, are also in the positive.
The comparative is used when two objects are being compared, as in, “This book is heavier (or less heavy) than the other,” or, “more interesting (or less interesting) than the other.” The corresponding adverbial forms, such as more heavily and less interestingly, are also in the comparative degree.
The superlative is used to point out the one among three or more objects that has the highest or lowest degree of the quality referred to: “This is the heaviest (or least heavy) book,” or “the most interesting (or least interesting) book.” The corresponding adverbial forms, such as least heavily and most interestingly, are also in the superlative degree. The superlative is also used in the intensive sense of very, without implying comparison, as in “That is most attractive. “
Regularly compared adjectives
add the suffixes –er and –est to the positive form, as in proud, prouder, proudest. This change is described as comparison by inflection. If the adverbs more, most, less, or least are prefixed, the change is described as a periphrastic comparison, as in proud, more proud, most proud.
Irregularly compared adjectives
include some of the most common adjectives in English–words that have come down from Old English, or Anglo-Saxon, forms. The following list contains some irregularly compared adjectives.
Some adjectives and adverbs, such as perpendicular, square, eternal, unique, and perfect may be considered absolute in meaning and therefore not subject to comparison. If unique means “having no equal,” how can something be more unique? However, phrases like more perfect, rounder, and yellowest are commonly used. More precise phrases would be more closely perfect, more nearly round, and most intensely yellow.
The words other and else are often used to distinguish the elements that are being compared. For example, if Robert’s height is being compared with that of the other boys in his class, a precise phrasing would read: “Robert is taller than any other boy (or anybody else) in his class,” not “Robert is taller than any boy (or anybody) in his class.”
Usage.
When two objects are compared, the comparative form is used, not the superlative. “Helen is the healthier of the twins” is correct. “Helen is the healthiest of the twins” is wrong. When comparison is made by inflection, adding an adverb is unnecessary. Happier is an adequate comparison. More happier is not standard usage.
