LESSON XXXII.

COMPARISON OF ADJECTIVES.

In the following sentences what degree of quality do the different forms of the adjective large express?

1.John has a large ball.
2.I have a larger ball than John’s.
3.James has the largest ball in the yard.

In sentence number 2, two balls are compared. In sentence number 3, three or more balls are compared. Hence the change of form of adjectives to express different degrees of quality is called comparison.

The form of the adjective, which merely expresses the quality, is called the positive degree; as, I have a small pen.

The form of the adjective that expresses a higher or lower degree of the quality, is called the comparative degree; as, Charles has a smaller pen than mine.

The form of the adjective that expresses the highest or the lowest degree of the quality, is called the superlative degree; as, The teacher has the smallest pen in the room.

Most adjectives of one syllable form the comparative by adding er to the simple form, and the superlative by adding est to the same form; as,

Positive. Comparative.Superlative.
tall,taller,tallest.
fine,finer,finest.

Note.—If the simple form ends in e, one e is omitted in the comparison.

Most adjectives of more than one syllable are composed by prefixing more and most, or less and least to the simple form; as,

Positive.Comparative.Superlative.
beautiful,more beautiful,most beautiful,
worthy,less worthy,least worthy.

The following adjectives of two syllables are often compared by adding er and est: happy, pleasant, common, noble, able, narrow.

The following adjectives are compared irregularly:—

Positive.Comparative.Superlative.
good,better,best,
bad, evil, or ill,worse,worst,
little,less,least,
much or many,more,most,
far,farther,farthest,
(forth,)further,furthest or furthermost,
near,nearer,nearest or next,
late,later,latest or last,
fore,former,foremost or first,
old,older or elder,oldest or eldest.

EXERCISE I.

Name each adjective in the following sentences, state its degree, and give the word it modifies:—

1.I never saw a brighter sky.
2.It was a cruel and most unjust sentence.
3.The shores of this lake are high and rocky.
4.To-morrow’ll be the happiest time of all the glad New-year;
Of all the glad New-year, mother, the maddest, merriest day.—Tennyson.
5.I sat and watched her many a day,
When her eyes grew dim and her locks were gray.—Eliza Cook.
6.Small service is true service while it lasts;
Of friends, however humble, scorn not one.—Wordsworth.
7.Look. She is sad to miss,
Morning and night
His—her dead father’s—kiss;
Tries to be bright,
Good to mamma, and sweet.
That is all. “Marguerite.”—Dobson.

EXERCISE II.

Compare the following adjectives:—

near,bad,happy,wise,plain,
first,grateful,numerous,brief,lofty,
rapid,fortunate,far,cloudy,handsome,
sincere,hind,dreary,pale,extraordinary.