202. Many adjectives and adverbs are, from their meaning, incapable of comparison. Such are:—
1. Adjectives expressing a quality as absolute or complete, and adverbs derived from such adjectives.
Examples:
- unique,
- universal,
- single,
- matchless,
- instantaneous,
- triangular,
- everlasting,
- infinite,
- mortal;
- uniquely,
- singly,
- eternally,
- mortally.
2. The adverbs here, there, then, now, when, and the like.
Note. Words like perfect, exact, straight, etc., are commonly said to be incapable of comparison, but this is an error. For each of these words may vary in sense. When perfect (for example) denotes absolute perfection, it cannot be compared. But perfect has also another sense: namely, “partaking in a higher or lower degree of the qualities that make up absolute perfection,” so that we may describe one statue as more perfect than another, or one of three statues as the most perfect of them all. In this use, which is unobjectionable, we simply admit that nothing in the world is absolutely flawless, and assert that the three statues approach ideal perfection in various degrees.
203. An adjective phrase may sometimes be compared by means of more and most.
- I was never more out of humor [= more vexed].
- I think your last suggestion most in keeping [= most appropriate].
NUMERALS—ADJECTIVES, NOUNS, AND ADVERBS
204. Words indicating number are called numerals. They are adjectives, nouns, or adverbs.