English grammar can be tricky. There are so many rules and exceptions to the rules. One of the most commonly-used grammar concepts is degrees of comparison. This post will provide 100 examples of how to use degrees of comparison for adjectives and adverbs. It’s a good idea to review these examples before you go back to school this fall!
Degrees Of Comparison
There are degrees of adjectives: positive, comparative, and superlative. Positive adjectives describe a quality without comparing it to anything else, while comparative adjectives compare two things, and superlative adjectives compare three or more things.
For example, the adjective “happy” is positive (“I’m happy“), comparative (“I’m happier than she is”), and superlative (“I’m the happiest person in the world”).
100 Examples Degrees Of Comparison
| Adjective | Comparative | Superlative |
| angry | angrier | angriest |
| cold | colder | coldest |
| filthy | filthier | filthiest |
| icy | icier | iciest |
| poor | poorer | poorest |
| smooth | smoother | smoothest |
| bloody | bloodier | bloodiest |
| cruel | crueler | cruelest |
| fresh | fresher | freshest |
| lazy | lazier | laziest |
| ripe | riper | ripest |
| tan | tanner | tannest |
| broad | broader | broadest |
| deadly | deadlier | deadliest |
| grave | graver | gravest |
| mad | madder | maddest |
| safe | safer | safest |
| true | truer | truest |
| bland | blander | blandest |
| crispy | crispier | crispiest |
| flat | flatter | flattest |
| late | later | latest |
| quiet | quieter | quietest |
| tall | taller | tallest |
| big | bigger | biggest |
| crazy | crazier | craziest |
| firm | firmer | firmest |
| juicy | juicier | juiciest |
| proud | prouder | proudest |
| soon | sooner | soonest |
| classy | classier | classiest |
| dumb | dumber | dumbest |
| hairy | hairier | hairiest |
| nasty | nastier | nastiest |
| sincere | sincerer | sincerest |
| busy | busier | busiest |
| fat | fatter | fattest |
| hot | hotter | hottest |
| old | older/elder | oldest/eldest |
| smart | smarter | smartest |
| bossy | bossier | bossiest |
| curvy | curvier | curviest |
| funny | funnier | funniest |
| long | longer | longest |
| rough | rougher | roughest |
| thin | thinner | thinnest |
| close | closer | closest |
| faint | fainter | faintest |
| harsh | harsher | harshest |
| noisy | noisier | noisiest |
| slimy | slimier | slimiest |
| brief | briefer | briefest |
| damp | damper | dampest |
| good | better | best |
| lovely | lovelier | loveliest |
| rusty | rustier | rustiest |
| tiny | tinier | tiniest |
| blue | bluer | bluest |
| crunchy | crunchier | crunchiest |
| friendly | friendlier | friendliest |
| light | lighter | lightest |
| risky | riskier | riskiest |
| tasty | tastier | tastiest |
| bitter | bitterer | bitterest |
| creamy | creamier | creamiest |
| fit | fitter | fittest |
| kind | kinder | kindest |
| pure | purer | purest |
| sweaty | sweatier | sweatiest |
| brave | braver | bravest |
| cute | cuter | cutest |
| gentle | gentler | gentlest |
| loud | louder | loudest |
| rude | ruder | rudest |
| thirsty | thirstier | thirstiest |
| bright | brighter | brightest |
| dark | darker | darkest |
| grand | grander | grandest |
| low | lower | lowest |
| sad | sadder | saddest |
| tough | tougher | toughest |
| calm | calmer | calmest |
| few | fewer | fewest |
| humble | humbler | humblest |
| plain | plainer | plainest |
| smelly | smellier | smelliest |
| bad | worse | worst |
| cool | cooler | coolest |
| fine | finer | finest |
| itchy | itchier | itchiest |
| pretty | prettier | prettiest |
| soft | softer | softest |
| calm | calmer | calmest |
| dense | denser | densest |
| great | greater | greatest |
| messy | messier | messiest |
| sane | saner | sanest |
| warm | warmer | warmest |
| cheap | cheaper | cheapest |
| dirty | dirtier | dirtiest |
| greedy | greedier | greediest |
| mild | milder | mildest |
| scary | scarier | scariest |
| weak | weaker | weakest |
| chubby | chubbier | chubbiest |
| dull | duller | dullest |
| guilty | guilter | guiltiest |
| narrow | narrower | narrowest |
| sharp | sharper | sharpest |
| chewy | chewier | chewiest |
| dry | drier | driest |
| gross | grosser | grossest |
| moist | moister | moistest |
| shallow | shallower | shallowest |
| black | blacker | blackest |
| creepy | creepier | creepiest |
| flaky | flakier | flakiest |
| large | larger | largest |
| quick | quicker | quickest |
| sweet | sweeter | sweetest |
| bold | bolder | boldest |
| curly | curly | curliest |
| full | fuller | fullest |
| likely | likelier | likeliest |
| roomy | roomier | roomiest |
| thick | thicker | thickest |
| clear | clear | clearest |
| early | earlier | earliest |
| happy | happier | happiest |
| near | nearer | nearest |
| sleepy | sleepier | sleepiest |
| busy | busier | busiest |
| deep | deeper | deepest |
| greasy | greasier | greasiest |
| mean | meaner | meanest |
| salty | saltier | saltiest |
| ugly | uglier | ugliest |
| clean | cleaner | cleanest |
| dusty | dustier | dustiest |
| handy | handier | handiest |
| naughty | naughtier | naughtiest |
| skinny | skinnier | skinniest |
| clumsy | clumsier | clumsiest |
| fancy | fancier | fanciest |
| hip | hipper | hippest |
| oily | oilier | oiliest |
| small | smaller | smallest |
| coarse | coarser | coarsest |
| fierce | fiercer | fiercest |
| hungry | hungrier | hungriest |
| polite | politer | politest |
| smoky | smokier | smokiest |
| clever | cleverer | cleverest |
| easy | easier | easiest |
| hard | harder | hardest |
| nice | nicer | nicest |
| slim | slimmer | slimmest |
| cloudy | cloudier | cloudiest |
| fair | fairer | fairest |
| healthy | healthier | healthiest |
| odd | odder | oddest |
| slow | slower | slowest |
Examples of Degrees Of Comparison in Sentences
Slow – Slower – Slowest
- She is a slow person.
- Her brother is slower than her.
- But their grandfather is the slowest person in the family.
Happy – Happier – Happiest
- I’m happy with my life.
- But I would be happier if I had more money.
- Some people are the happiest when they’re surrounded by family and friends.
Beautiful – More beautiful – Most Beautiful
- She’s a beautiful woman.
- I think you’re even more beautiful than she is.
- And his girlfriend is the most beautiful woman in the world (to him).
Healthy – Healthier – Healthiest
- I’m trying to live a healthy lifestyle.
- That means eating healthier foods and exercising more.
- Some people are the healthiest when they’re young.
Odd – odder – oddest
- This is an odd situation.
- I’ve never seen anything odder.
- The oddest thing is that she still doesn’t believe us.
Fair – Fairer – Fairest
- Life isn’t always fair.
- Some people are born into fairer circumstances than others.
- But we can all strive to be the fairest person we can be.
Great – Greater – Greatest
- I had a great time at the party.
- This project is going to be even greater.
- And his greatness will be remembered long after he’s gone.
Smoky – Smokier – Smokiest
- The air was smoky from the fire.
- But it’s even smokier in the city.
- The smokiest room in the house is the one with the fireplace.
Nice – Nicer – Nicest
- She’s a nice person.
- I think you’re even nicer.
- And his girlfriend is the nicest person in the world (to him).
Dirty – Dirtier – dirtiest
- The room was dirty.
- But the floor was even dirtier.
- The dirtiest place in the house is the bathroom.
Pretty – Prettier – Prettiest
- She’s a pretty girl.
- I think you’re even prettier.
- And his girlfriend is the prettiest girl in the world (to him).
Rich – Richer – Richest
- He’s a rich man.
- But she’s even richer.
- And their son is the richest person in the world (to them).
Comfortable – More comfortable – Most comfortable
- This chair is comfortable.
- But that one looks even more comfortable.
- The most comfortable chair in the world is the one you’re sitting in.
Different – More different – Most different
- They’re different people.
- But we’re even more different.
- And the most different person in the world is you.
