positive degree
English
Noun
positive degree
- (grammar) That state of an adjective or adverb indicating simple quality, without comparison or relation to increase or diminution; as in wise, noble.
Usage notes
English has three degrees of comparison: positive, comparative, and superlative. For short adjectives, English adds the suffix "-er" to an adjective to form the comparative degree, and adds "-est" to form the superlative degree. For adjectives longer than about two syllables, and for adverbs, English precedes the word with "more" for the comparative and "most" for the superlative.
| Positive | Comparative | Superlative |
| wise | wiser | wisest |
| beautiful | more beautiful | most beautiful |
| slow (adjective) | slower | slowest |
| slowly (adverb) | more slowly | most slowly |
Related terms
- comparative degree
- superlative degree
Translations
that state of an adjective or adverb indicating simple quality, without comparison
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