Chapter: UNIT 4 Degree of Adjectives
📚 Vocabulary
English Grammar and Composition class 8
⭐ Most Important Exam Words
positive degree — মূল রূপcomparative degree — তুলনামূলক রূপsuperlative degree — সর্বোচ্চ রূপtaller than — অপেক্ষা লম্বাthe tallest — সবচেয়ে লম্বাmore beautiful — আরও সুন্দরthe most interesting — সবচেয়ে আকর্ষণীয়better than — অপেক্ষা ভালোthe best — সর্বোত্তমworse than — অপেক্ষা খারাপthe worst — সবচেয়ে খারাপas tall as — সমান লম্বাnot taller than — অপেক্ষা বেশি লম্বা নয়any other — অন্য যেকোনোone of the best — সেরাদের একজনvery few — খুব কমসংখ্যকno other — আর কেউ নয়older than — অপেক্ষা বয়স্কless than — অপেক্ষা কমmore nutritious — অধিক পুষ্টিকর
📃 Word Formation Rules
► One-syllable adjectives generally take -er in the comparative and -est in the superlative: tall, taller, tallest.
► If a one-syllable adjective ends in a single vowel followed by a consonant, double the final consonant before -er or -est: big, bigger, biggest.
► If two vowels come before the final consonant, do not double the consonant: sweet, sweeter, sweetest.
► For adjectives ending in consonant + y, change y to i before adding -er or -est: happy, happier, happiest.
► If y follows a vowel, retain y and add -er or -est: grey, greyer, greyest.
► Adjectives of more than two syllables generally use more for the comparative and most for the superlative: beautiful, more beautiful, most beautiful.
► Some irregular adjectives change completely: good, better, best; bad, worse, worst; little, less, least.
► Use the before a superlative adjective: the tallest boy, the most famous poet.
► Use than after a comparative adjective when making a direct comparison: Rina is taller than Mina.
► For countable nouns, use many, more and most; for uncountable nouns, use much, more and most.
1. Basic Degree Terms — মৌলিক ডিগ্রির পরিভাষা (8 words)
degree[/dɪˈɡriː/]nouneasy
Meaning: মাত্রা বা তুলনার স্তর
Alt: ডিগ্রি
Example: Adjectives have three degrees of comparison.
Syn: level, extentAnt: ไม่มี
💡 Exam tip: Positive, comparative and superlative are the three degrees of adjectives.
positive[/ˈpɒzətɪv/]adjeasy
Meaning: তুলনাহীন মূল রূপ
Alt: ইতিবাচক
Example: Tall is the positive degree of taller and tallest.
Syn: basic, affirmativeAnt: negative, comparative
💡 Exam tip: The positive degree describes a quality without comparing it.
comparative[/kəmˈpærətɪv/]adjeasy
Meaning: দুই ব্যক্তি বা বস্তুর তুলনামূলক
Alt: তুলনামূলক ডিগ্রি
Example: Rina is taller than Mina.
Syn: relative, comparativeAnt: absolute, positive
💡 Exam tip: Comparative degree generally takes than and compares two.
superlative[/suːˈpɜːlətɪv/]adjeasy
Meaning: সর্বোচ্চ মাত্রার
Alt: শ্রেষ্ঠতম
Example: Rafi is the tallest boy in the class.
Syn: highest, extremeAnt: lowest, positive
💡 Exam tip: Use the before a superlative adjective.
adjective[/ˈædʒɪktɪv/]nouneasy
Meaning: বিশেষণ
Alt: যে শব্দ noun-এর গুণ বা অবস্থা প্রকাশ করে
Example: Beautiful is an adjective.
Syn: descriptive word, qualifierAnt: noun, verb
💡 Exam tip: Identify the adjective before changing its degree.
quality[/ˈkwɒləti/]nouneasy
Meaning: গুণ বা বৈশিষ্ট্য
Alt: মান
Example: Honesty is a good quality.
Syn: attribute, characteristicAnt: defect, fault
💡 Exam tip: Adjectives qualify or describe the quality of nouns.
comparison[/kəmˈpærɪsən/]nouneasy
Meaning: তুলনা
Alt: সাদৃশ্য বা পার্থক্য নির্ণয়
Example: This sentence shows a comparison between two students.
Syn: contrast, evaluationAnt: separation, difference
💡 Exam tip: Check whether the sentence compares one, two, or more than two.
qualify[/ˈkwɒlɪfaɪ/]verbmedium
Meaning: বিশেষণ করা বা গুণ প্রকাশ করা
Alt: যোগ্য করে তোলা
Example: Adjectives qualify nouns and pronouns.
Syn: describe, modifyAnt: misrepresent, ignore
💡 Exam tip: In grammar, qualify means describe the quality of a noun.
2. One-Syllable Adjectives — এক syllable বিশেষণ (8 words)
tall[/tɔːl/]adjeasy
Meaning: লম্বা
Alt: উচ্চ
Example: Karim is tall.
Syn: high, loftyAnt: short, low
💡 Exam tip: tall → taller → tallest.
short[/ʃɔːt/]adjeasy
Meaning: খাটো বা ছোট
Alt: সংক্ষিপ্ত
Example: This is a short road.
Syn: small, briefAnt: tall, long
💡 Exam tip: short → shorter → shortest.
bright[/braɪt/]adjeasy
Meaning: উজ্জ্বল
Alt: মেধাবী
Example: The sun is brighter today.
Syn: shining, cleverAnt: dark, dull
💡 Exam tip: bright → brighter → brightest; add er and est.
large[/lɑːdʒ/]adjeasy
Meaning: বড়
Alt: প্রশস্ত
Example: Dhaka is a large city.
Syn: big, hugeAnt: small, tiny
💡 Exam tip: large → larger → largest; final e is retained before r and st.
wise[/waɪz/]adjeasy
Meaning: জ্ঞানী
Alt: বিচক্ষণ
Example: My grandfather is a wise man.
Syn: sensible, cleverAnt: foolish, stupid
💡 Exam tip: wise → wiser → wisest.
safe[/seɪf/]adjeasy
Meaning: নিরাপদ
Alt: ঝুঁকিমুক্ত
Example: This is the safest road to school.
Syn: secure, protectedAnt: dangerous, unsafe
💡 Exam tip: safe → safer → safest.
deep[/diːp/]adjeasy
Meaning: গভীর
Alt: তলদেশ পর্যন্ত বিস্তৃত
Example: The river is deeper here.
Syn: profound, bottomlessAnt: shallow, surface
💡 Exam tip: deep → deeper → deepest.
poor[/pʊə(r)/]adjeasy
Meaning: দরিদ্র
Alt: দুর্বল বা নিম্নমানের
Example: The poor man needs help.
Syn: needy, weakAnt: rich, wealthy
💡 Exam tip: poor → poorer → poorest.
3. Spelling Changes — বানান পরিবর্তনের নিয়ম (8 words)
big[/bɪɡ/]adjeasy
Meaning: বড়
Alt: গুরুত্বপূর্ণ
Example: This is the biggest tree in the garden.
Syn: large, greatAnt: small, little
💡 Exam tip: big → bigger → biggest: double the final consonant.
fat[/fæt/]adjeasy
Meaning: মোটা
Alt: চর্বিযুক্ত
Example: The fattest cat won the show.
Syn: stout, plumpAnt: thin, slim
💡 Exam tip: fat → fatter → fattest.
hot[/hɒt/]adjeasy
Meaning: গরম
Alt: উত্তপ্ত বা ঝাল
Example: Today is hotter than yesterday.
Syn: warm, burningAnt: cold, cool
💡 Exam tip: hot → hotter → hottest; double the final consonant.
thin[/θɪn/]adjeasy
Meaning: পাতলা বা রোগা
Alt: সরু
Example: This book is thinner than that one.
Syn: slim, narrowAnt: thick, fat
💡 Exam tip: thin → thinner → thinnest.
busy[/ˈbɪzi/]adjeasy
Meaning: ব্যস্ত
Alt: চলমান বা কর্মচঞ্চল
Example: The market is busier on Friday.
Syn: occupied, activeAnt: idle, free
💡 Exam tip: busy → busier → busiest: change y to i.
easy[/ˈiːzi/]adjeasy
Meaning: সহজ
Alt: কষ্টহীন
Example: This is the easiest exercise.
Syn: simple, effortlessAnt: difficult, hard
💡 Exam tip: easy → easier → easiest.
happy[/ˈhæpi/]adjeasy
Meaning: সুখী
Alt: আনন্দিত
Example: She looks happier today.
Syn: joyful, gladAnt: sad, unhappy
💡 Exam tip: happy → happier → happiest: y changes to i.
grey[/ɡreɪ/]adjmedium
Meaning: ধূসর
Alt: ছাই রঙের
Example: This is the greyest cloud in the sky.
Syn: ashen, grayAnt: colourful, bright
💡 Exam tip: grey → greyer → greyest: y remains because it follows a vowel.
4. Multi-Syllable Adjectives — বহু syllable বিশেষণ (8 words)
beautiful[/ˈbjuːtɪfəl/]adjeasy
Meaning: সুন্দর
Alt: মনোরম
Example: The garden is more beautiful in spring.
Syn: pretty, lovelyAnt: ugly, unattractive
💡 Exam tip: beautiful → more beautiful → most beautiful.
careful[/ˈkeəfəl/]adjeasy
Meaning: সতর্ক
Alt: সাবধানী
Example: Be more careful while crossing the road.
Syn: cautious, attentiveAnt: careless, reckless
💡 Exam tip: Use more and most with long adjectives.
difficult[/ˈdɪfɪkəlt/]adjeasy
Meaning: কঠিন
Alt: জটিল
Example: Mathematics is the most difficult subject for him.
Syn: hard, challengingAnt: easy, simple
💡 Exam tip: difficult → more difficult → most difficult.
famous[/ˈfeɪməs/]adjeasy
Meaning: বিখ্যাত
Alt: পরিচিত
Example: Shakespeare is one of the most famous dramatists.
Syn: renowned, well-knownAnt: unknown, obscure
💡 Exam tip: famous → more famous → most famous.
generous[/ˈdʒenərəs/]adjmedium
Meaning: উদার
Alt: দানশীল
Example: He is more generous than his brother.
Syn: liberal, charitableAnt: selfish, stingy
💡 Exam tip: generous takes more and most.
interesting[/ˈɪntrəstɪŋ/]adjeasy
Meaning: আকর্ষণীয়
Alt: কৌতূহলোদ্দীপক
Example: This is the most interesting story I have read.
Syn: fascinating, engagingAnt: boring, dull
💡 Exam tip: interesting → more interesting → most interesting.
obedient[/əˈbiːdiənt/]adjmedium
Meaning: বাধ্য
Alt: অনুগত
Example: Rupa is the most obedient student in the class.
Syn: dutiful, compliantAnt: disobedient, defiant
💡 Exam tip: obedient takes more and most.
comfortable[/ˈkʌmftəbəl/]adjmedium
Meaning: আরামদায়ক
Alt: স্বস্তিদায়ক
Example: This chair is more comfortable than that one.
Syn: pleasant, cosyAnt: uncomfortable, painful
💡 Exam tip: comfortable → more comfortable → most comfortable.
5. Irregular Forms — অনিয়মিত রূপ (8 words)
good[/ɡʊd/]adjeasy
Meaning: ভালো
Alt: উপযুক্ত
Example: This is the best answer.
Syn: excellent, fineAnt: bad, poor
💡 Exam tip: good → better → best; never write gooder or goodest.
bad[/bæd/]adjeasy
Meaning: খারাপ
Alt: মন্দ
Example: Today the weather is worse than yesterday.
Syn: poor, evilAnt: good, excellent
💡 Exam tip: bad → worse → worst.
far[/fɑː(r)/]adjeasy
Meaning: দূর
Alt: দূরবর্তী
Example: Dhaka is farther from here than Comilla.
Syn: distant, remoteAnt: near, close
💡 Exam tip: far → farther → farthest for physical distance.
little[/ˈlɪtl/]adjeasy
Meaning: অল্প বা ছোট
Alt: সামান্য পরিমাণ
Example: He has the least money among them.
Syn: small, scantyAnt: much, large
💡 Exam tip: little → less → least for quantity.
many[/ˈmeni/]adjeasy
Meaning: অনেক
Alt: বহু
Example: This library has more books than that one.
Syn: numerous, severalAnt: few, none
💡 Exam tip: many → more → most for countable nouns.
much[/mʌtʃ/]adjeasy
Meaning: অনেক
Alt: প্রচুর পরিমাণ
Example: This bottle contains the most water.
Syn: a lot of, plenty ofAnt: little, 少
💡 Exam tip: much → more → most for uncountable nouns.
old[/əʊld/]adjmedium
Meaning: পুরোনো বা বয়স্ক
Alt: প্রাচীন
Example: My elder brother lives in Chattogram.
Syn: aged, ancientAnt: young, new
💡 Exam tip: older/oldest usually denotes age; elder/eldest is mainly used for family relations.
late[/leɪt/]adjmedium
Meaning: দেরি হওয়া
Alt: সাম্প্রতিক বা মৃত
Example: December is later than November.
Syn: delayed, belatedAnt: early, prompt
💡 Exam tip: late → later → latest; latter and last have special meanings.
6. Weather and Exam Context — আবহাওয়া ও পরীক্ষার শব্দ (8 words)
weather[/ˈweðə(r)/]nouneasy
Meaning: আবহাওয়া
Alt: বায়ুমণ্ডলের অবস্থা
Example: The weather is likely to remain dry.
Syn: climate, conditionsAnt: none
💡 Exam tip: Weather is a noun; do not confuse it with whether.
dry[/draɪ/]adjeasy
Meaning: শুষ্ক
Alt: ভেজাহীন
Example: The roads are drier today.
Syn: arid, parchedAnt: wet, moist
💡 Exam tip: dry → drier → driest.
cloudy[/ˈklaʊdi/]adjeasy
Meaning: মেঘাচ্ছন্ন
Alt: মেঘে ঢাকা
Example: The sky is cloudier than yesterday.
Syn: overcast, gloomyAnt: clear, sunny
💡 Exam tip: cloudy → cloudier → cloudiest.
mild[/maɪld/]adjeasy
Meaning: মৃদু
Alt: সহনীয় বা কোমল
Example: A mild cold wave is sweeping over the region.
Syn: moderate, gentleAnt: severe, extreme
💡 Exam tip: mild → milder → mildest.
cold[/kəʊld/]adjeasy
Meaning: ঠান্ডা
Alt: শীতল বা নির্লিপ্ত
Example: Today is colder than yesterday.
Syn: chilly, coolAnt: hot, warm
💡 Exam tip: cold → colder → coldest.
warm[/wɔːm/]adjeasy
Meaning: উষ্ণ
Alt: সৌহার্দ্যপূর্ণ
Example: The next few days will be warmer.
Syn: hot, heatedAnt: cold, cool
💡 Exam tip: warm → warmer → warmest.
thick[/θɪk/]adjeasy
Meaning: ঘন বা পুরু
Alt: বেশি ঘনত্বের
Example: Thick fog covered the river basin.
Syn: dense, heavyAnt: thin, sparse
💡 Exam tip: thick → thicker → thickest.
elderly[/ˈeldəli/]adjeasy
Meaning: বয়স্ক
Alt: প্রবীণ
Example: Elderly people may need warm clothes in winter.
Syn: aged, oldAnt: young, youthful
💡 Exam tip: Elderly is generally used for people, not objects.
💡 Exam Tips
• Use positive degree when no comparison is made.
• Use comparative degree to compare two persons, animals, places or things.
• Use superlative degree to compare three or more members of a group.
• A comparative adjective usually takes than: Karim is taller than Rahim.
• A superlative adjective normally takes the: She is the cleverest girl in the class.
• To change superlative into positive, use no other or very few according to the meaning.
• Pattern: Atanu is the best boy in the class = No other boy in the class is as good as Atanu.
• Pattern: Sraboni is one of the most intelligent girls = Very few girls are as intelligent as Sraboni.
• Pattern: Apollo Airlines is better than most other airlines = Apollo Airlines is one of the best airlines.
• Do not use double comparison such as more better or most tallest.
• Remember the special forms: good-better-best, bad-worse-worst, far-farther-farthest, little-less-least.
• In transformation questions, preserve the original meaning, tense and subject as much as possible.