Notice, too, that the adjective in the comparative and superlative degrees
always expresses the quality relatively. When we say, This _apple_ is
_sweeter than that_, or, This _apple_ is the _sweetest of the three_, we do
not mean that any one of the apples is very sweet, but only that one apple
is sweeter than the other, or the sweetest of those compared.
The several degrees of the quality expressed by the adjective may be
increased or diminished by adverbs modifying the adjective. We can say
_very_, _exceedingly_, _rather_, or _somewhat_ sweet; _far_, _still_, or
_much_, sweeter; _by far_ or _much_ the sweetest.
Some adverbs, as well as adjectives, are compared.
Adjectives have one modification; viz., +Comparison+. [Footnote: Two
adjectives, _this_ and _that_, have number forms--_this_, _these_; _that_,
_those_. In Anglo-Saxon and Latin, adjectives have forms to indicate
gender, number, and case.]
+DEFINITIONS+.
+_Comparison_ is a modification of the adjective (or the adverb) to express
the relative degree of the quality in the things compared.+ [Footnote:
Different degrees of quantity, also, may sometimes be expressed by
comparison.]
+The _Positive Degree_ expresses the simple quality.+
+The _Comparative Degree_ expresses a greater or a less degree of the
quality.
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