Degrees of comparison small in English

The degrees of comparison in English, as in any other, are used to express relativity and assess the qualities of an object or phenomenon with reference to the same qualities of another object or phenomenon. In English, as in Russian, there are only three degrees of comparison: positive, comparative and excellent. In this article, each of these degrees will be considered separately on the example of the adjective small, which means "small" in English.

Positive degree

This degree of comparison small in English has a descriptive function, that is, it serves to literally describe a particular object or phenomenon. Simply put, this degree of comparison, no matter how paradoxical it may sound, does not imply comparison, but simply states the fact that someone or something is small, regardless of the size of other objects or creatures.

Here are some examples of using the adjective small in a positive way:

• I'm not going to say my hometown was small, but the speed signs were standing 'back to back'. - I'm not saying that my hometown was small, but the speed limiters on the roads were "back to back" / very closely to each other. (This classic British joke refers to the fact that in small towns speed limiters appear only at the entrance and exit of the city and if they are crowded, the town is really very small).
• It was a strange small instrument he decided to repair my car with, and it was definetly the worst way for him to make me believe he is a good specialist. “He decided to fix my car with some strange little tool, and that was the worst way to make me believe that he was a really good specialist.”

As the examples show, small in this case is a simple characteristic.

comparative

In English, there are three ways to form a comparative degree of comparison small. They all serve to describe or explain how small an object or phenomenon is relative to another object or phenomenon, but it depends on the context.

This degree of comparison small helps describe one subject relative to another: to say that it is more, less, or as small as what it is compared to. It is used often enough because it is flexible in structure and easy to remember.

In addition, its various forms can be used in one sentence, creating a more accurate, unusual and interesting description. For instance:

• It was a small cup of coffee, less small than the one you need to wake up, but definetely smaller than the one I'd like myself to be able to drink slowly it the morning instead of being in a hurry and affraid to be late to work. - It was a small cup of coffee; not as small as you need to wake up, but definitely less than the one I would like to allow myself to drink calmly in the morning instead of rushing and being afraid to be late for work.
• The justice works when everyone has got as small part of common success as others besides you, and everyone's part is smaller than yours. “Justice comes when everyone gets the same small piece of overall success as everyone else except you, and all their pieces are smaller than yours.”

As can be seen from the proposed examples, small is an adjective rich in frequently used degrees of comparison. Using it wisely, you can express very interesting ideas and thoughts.

Superlative

The superlative degree of comparison small, unlike the previous one, compares the desired item not with another item, but with all possible ones. It sounds like the smallest and literally translates as “smallest” or “smallest”.

Here are some examples of its use:

• Even the smallest dog in the world is able to bite and hurt. “Even the smallest dog in the world can bite painfully.”
• I've seen a lot of cars and finally got the smallest one, because it seemed to be the most comfortable to me. - I saw a lot of cars, but in the end I bought the smallest, because it seemed to me the most convenient.
• True friendship is real when your friends is being asked by you to share his happiness, devides it into two parts and takes himself the smallest one. - True friendship is when your friend, when you ask him to share his happiness, divides him in two and leaves himself the smallest part.

To summarize

All three degrees of comparison of the adjective small are actively used in English, they need to be known. Moreover, other adjectives obey the same laws and are formed in a very similar way. Therefore, having learned the degree of comparison small, it is quite possible to trace the pattern and similarly use other words, expressing relativity or superiority. No one can say when and under what circumstances it will be necessary to know the degree of comparison of adjectives in English. But anyone will say with confidence that they are one of the most important aspects of learning that cannot be ignored.