Degrees Of Comparison Questions Long
The difference between superlative degree and absolute superlative lies in their usage and meaning within the context of degrees of comparison.
Superlative degree is a grammatical form used to compare three or more items or individuals, indicating the highest degree of a particular quality or characteristic. It is used to express superiority or excellence among a group. For example, in the sentence "She is the tallest girl in the class," the superlative degree is used to compare the height of the girl with all the other girls in the class, emphasizing that she has the highest level of height among them.
On the other hand, absolute superlative, also known as the elative degree, is a linguistic concept used to express the highest or utmost degree of a quality or characteristic without making a direct comparison. It is used to intensify the meaning of an adjective or adverb, emphasizing its extreme nature. Absolute superlatives are often formed by adding a suffix to the base adjective or adverb, such as "-est" or "-most." For example, in the sentence "She is extremely beautiful," the absolute superlative "extremely" intensifies the adjective "beautiful," emphasizing that she possesses an exceptional level of beauty.
In summary, the superlative degree is used to compare items or individuals within a group, indicating the highest degree of a quality, while the absolute superlative is used to intensify the meaning of an adjective or adverb, expressing the utmost degree of a quality without making a direct comparison.