positive degree
- noun
- /ˈpɒzɪtɪv dɪˈɡriː/
- Specialized
:
grado positivo
- In the sentence 'He is tall,' the adjective 'tall' is in the positive degree.
Examples
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Most English adjectives, such as 'happy,' appear first in their positive degree before forming comparatives and superlatives.
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In grammar, the positive degree describes a quality.
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Understanding the positive degree is essential for constructing simple descriptive sentences.
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What is the positive degree of the word 'fast'?
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In the sentence 'He is tall,' the adjective 'tall' is in the positive degree.
-
Most English adjectives, such as 'happy,' appear first in their positive degree before forming comparatives and superlatives.
-
Understanding the positive degree is essential for constructing simple descriptive sentences.
Synonyms
3
6.0
The basic form of an adjective without comparison
How Comparative
- Specialized
- Specialized
- Specialized
Surface Forms
Morphology
The phrase is compositionally analyzable: 'positive' (non-comparative) combined with 'degree' (amount/extent) yields the base, non-comparative form of an adjective or adverb. However, it is a technical grammatical term and B1 learners who know the ordinary senses of the words may not automatically map them to the grammatical category of comparative degrees without prior exposure, so the relation is only partially transparent.
Etymology
Positive degree uses the image of steps on a ladder: the word degree means a step, and the positive step is the first, plain form of an adjective before you move up to 'taller' or 'tallest'. So positive degree means the base form of an adjective or adverb, not a comparison.