Degrees of comparison are important because they help us gauge the value of one thing in relation to another. We already know how to compare things in English, but how about in Tagalog?
Let’s find out today.
Positive Degree
The positive degree is the first degree of comparison. It’s the state of an adjective that has not been compared to another yet.
Below are some examples of Tagalog adjectives that are in the positive degree.
Tagalog Degrees of Comparison
Positive Degree |
|---|
| Tagalog | Sample Sentences | English Translation |
| malinis (clean) | Malinis ang baso. | The glass is clean. |
| maganda (beautiful) | Siya ay maganda. | She is beautiful. |
| masaya (happy) | Masaya ako ngayong taon. | I’m happy this year. |
| tahimik (quiet) | Tahimik ang bahay kapag wala siya. | The house is quiet without him / her. |
| masayahin (cheerful) | Siya ay masayahin. | He / She is cheerful. |
| malakas (strong) | Malakas ang tatay ko. | My father is strong. |
| lampa (clumsy) | Ako ay lampa. | I am clumsy. |
| mataas (tall) | Mataas ang gusaling pinagta-trabahuhan ko. | The building where I work for is tall. |
| mabilis (fast) | Mabilis siyang tumakbo. | He / She runs fast. |
| mahal (expensive) | Mahal ang kaniyang hikaw. | His / her earrings are expensive. |
Comparative Degree
The comparative degree is the second degree of comparison. It shows the degree of one thing in relation to another. In Tagalog, this is demonstrated by appending the word “mas” before an adjective.
Say for example, we have the adjective “malinis” (clean). To change it into the comparative form, we’ll just add “mas” before it, making it “mas malinis” (cleaner).
Below are some more examples to help you see how it is done.
Tagalog Degrees of Comparison
Comparative Degree |
|---|
| Tagalog | Sample Sentences | English Translation |
| mas malinis (cleaner) | Mas malinis ang baso kaysa pinggan | The glass is cleaner than the plate. |
| mas maganda (more beautiful) | Siya ay mas maganda kaysa kaniyang Ate. | She is more beautiful than her older sister. |
| mas masaya (happier) | Mas masaya ako ngayong taon kumpara sa nakaraang taon. | I’m happier this year compared |
| mas tahimik (quieter) | Mas tahimik ang bahay kapag wala siya. | The house is quieter without him / her. |
| mas masayahin (more cheerful) | Mas masayahin siya kumpara sa kaniyang mga kaklase. | He / She is more cheerful compared to his / her classmates. |
| mas malakas (stronger) | Mas malakas ang tatay ko kaysa aking kuya. | My father is stronger than my older brother. |
| mas lampa (clumsier) | Mas lampa ako kaysa aking nakababatang kapatid. | I’m clumsier than my younger sibling. |
| mas mataas (taller) | Mas mataas ang gusaling pinagta-trabahuhan ko kaysa sa gusaling pinagta-trabahuhan niya. | The building where I work for is taller than the building she does. |
| mas mabilis (faster) | Mas mabilis siyang tumakbo kapag wala siyang suot na sapatos. | He / She runs faster when he / she is not wearing shoes. |
| mas mahal (more expensive) | Mas mahal ang kaniyang hikaw kaysa kaniyang singsing. | His / her earrings are more expensive than his / her ring. |
Superlative Degree
The superlative degree is the third degree of comparison. It shows the degree of one thing in relation to everything else.
In Tagalog, we do this by adding the prefix “pinaka” before an adjective.
Say for example, we have the adjective “mabait” (kind). To change it into the superlative form, we simply add the prefix “pinaka” before it, making it “pinakamabait” (kindest).
Below are additional examples built on the same template.
Tagalog Degrees of Comparison
Superlative Degree |
|---|
| Tagalog | Sample Sentences | English Translation |
| pinakamalapit (closest) | Ang pinakamalapit na bus station ay 5 kilometro ang layo mula dito. | The closest bus station is 5 kilometers away from here. |
| pinakamalalim (deepest) | Ang Challenger Deep ay ang kilalang pinakamalalim na parte ng mga karagatan sa mundo. | The Challenger Deep is the deepest known part of the Earth’s oceans. |
| pinakamatingkad (brightest) | Ang kulay ng mansanas ang pinakamatingkad na pulang nakita ko. | The color of the apple is the brightest red I’ve seen |
| pinakamasarap (most delicious) | Nagsagawa sila ng kumpetisyon para malaman kung kaninong pagkain ang pinakamasarap. | They held a contest to see whose food is the most delicious. |
| pinakamadali (easiest) | Ang pinakamadaling paraan para makarating doon ay sa pamamagitan ng pagsakay sa eroplano. | The easiest way to get there is by plane. |
| pinakamasama (worst) | Ang pagkawala ng pitaka ko ang pinakamasamang nangyari sa akin ngayong araw na ito. | The loss of my wallet is the worst thing that happened to me today. |
| pinakamalinaw (clearest) | Ito ang mga pinakamalinaw na instruction na nabasa ko. | These are the clearest instructions I’ve read. |
| pinakamaganda (best) | Iyon ang pinakamagandang regalong natanggap niya. | That was the best gift he/she received. |
| pinakamahirap (hardest) | Ang magpaalam ang isa sa pinakamahirap na bagay na gawin. | Saying goodbye is one of the hardest things to do. |
| pinakanalilito (most confused) | Dito sa parteng ito ako pinakanalilito. | This part is what I’m most confused with / This is the part tha confuses me most. |
There you have it: comparing things using the comparative and superlative degrees. If you need more examples or if there’s something that confused you, feel free to leave a comment and let me know. (^_^)
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