Adjective which cannot be used in comparison

[Jupiter]

Hello Teachers,

What kind of adjectives which cannot be used in comparison?

Thanks in advance

Jupiter

[Canadian45]

1...Your sentence is not a good one; omit 'which'.
2...My initial answer is that the simple base form of adjectives, for example 'happy', cannot be used for making a comparison, while the comparative forms (happier) and superlative forms (happiest) can be used.
I hope that I have understood your question correctly. Did I?

[Canadian45]

Oh oh, I have to change my answer! Simple adjectives like 'happy' can also be used when making a comparison. 'I am not as happy today as I was yesterday.' 'She is even less happy than I am.'

[Yankee]

Hi Jupiter

Like Canadian45, I'm not sure I understand your question.

A thought that comes to mind is the fact that certain words don't work very well as comparatives only because of the meaning of the word itself.

Take the word unique, for example. Unique means one of a kind. How can something be "more unique" than something else? It's not logical.

Amy

[Tamara]

Hi jupiter

Adjectives that express 'absolute degree' of something cannot be used in comparison. Like hilarious or brulliant.
There are lots of such adjectives in English.
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It’s impossible to learn swimming without entering the water…

[Yankee]

Hi Jupiter

To carry on with my "unique idea" here are some more examples of "absolute adjectives":

- dead
- even
- equal
- perfect
- complete
- finished
- Danish

Amy

[Conchita]

[Tom]

What about round?

A table can be round or can not be round..The other table can not be rounder than this one.

Tom

[Tamara]

Yes, Conchita, people do that, colloquially. 'The most brilliant (mistakes )', etc

I've only transferred to Jupiter what my (standard English) tutor told me.
_________________
It’s impossible to learn swimming without entering the water…

[Yankee]

Hi Conchita

I agree with you that the so-called "absolute adjectives" are sometimes used comparatively -- especially in more informal English. They are also sometimes used ironically. One of my favorite examples comes from Orwell:
"All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others."

Amy

[Yankee]

[Tamara]

[Yankee]

Yes, Tamara. There is often a mixing of cultures. But then people often/usually say something such as "Irish-American".

Will you all be happier if I delete Danish? Sheesh. Be my guest and talk about being "more Danish than" as much as you want. I'm well aware that it happens sometimes, and if you can't see my point about national origin, that's also OK. I'm going to give up trying to clarify it now.

[Conchita]

[Yankee]

Hi Conchita

I'm sitting here contemplating what would happen if someone were born directly on top of a national border. Would we have to calculate what percentage of the mother's body was physically in each country when referring to percentage of national origin of the baby?

Amy