Lesson 9. ImportanceIn this lesson, you will put words in order of "how much" of something they represent. The concept of importance and words that tell us how important will be explored in more detail. Many words that are not related to size or amount can be put in some logical order of degree. In fact, when we make comparisons with more and most, or less and least, we are indicating degree. For example, consider the meanings of frequent, more frequent, most frequent, or frequent, less frequent, least frequent. The order of frequency is quite clear; we know which phrase indicates most often and which indicates least often. Another way degree is indicated is with the word endings -er and -est. Consider fast, faster, fastest or bright, brighter, brightest. Which is more fast or more bright? (When we use these forms to indicate differences, we are using comparative forms. Sometimes we refer to the more and -er forms as comparative and to the most and -est forms as superlative.) Other groups of related words can be put in order of degree without using comparative forms of the words. In the following lists, which word is "more" than the others?
satisfactory, good, wonderful annoyed, angry, furious
In the first list, the degree of goodness increases from left to right. In the second list, the degree of anger increases from left to right.
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