One Person Comparison

When the word comparison is mentioned, what commonly comes to an individual’s mind first is comparing and contrasting two distinct entities. However, this lesson will occasion a change in perspective as comparison emphasised here concerns only one person. Grammatically, one person connotes :

• First person. As the primary frame of reference.

• Second person. From the first person frame of reference.
• The third person. Again, from the first person frame of reference.

Further elaborations on the grammatical constructive forms of the one person comparison will be given thus.

GRAMMATICAL CONSTRUCTIVE FORMS ON THE USE OF COMPARISON:

Before diving into the various forms and structures of one person comparison,we will have to clear the ground on different constructs and expressions of comparison in English. This knowledge will reinforce the understanding of the grammatical construction of “one person comparison” in  English.

Comparison in English refers to the way the degrees of different objects in comparison vary in intensity. One object may increase or decrease in its intensity of character, structure or semblance compared to another. 

There are three forms which express varying degrees of comparison. These are:

• The positive form: 

In this form, the adverb or adjective is left in defined or raw form. E.g beautiful, slow, good, long etc. They define or qualify or modify the noun, pronoun and verb concerned.

• The comparative form.

This comparative form employs the use of quantifiers to define the degree of positive form of the adverb or adjective. For instance: the comparative form for adjectives with one syllable like clean – cleaner. 

New – newer. 

Cheap – cheaper.

However, for adjectives with more than two syllables in comparison there is an introduction of an extra word like “more” ,”less”. Like in the case of “more beautiful”. 

Also, there are irregular forms of adjectives example with comparatives like:

Good – better

Bad – worse

Much – more.

• The superlative form.

For the superlative form, the highest degree of expression is fully captured. The superlative form explains the final and foremost degree of the adjectives. 

For instance:

Good – better – best

Clean – cleaner – cleanest

Clever – cleverer/more clever – cleverest/most clever.

Beautiful – more beautiful – most beautiful .

The above illustrations explain how grammatical comparison is done.

We’ll shed more light on how the “one person comparison” takes structural, grammatical form. But, we’ll beforehand, explain what position of reference can take the “one person” structure. Whether first person; second person; or third person.

UNDERSTANDING THE FIRST, SECOND AND THIRD PERSON:

In grammar, statements are considered from a point of reference. This gives birth to the idea of the positions of the persons involved; whether first, second or third. These positions are personal pronouns.

• The first person refers to the “I”. It is the reflective pronoun where one looks upon oneself. 

E.g  I was at the bus stop to pick my bag.

• The second person connotes another person or persons who are present before the individual speaking. For instance. You have seen my bag.
• The third person refers to persons or things that can be present or not in the immediate environment where the first person is speaking. For instance, if you say:

He came to my party.

You are definitely referring to the third person.

However, We use “they” and “them” to refer to the indefinite pronouns :someone, anyone, everyone when their number isn’t known.

The knowledge we have concocted so far will form the basis on which the “one person comparison” is structured. That’s how it will take it form.

THE “ONE PERSON COMPARISON”  CONCEPT:

The one person comparison is rather reflective in nature. It’s like a man beholding himself in the mirror. He is comparing his present self with his past self or his imaginative self.

This doesn’t entail contrasts between two individuals, objects or things. But it’s more about oneself. Maybe changes occur that prompts you to set standards of evaluation. This makes you desire to improve and grow beyond your present state.

These are the instances of one person comparison.

• The first person view:

Examples;

“I compete with myself everyday to be smarter than I am now.”

This statement shows that you’re in competition with no one but yourself. It could be you are self-motivated or self active, therefore you don’t strive to beat another person’s achievements. Further examples are:

The earlier I go to bed, the better I perform in school.

I look more beautiful than I looked earlier at school today.

Our team is richer than some months ago.

This is a one person comparison in terms of the first person position

• The second person view:

The second person is another person or things or groups of things or persons you point out to. For instance:

You guys would have done better than this if only you exercised some stealth while performing.

This shows that the second person’s comparison exists between the former and latter state. 

• The third person view:

This view shows that others’ present state of being or degree of performance supersedes the former state of performance. Instances:

The institute’s staff is more than before.

These illustrations explain the concept of one person comparison. This form of comparison entails a state of change in the being or performance of a single person (first, second or third as the case may be). 

CONCLUSION:

One person comparison is used to indicate the difference in state of being or performance of a single entity over time. Unlike degrees of comparison where we compare between two or more entities, it is a degree of comparison used to compare between two states of being of either first person, second person or a third person. These grammatical persons may indicate an individual or collective. One should be thorough with the rules in order to avoid any mistake while using this concept.