the positive degree
This offers no comparison. It just tells us about the existence of a quality.
for example:slow, beautiful, happy
the comparative degree
This compares two things to show which has the lesser or greater degree of the quality.
for example: slower, more beautiful, happier
the superlative degree
This compares more than two things to show which has the least or greatest degree of the quality.
for example: slowest, most beautiful, happiest