The present invention provides aqueous compositions comprising β-hydroxy propyl gamma-polyoxyalkylene ether functional resins chosen from (poly)oxyalkylene ether β-hydroxy propyl (meth)acrylates, maleates and itaconates, water soluble copolymers thereof, and mixtures thereof. The water soluble copolymers are comb polymers and (meth)acrylate, maleate and itaconate monomer resins can be addition polymerized to form comb polymers suitable for many uses, such as superplasticizers, dispersants, detergents and floor care compositions. In addition, the present invention provides methods of making the resins by reacting in water or aqueous solvent one or more reactant a) a glycidyl polyether or glycidyl ether, optionally having an alkyl or aryl end group with one or more reactant b) a carboxylate anion containing vinyl compound or polymer, preferably a polymer such as poly(meth)acrylic acid. The methods enable simple formation of comb polymers.