Andhra Pradesh BIEAP AP Inter 1st Year English Study Material Intermediate 1st Year English Grammar Degrees of Comparison Questions and Answers.
AP Intermediate 1st Year English Grammar Degrees of Comparison
Adjectives form degrees namely, Positive Degree, Comparative Degree and Superlative Degree. All root adjectives are called Positive forms while the addition of suffixes ‘er/more’ to the root make Comparative forms and the suffixes ‘est’ / ‘most’ make Superlative forms.
Note : Some adjectives form their Comparative and Superlative forms illogically.
Transformation of Degrees of Comparison
The following are a few basic models :
Note:
- Comparative Degree is usually followed by ‘than’.
- Superlative Degrees take ‘the’ in front of them.
- ‘so …. as’ can be written ‘as …. as’ also.
- Comparative Degree and Superlative Degrees begin alike.
- Comparative Degree and Positive Degree begin with the end of each other.
Model- I
Only two objects are involved in comparison here. Hence there is no possibility for forming a superlative degree. Negative (not) exists only in one of the two.
E.g. Mumbai is bigger than Hyderabad. (C.D.)
Hyderabad is not so / as big as Mumbai. (PD.)
Model – II
The phrases ‘few other / very few’ in Positive Degree is always followed by a Plural noun. They are equated by ‘most other + plural noun’ in comparative Degree and ‘one of the + Super-lative form’ in Superlative Degree.
E.g. Mumbai is one of the biggest cities in the world. (S.D.)
Mumbai is bigger than most other cities in the world. (C.D.)
Few other cities in the world are as big as Mumbai. (RD.)
Model – III
The phrase ‘no other’ in Positive Degree is always followed by a Singular Noun. It is equated by the phrases ‘any other’ in Comparative Degree and ‘the + Superlative form’ in the Superlative Degree.
E.g. Mumbai is the biggest city in India. (S.D.)
Mumbai is bigger than any other city in India. (C.D.)
No other city in India is so/as big as Mumbai (P.D.)
Exercise
Convert the following as specified
Question 1.
The Hindu is one of the most leading newspapers in India, (convert into Comparative and Positive Degrees)
Answer:
a) The Hindu is more leading than most other newspapers in India. (C.D)
b) Few other/Very few newspapers in India are as leading as the Hindu. (P.D)
Question 2.
Money is more liquid than gold, (convert into Positive Degree)
Answer:
Gold is not as/so liquid as money. (RD)
Question 3.
Keats died younger than most other Romantic writers, (convert into Positive and Su-perlative Degrees)
Answer:
a) Few other Romantic writers died as young as Keats. (RD)
b) Keats died the youngest of all Romantic writers. (S.D)
Question 4.
You sing better than I. (convert into Positive Degree)
Answer:
I do not sing so well as you. (P.D)
Question 5.
Express Trains travel faster than a passenger trains, (convert into Positive Degree)
Answer:
Passenger trains do not travel so/as fast as Express trains. (P.D)
Question 6.
Shakespeare is the greatest dramatist, (convert into Comparative and Positive Degrees)
Answer:
a) Shakespeare is greater than any other dramatist. (C.D)
b) No other dramatist is as great as Shakespeare. (P.D)
Question 7.
Time flies faster than any other thing, (convert into Positive Degree)
Answer:
Nothing flies as/so fast as time. (P.D)
Question 8.
Indian Civilization is one of the oldest ones in the world, (convert into Comparative and Positive Degrees)
Answer:
a) Indian civilization is older than most other ones in the world. (C.D)
b) Few other/Very few civilizations are as old as Indian civilization. (P.D)
Question 9.
No other metal is as heavy as lead. (convert into Comparative and Superlative Degrees)
Answer:
a) Lead is the heavier than any other metal. (C.D)
b) Lead is the heaviest metal. (S.D)
Question 10.
Very few singers were as popular as Ghantasala. (convert into Comparative and Positive Degrees)
Answer:
a) Ghantasala was more popular than most other singers. (C.D)
b) Ghantasala was one of the most popular singers. (S.D)
Question 11.
Life is less important than honor to a soldier, (convert into Positive Degree)
Answer:
Honour is not as little important as life to a soldier. (RD)
Question 12.
Copper is the best conductor, (convert into Comparative and Positive Degrees)
Answer:
a) Copper is better than any other conductor. (C.D)
b) No other conductor is as/so good as copper. (RD)
Question 13.
I am not as good as you at chess, (convert into Comparative Degree)
Answer:
You are better than I at chess. (C.D)
Question 14.
Nights seem longer in winter than in summer, (convert into Positive Degree)
Answer:
Nights do not seem as long in summer as they are in winter. (RD)
Question 15.
Abdul Kalam is one of the greatest visionaries of India, (convert into Comparative and Positive Degrees)
Answer:
a) Abdul Kalam is greater than most other visionaries of India. (C.D)
b) Few other/Very few visionaries of India are as/so great as Abdul Kalam. (RD)
Question 16.
Art is longer than life, (convert into Positive Degree)
Answer:
Life is not so long as art. (P.D)
Question 17.
She wrote better than she spoke, (convert into Positive Degree)
Answer:
She did not speak so well as she wrote. (P.D)
Question 18.
Indus Valley Civilization is one of the best civilizations in the world, (convert into Comparative and Positive Degrees)
Answer:
a) Indus Valley Civilization is better than most other civilizations in the world. (C.D) b) Few other/Very few civilizations in the world are so/as good as Indus Valley Civilizations. (P.D)
Question 19.
No other Kaurava was as strong as Duryodhana. (convert into Comparative and Positive Degrees)
Answer:
a) Duryodhana is stronger than any other Kaurava. (C.D)
b) Duryodhana is the strongest of all the Kaurava. (S.D)
Question 20.
Practice is the best way to master Grammar, (convert into Comparative and Positive Degrees)
Answer:
a) Practice is better than any other way to master Grammar. (C.D)
b) No other way is as/so good as Practice to master Grammar. (P.D)