Transformation of Sentence: Degree of Adjectives

Adjectives can be used in three ways in sentences based on their degree of comparison. In any "transformation of sentences" or "do as directed" grammar test, change of degree of adjective is a common question type to face.

Let's pay attention to how the adjective 'good' and its two other forms 'better' and 'best' is being used in the following examples —

1. Positive Degree – Rimi is a good student. / No other student in the class is as good as Rimi is.
2. Comparative Degree – Rimi is better than all other students in the class.
3. Superlative Degree – Rimi is the best student in the class.

Key patterns to remember:

Comparison between two: (Positive to Comparative and vice versa)

Comparison between many: (Superlative to Positive and comparative and vice versa)

Extensive Examples of Change of Degree:

1. Comparison between two: Positive to Comparative and vice versa

(a) Positive to Comparative

Pattern: Convert a positive degree statement (using "as...as") into a comparative statement (using "...than") by making the sentence negative or changing the structure.

• Rohit is as tall as Mohit. – Mohit is not taller than Rohit. / Rohit is not shorter than Mohit.
• This book is as interesting as that one. – This book is not less interesting than that one.
• She is as intelligent as her sister. – She is not less intelligent than her sister.
• The weather today is as pleasant as yesterday. – The weather today is not more unpleasant than yesterday.
• His performance is as good as mine. – His performance is not worse than mine.
• The red car is as fast as the blue car. – The red car is not slower than the blue car.
• This solution is as effective as the other one. – This solution is not less effective than the other one.
• Her voice is as sweet as honey. – Her voice is not less sweet than honey.

(b) Comparative to Positive

Pattern: Convert a comparative statement (using "...than") into a positive statement (using "as...as").

• Rohit is taller than Mohit. – Mohit is not so tall as Rohit.
• Rita is smarter than her friend. – Her friend is not as smart as Rita.
• Gold is more precious than silver. – Silver is not so precious as gold.
• This dress is more beautiful than that one. – That dress is not as beautiful as this one.
• He runs faster than his brother. – His brother does not run so fast as he does.
• She sings better than the other girls. – The other girls do not sing so well as she does.
• This laptop is more expensive than that tablet. – That tablet is not as expensive as this laptop.
• Your handwriting is neater than mine. – My handwriting is not as neat as yours.

2. Comparison between many: Superlative to Positive and Comparative and vice versa

(a) Superlative to Comparative

Pattern: Convert superlative degree (using "the most...") into comparative degree by comparing with "any other" or "all other".

Type 1 - The superlative is about being the absolute best:

• The Taj Mahal is the most beautiful monument in India. – The Taj Mahal is more beautiful than any other monument in India.
• Mount Everest is the highest mountain in the world. – Mount Everest is higher than any other mountain in the world.
• Albert Einstein was the greatest scientist of his time. – Albert Einstein was greater than any other scientist of his time.
• This is the best restaurant in the city. – This restaurant is better than any other restaurant in the city.
• She is the most talented dancer in the group. – She is more talented than any other dancer in the group.
• He delivered the finest speech at the ceremony. – He delivered a finer speech than any other speaker at the ceremony.
• This is the longest river in Asia. – This river is longer than any other river in Asia.
• He is the most hardworking student in the class. – He is more hardworking than any other student in the class.

Type 2 - The superlative is one of the best (not necessarily the absolute best):

• She is one of the most talented actresses in Bollywood. – She is more talented than most other actresses in Bollywood.
• This is one of the best schools in the country. – This school is better than most other schools in the country.
• He is one of the fastest runners in the competition. – He is faster than most other runners in the competition.
• That novel is one of the most popular books ever written. – That novel is more popular than most other books ever written.
• This café is one of the most visited places in town. – This café is more visited than most other places in town.
• She is one of the most intelligent students in the school. – She is more intelligent than most other students in the school.
• That painting is one of the most expensive artworks in the gallery. – That painting is more expensive than most other artworks in the gallery.

(b) Comparative to Superlative

Pattern: Convert comparative statements into superlative form.

• The Amazon is deeper than any other river in the world. – The Amazon is the deepest river in the world.
• The Taj Mahal is more beautiful than any other monument in India. – The Taj Mahal is the most beautiful monument in India.
• K2 is higher than any other mountain in Pakistan. – K2 is the highest mountain in Pakistan.
• This restaurant is better than any other restaurant in the city. – This is the best restaurant in the city.
• She is more talented than any other dancer in the group. – She is the most talented dancer in the group.
• He was greater than any other scientist of his time. – He was the greatest scientist of his time.
• This highway is longer than any other highway in the state. – This is the longest highway in the state.
• He is more hardworking than any other student in the class. – He is the most hardworking student in the class.

(c) Superlative to Positive

Pattern: Convert superlative statements into positive degree using "no other...as" or "very few...as".

Type 1 - Absolute superlative:

• Mount Everest is the highest mountain in the world. – No other mountain in the world is as high as Mount Everest.
• Albert Einstein was the greatest scientist of his time. – No other scientist of his time was as great as Albert Einstein.
• This is the best restaurant in the city. – No other restaurant in the city is as good as this one.
• She is the most talented dancer in the group. – No other dancer in the group is as talented as she is.
• He delivered the finest speech at the ceremony. – No other speaker at the ceremony delivered as fine a speech as he did.
• This is the longest river in Asia. – No other river in Asia is as long as this one.
• He is the most hardworking student in the class. – No other student in the class is as hardworking as he is.
• This is the most comfortable chair in the room. – No other chair in the room is as comfortable as this one.

Type 2 - One of the superlatives:

• This is one of the best schools in the country. – Very few schools in the country are as good as this one.
• He is one of the fastest runners in the competition. – Very few runners in the competition are as fast as he is.
• That novel is one of the most popular books ever written. – Very few books ever written are as popular as that novel.
• This café is one of the most visited places in town. – Very few places in town are as visited as this café.
• She is one of the most intelligent students in the school. – Very few students in the school are as intelligent as she is.
• That painting is one of the most expensive artworks in the gallery. – Very few artworks in the gallery are as expensive as that painting.
• This is one of the tallest buildings in the city. – Very few buildings in the city are as tall as this one.
• He is one of the kindest people I know. – Very few people I know are as kind as he is.

(d) Positive to Superlative

Pattern: Convert positive statements into superlative form.

From Type 1 Positive (absolute):

• No other monument in India is as beautiful as the Taj Mahal. – The Taj Mahal is the most beautiful monument in India.
• No other mountain in the world is as high as Mount Everest. – Mount Everest is the highest mountain in the world.
• No other scientist of his time was as great as Albert Einstein. – Albert Einstein was the greatest scientist of his time.
• No other restaurant in the city is as good as this one. – This is the best restaurant in the city.
• No other dancer in the group is as talented as she is. – She is the most talented dancer in the group.
• No other river in Asia is as long as this one. – This is the longest river in Asia.
• No other student in the class is as hardworking as he is. – He is the most hardworking student in the class.
• No other highway in the state is as long as this one. – This is the longest highway in the state.

From Type 2 Positive (one of the best):

• Very few civilizations in the world are as old as India. – India is one of the oldest civilizations in the world.
• Very few actresses in Bollywood are as talented as she is. – She is one of the most talented actresses in Bollywood.
• Very few schools in the country are as good as this one. – This is one of the best schools in the country.
• Very few runners in the competition are as fast as he is. – He is one of the fastest runners in the competition.
• Very few books ever written are as popular as that novel. – That novel is one of the most popular books ever written.
• Very few places in town are as visited as this café. – This café is one of the most visited places in town.
• Very few students in the school are as intelligent as she is. – She is one of the most intelligent students in the school.
• Very few artworks in the gallery are as expensive as that painting. – That painting is one of the most expensive artworks in the gallery.