Introduction

degree

In simple words, the degree is the form of the adjective(Positive, comparative, and superlative) degree used to show different degrees or levels denoted by the adjective.

By using degrees of comparison of adjectives, we can show similarity, compare and show the highest positions.

So the degree of adjectives is a very important part of our English speaking and writing.

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What is a degree in English grammar?

The three forms -positive, comparative, superlative used for the qualitative comparison of adjectives and adverbs is called a degree in English grammar.

Examples-

• A)positive degree
• 1)He is a good player.
• 2)He is as good as his friend.
• B)Comparative degree
• 1)He is better than his friend.
• c)Superlative degree

He is the best player in his friends.

Let’s see all the three types of degrees in detail.

Types of the degree in English

There are three main types of degrees. They are positive, comparative and superlative degrees.

We will learn them in detail here.

1)Positive degree-

Positive degree is used to show the similarity between two nouns or noun groups. It can be affirmative or negative.

Its structure is as follows.

As/so+ positive degree adjective+ as

Example-

• 1)John is as brave as his brother.
• 2)John is not so/as brave as his brother.

2)Comparative degree-

The comparative degree is used to compare two nouns or noun groups. Its structure is as follows.

Comparative degree adjective+ than.

Example-

• 1)John is braver than his brother.
• 2)John is not braver than his brother.

3)Superlative degree-

The superlative degree is used to show the highest position of the noun or noun group.

Its structure is as follows.

Example-

• 1)John is the bravest person in his family.
• 2)John is not the bravest person in his family.

In this way, we have 3 degrees in English. We use three degrees of adjectives as positive, comparative, and superlative to change the degree of comparison.

So we will see now the chart of three degrees of adjectives

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Chart of positive comparative and superlative degree adjectives

How to change positive degree to comparative degree

First, we will see some examples and then find out the rules from them.

1)Sam is not as kind as John.

Answer-John is kinder than Sam.

2)The train is not as fast as the plane.

Answer-The plane is faster than the train.

Rules for changing positive to a comparative degree-

1)Begin the sentence with a noun higher in degree.

2)Use comparative degree adjectives.

3)Then use than and noun which is not higher in degree than the other noun.

Some more examples for practice.

3)The old man can not walk as quick as the young man.

Answer-The young man can walk faster than the old man.

4)Tokyo is not as crowded as New York.

Answer-New York is more crowded than Tokyo.

5)Silver is not as expensive as Gold.

Answer-Gold is more expensive than Silver.

How to change comparative degree sentences to positive degree sentences

Let’ see some examples first and then we will form the rules from them.

Examples-

1)I can play better than you.

Answer-You can not play as well as I.

2)This bridge is bigger than the London bridge.

Answer-London bridge is not as big as this bridge.

Rules for changing comparative to a positive degree.

1)First begin the sentence with the last noun or noun group.

2)Use or remove not as per the need to keep the meaning the same.

3)Use as+ positive degree adjective+ as

Some more examples for the practice.

3)Iron is cheaper than copper.

Answer-Copper is not as cheap as Iron.

4)The car is more comfortable than the bike.

Answer-The bike is not as comfortable as the car.

Use of older, elder, oldest, eldest-

Comparative adjective elder and superlative adjective eldest is used only for human beings on the other hand older and oldest are used for people, animals, and all the things.

Up to now, we have studied What are types of degree and forms of adjectives in the positive, comparative and superlative degree.

Now we will learn how to change the degree such as positive -comparative-superlative without changing the meaning of the sentences.

How to change superlative degree sentences to a positive and comparative degree

First, we will see some examples and then we will form rules from them.

Examples-

1)Education is the best option.

Positive degree-No other option is as good as education.

Comparative degree-Education is better than any other option.

2)Burge Khalifa is the tallest building in the world.

Positive degree-No other building in the world is as tall as Burge Khalifa.

Comparative degree- Burge Khalifa is taller than any other building.

3)Electricity is the greatest invention.

Positive degree-No other invention is as great as electricity.

Comparative degree-Electricity is greater than any other invention.

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Superlative degree sentences with one of the to a positive and comparative degree

Let’s see some examples first and then form rules from them.

Conclusion for degrees of comparison

Here we can conclude that there are three degrees of comparison of adjectives. They are positive, comparative, and superlative.

We can change them in each other without changing the meaning.

Examples of changing superlative degree one of the sentences to positive and comparative degree

1)Computer is one of the smartest inventions of the 21^st century.

Positive degree- Very few inventions of the 21^st century are as smart as Computer is.

Comparative degree- The computer is smarter than many other inventions of the 21^st century.

2)The dog is one of the most faithful animals for humans.

Positive degree- Very few animals are as faithful as the dog is.

Comparative degree- The dog is more faithful than many other animals for humans.

From the above examples, we can form rules as follows.

1)While changing one of the sentences of superlative degree, begin the sentence with very few. Use plural helping verb for the plural subject. Then use as+ positive degree adjective+ as.

2)While changing one of the sentences of the superlative degree, into the comparative degree, use comparative degree adjective and then use than many/most other.

Some more examples for practice.

1)The Banyan tree is one of the largest trees.

Positive degree- Very few trees are as large as the Banyan tree is.

Comparative degree- The Banyan tree is larger than many other trees.

2)Mobile is one of the most useful gadgets.

Positive degree- Very few gadgets are as useful as mobile is.

Comparative degree- Mobile is more useful than many other gadgets.

3)Gold was one of the most precious metals.

Positive degree- Very few metals were as precious as gold is.

Comparative degree- Gold was more precious than many other metals.

Rules for changing superlative degree to positive and comparative degree.

1)We can change the superlative degree to a positive degree by beginning the sentence with no other. Then use noun used after the adjective and use structure as+ positive degree adjective+ as

2)For changing superlative degree to comparative degree, begin a sentence with the same noun used in superlative and then use Comparative degree adjective + than any other.

Some more examples for practice.

4)Everest is the highest peak in the world.

Positive degree- No other peak in the world is as high as Everest is.

Comparative degree- Everest is higher than any other peak in the world.

5)Jeff Bezos is the richest man in the world.

Positive degree- No other man in the world is as rich as Jeff Bezos.

Comparative degree- Jeff Bezos is richer than any other man in the world.

6)Parris is the most stylish city in the world.

Positive degree- No other city in the world is as stylish as Parris is.

Comparative degree- Parris is more stylish than any other city in the world.

The above sentences show the highest position but some sentences show the highest position shared by very few.

Such sentences are formed in the superlative degree by “one of the “

Easy Examples of Degrees of Comparison

Here is the adjective “hungry” in all three degrees of comparison:

• Lee is hungry. (positive degree)
• Lee is hungrier than Mark. (comparative degree)
• Lee is the hungriest of all. (superlative degree)

Here is the adverb “dangerously” in all three degrees of comparison:

• Lee played dangerously today. (positive degree)
• Lee played more dangerously than Mark. (comparative degree)
• Lee played most dangerously. (superlative degree)

Formation of comparative degree

The comparative form of an adjective can be formed using following rules:

By adding the ‘-er’ in the end to the single syllable adjectives.
Examples:
hard – harder
slow – slower

The consonant is doubled if the adjective ends with a vowel and a consonant.
Examples:
hot – hotter
big – bigger

If a two-syllable word ends with ‘-y’, it is replaced with ‘-ier’
Examples:
healthy – healthier
pretty – prettier

Word ‘more’ is placed before the multi-syllable adjective and adverbs ending in ‘-ly’.
Examples:
more prone
more expensive
more seriously
more slowly

Some adjectives and adverbs are exceptions of these rules:
Examples:
good – better
bad – worse

Formation of Superlative degree

By adding ‘-est’ in the end of one-syllable words.
Examples:
long- longest
tall – tallest

By placing ‘the most’ before the multi-syllable words.
Examples:
expensive – the most expensive
famous – the most famous

Some adjectives and adverbs are exceptions.
Examples:
Good – the best
Bad – the worst

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Rule 1. When two items/people are compared, a comparative degree is used by putting ‘er’ to the adjective word in association with the word ‘than’. In some cases ‘more’ is used.

Comparative degree example:

• She is smarter than her sister.
• She is more cheerful than her sister.

Similarly, when more than two things/people are compared, the superlative degree is used by putting ‘est’ to the adjective word or in some cases ‘most’ is used.

Superlative degree of comparison examples:

• He is the strongest wrestler.
• He is the most handsome actor.

Rule 2. ‘More’ is used when you compare qualities of a single thing/person. Even if the first adjective is a single syllable word.

Degree of comparison examples:

Incorrect – She is smarter than clever.

Correct – She is more smart than clever.

Rule 3. Do not use double comparative adjectives or superlative adjectives.

Degree of comparison examples:

Incorrect – These mangoes are more tastier than those.

Correct – These mangoes are tastier than those.

Rule 4. Never use ‘more or most’ with adjectives that give absolute sense.

Degree of comparison example:

Incorrect – This track is more parallel to that one

Correct – This track is parallel and the other is not.

Rule 5. There are a few adjectives that are accompanied by ‘to’, like, senior, junior, superior, inferior, preferable,  prefer, elder. Do not use ‘than’ with these adjectives.

Degree of adjective examples:

Incorrect: I am elder than her.

Correct: I am elder to her.

Incorrect – This car brand is superior than that.

Correct – This card brand is superior to that.

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