What is degree, its types are elaborated with examples

1. Degree

9. Positive Degree:
It is the adjective in its simplest form. It is used to denote the existence
of a quality but can be used to indicate comparison to an equal degree.
Positive degree is formed by using ‘as ……… as’ with adjective in positive
(affirmative) sense and ‘not as ……… as’ or ‘not so ……… as’ in negative
sense,
Examples:
(i) Gunjan is as smart as Pritam.
(ii) Mumbai is as busy as Delhi.
(iii) My pen is not so (as) expensive as yours.
(iv) Vipin is not as clever as (or so clever as) his brother.
Consider the following sentences:
(i) Rudra is a kind man.
(ii) This baby is gorgeous.
Here, the qualities of ‘Rudra’ and ‘baby’ have been simply stated and
not been compared with those of anybody else. This is also positive
degree.

19. Comparative Degree:
It is generally used when two entities being compared possess an unequal degree of a certain quality.
In comparative degree, suffix ‘er’ is added to the adjective and ‘than’ is used after the adjective.
Examples:
(i) Shamli is taller than Sonali.
(ii) Anurag is braver than Prayas.
(iii) Iron is harder than wood.
(iv) Rutuja is fairer than Swapnil.
Some adjectives with more than one syllable do not take ‘er’ as a suffix but ‘more’ is used before them as
follows :
(i) Ayan is more intelligent than Rehan.
(ii) Tokyo is more expensive than Delhi.
(iii) This room is more spacious than that.
(iv) He found Sherlock Holmes more interesting than Donald Duck.
Important Points about Comparative Degree
Adjectives ending in ‘or’ such as superior, inferior, prior, junior, senior, etc take ‘to’ in place of ‘than’ along with
them.
Examples:
(i) Mr Sharma is junior to (not ‘than’) Mr Mishra.
(ii) This jewellery is superior to that one.
We use ‘to’ with the verb ‘prefer’. Neither ‘er’ nor ‘than’ is used with ‘prefer’ as the verb itself means ‘to like
more’.
Examples:
(i) I prefer tea to coffee.
(ii) Madhurima preferred eating fruits to drinking juices.

29. Superlative Degree:
Superlative degree is used for the comparison of three or more things of unequal degree of a
certain quality. It is the highest degree of quality and is used to express that one person or thing
possesses the most superior of the quality among the things being talked about.
While forming the superlative form of an adjective, the suffix ‘est’ is added to the adjective which is
preceded by article ‘the’.
Examples:
(i) Resham is the wisest girl among them all.
Or
Resham is the wisest of all girls.
(ii) This is the funniest of all books that I have read so far.
(iii) Rishi is the strongest boy in our class.
(iv) You are the best friend of mine.
Some adjectives with more than two syllables that take ‘more’ in comparative degree take ‘most’ in
superlative degree.
Examples:
(i) The snake is the most dangerous animal.
(ii) The Taj Mahal is the most famous epitome of love.
(iii) Chiraag is the most handsome boy in his family.
(iv) Room no 15 in the hotel was the most convenient one for the businessmen.

30. Positive Comparative Superlative
bold bolder boldest
short shorter shortest
deep deeper deepest
cold colder coldest
warm warmer warmest
strong stronger strongest
poor poorer poorest
rich richer richest
(i) by adding ‘-er’ and ‘-est’ to the positive degree; as

31. Positive Comparative Superlative
large larger largest
wise wiser wisest
brave braver bravest
fine finer finest
noble nobler noblest
simple simpler simplest
(ii) by adding only ‘r’ and ‘st’ when the positive ends in ‘e’; as

32. Positive Comparative Superlative
noisy noisier noisiest
ugly uglier ugliest
holy holier holiest
happy happier happiest
pretty prettier prettiest
easy easier easiest
(iii) by changing ‘y’ into ‘i’ and adding ‘er’ and ‘est’ if positive ends in ‘y’ preceded by a consonant; as

33. Positive Comparative Superlative
grey grayer grayest
gay gayer gayest
Note: If ‘y’ of a positive degree is preceded by a vowel than ‘y’ remains intact
and ‘-er’ and ‘est’ are added to make
them Comparative and Superlative; as

34. Positive Comparative Superlative
fat fatter fattest
big bigger biggest
hot hotter hottest
thin thinner thinnest
sad sadder saddest
red redder reddest
wet wetter wettest
(iv) by doubling the final consonant before adding ‘-er’ and ‘est’ if the positive
ends in one consonant preceded by a vowel; as

35. Positive Comparative Superlative
intelligent more intelligent most intelligent
beautiful more beautiful most beautiful
dangerous more dangerous most dangerous
famous more famous most famous
popular more popular most popular
handsome more handsome most handsome
pleasant more pleasant most pleasant
expensive more expensive most expensive
(v) by placing ‘more’ and ‘most’ before all adjectives of more than two syllables
and many adjectives of two syllables; as

36. Positive Comparative Superlative
good better best
bad worse worst
little less least
far farther farthest
much more most
many more most
late later, latter latest, last
(vi) Some adjectives form their Comparative and Superlative
in an irregular way; as

37. Positive Comparative Superlative
Many ______ most
Happy more famous happiest most famous
bad worse ______
fat fatter ______
______ gayer gayest
wise ______ wisest
______ thinner thinnest
good ______ best
far farther ______
ugly
______
uglier
more pleasant
______
most pleasant
little
much
______
more
least
______
Exercise 1
Fill in the blanks:

38. Answer:
1. more 2. happier 3. famous
4. worst
5. fattest 6. gay 7. wiser
8. thin
9. better 10. farthest 11. ugliest
12. pleasant
13. less 14. most

39. Exercise 2
Choose the right word from within the brackets:
1. He is cleverer ………… me. (than, to)
2. He is senior ………… me by five years. (than, to)
3. Reeta is the most intelligent ………… all the students of the
class. (than, of)
4. Choose the ………… (better, best) of the two.
5. Uttar Pradesh is the ………… populated state of India.
(more, most)
6. Make ………… noise. (little, less)
7. Shabana is the ………… painter of the two. (good, better)
8. You are junior ………… me. (than, to)
9. Health is ………… than wealth. (better, best)
10.The Taj Mahal is one of the ………… beautiful buildings in
the world., (more, most)

40. Answer:
1. than 2. to 3. of
4. better
5. most 6. less 7. better 8. to
9. better 10. most

41. Exercise 3
Fill in the blanks with proper form (Comparative or Superlative) of
adjectives.
1. Kavita is the ____ girl in the class. (good)
2. Mt. Everest is the ____ mountain peak in the world. (high)
3. Delhi is ____ than Chennai. (hot)
4. Diamond is the ____ of all gems. (costly)
5. Iron is the ____ of all metals. (heavy)
6. My doll is ____ than yours. (pretty)
7. Sarita is the ____ girl in the class. (popular)
8. Africa is the ____ of all the five continents. (hot)
9. My car is ____ than yours. (expensive)
10.Rachna is ____ than her sister. (tall)
11.This photograph is the ____ of the two. (good)
12.The streets of Karachi are ____ than Mumbai (wide)
13.He is the ____ runner here. (fast)
14.Your accent is ____ than mine. (bad)
15.Lead is ____ than any other metal. (heavy)

42. Answer:
1. best 2. highest 3. hotter
4. costliest
5. heaviest 6. prettier 7. most
popular 8. hottest
9. more
expensive 10. taller 11. better
12. wider
13. fastest 14. worse
15. heavier

43. Change of Degree
Change of degree means transformation of one
form of degree of an adjective into another
form but retaining the same meaning of the
sentence.
Let us try to understand the rules of
transforming one form of degree of comparison
into another.

44. Superlative Degree to Positive and Comparative-
When we use superlative degree to estimate the quality of an object,
we mean to say that it has the highest degree of that particular
quality among all the objects being compared. This means ‘no other’
object has that quality to the same degree.
Therefore, in positive degree, we use, ‘No other’ and in comparative
‘all other’ or ‘any other’ because the degree of the quality in the
object being talked about is ‘superior’ to that in any other object.
Examples:
(i) Superlative Degree Hardik is the strongest player of our team.
(ii) Superlative Degree Swara is the cleverest of all girls in my class.
Or
Swara is the cleverest girl in my class.
Positive Degree No other girl in my class is as clever as Swara.
Comparative Degree Swara is cleverer than any other girl (or all other
girls) in my class.

45. Positive Degree to Comparative Degree-
Both positive and comparative degree are used to compare
only two objects (i.e. two persons, ideas, or things).
Therefore, they cannot be transformed into superlative
degree.
Consider the following sentence:
“Ram is as tall as Shyam”.
This means both have equal heights. Its comparative degree
will be:
“Shyam is not taller than Ram”.

46. Some More Examples
(i) Positive Degree A glass of juice is as good as a glass of water.
Comparative Degree A glass of water is not better than a glass of
juice.
(ii) Positive Degree Question A is as simple as question B.
Comparative Degree Question B is not simpler than question A.
(iii) Positive Degree President Rule is not as good as democracy.
Comparative Degree Democracy is better than President rule.
(iv) Positive Degree Rose is as beautiful as tulip.
Comparative Degree Tulip is not more beautiful than rose.

47. Some More Examples
(i) Comparative Degree Chocolates are tastier than cookies.
Positive Degree Cookies are not so tasty as chocolates.
(ii) Comparative Degree Arushi’s house is bigger than her office.
Positive Degree Arushi’s office is not as big as her house.
(iii) Comparative Degree Mobile phones are more convenient than
tablets.
Positive Degree Tablets are not as convenient as mobile phones.
(iv) Comparitive Degree Drinking is not more dangerous than
smoking.
Positive Degree Smoking is as dangerous as drinking.

48. Degree of Comparison Worksheets
A. Change the following into positive degree and comparative degree.
Question 1.
India is the largest democracy.
Answer:
No other democracy is as large as India. (Positive Degree)
India is larger than any other democracy. (Comparative Degree)
Question 2.
The Pyramids of Egypt are the greatest architecture.
Answer:
No other architecture is as great as the Pyramids of Egypt. (Positive Degree)
The Pyramids of Eygpt are greater than all other architectures. (Comparative Degree)
Question 3.
Mr Sinha is the most successful businessman of his town.
Answer:
No other businessman of his town is as successful as Mr Sinha. (Positive Degree)
Mr Sinha is more successful than any other businessman of his town. (Comparative Degree)
Question 4.
Asia is the largest continent in the world.
Answer:
No other continent in the world is as large as Asia. (Positive Degree)
Asia is larger than all other continents in the world. (Comparative Degree)

49. Question 5.
Soufia was the most ambitious girl in the class.
Answer:
No other girl in the class was as ambitious as Soufia. (Positive Degree)
Soufia was more ambitious than any other girl in the class. (Comparative Degree)
Question 6.
‘The Bhagwad Gita’ is the holiest epic of the Hindus.
Answer:
No other epic of the Hindus is as holy as the ‘Bhagwad Gita’. (Positive Degree)
‘The Bhagwad Gita’ is holier than all other epics of the Hindus. (Comparative Degree)
Question 7.
The pen can be the mightiest tool for fighting against social evils.
Answer:
No other tool can be as mighty as the pen for fighting against social evils. (Positive Degree)
The pen can be mightier than any other tool for fighting against social evils. (Comparative
Degree)
Question 8.
‘Silence’ is the strongest weapon to win an argument.
Answer:
No other weapon is as strong as ‘silence’ to win an argument. (Positive Degree)
‘Silence’ is stronger than any other weapon to win an argument. (Comparative Degree)

50. Question 9.
Bhavesh is the tallest of all students.
Answer:
No other student is as tall as Bhavesh. (Positive Degree)
Bhavesh is taller than any other student.(Comparative Degree)
Question 10.
This is the safest way to escape punishment.
Answer:
No Other way is as safe as this one to escape punishment. (Positive Degree)
This is safer than any other way to escape punishment. (Comparative Degree)

51. B. Change the degree of comparison in each of the following sentences.
Question 1.
Varun was as weak as Ravish.
Answer:
Ravish was not weaker than Varun. (Comparative Degree)
Question 2.
Geetika is the bravest of all girls in her family.
Answer:
No other girl in her family is as brave as Geetika. (Positive Degree)
Geetika is braver than all other girls in her family. (Comparative Degree)
Question 3.
Mobile phones are better than pagers.
Answer:
Pagers are not as good as mobile phones. (Positive Degree)
Question 4.
The Ganga is the longest river in India.
Answer:
No other river in India is as long as the Ganga.(Positive Degree)
The Ganga is longer than all other rivers in India. (Comparative Degree)
Question 5.
Manoshi is my best friend.
Answer:
No other friend of mine is as good as Manoshi. (Positive Degree)
Manoshi is better than any other friend of mine. (Comparative Degree)

52. Question 6.
To practise is better than to preach.
Answer:
To preach is not as good as to practise. (Positive Degree)
Question 7.
The Dead sea is the lowest point on the Earth.
Answer:
No other point on the Earth is as low as the Dead sea. (Positive Degree)
The Dead sea is lower than any other point on the Earth. (Comparative Degree)
Question 8.
India is bigger than Bangladesh.
Answer:
Bangladesh is not as big as India. (Positive Degree)
Question 9.
Serena’s phone is smarter than Shipra’s.
Answer:
Shipra’s phone is not so smart as Serena’s. (Positive Degree)
Question 10.
Aryan is as clever as Mahroof.
Answer:
Mahroof is not cleverer than Aryan. (Comparative Degree)

53. Change the degree of comparison in each of the following sentences.
Question 1.
Lead is the heaviest non-metal.
Answer:
No other non-metal is as heavy as lead. (Positive Degree)
Lead is heavier than any other non-metal. (Comparative Degree)
Question 2.
This is the best book.
Answer:
No other book is as good as this one. (Positive Degree)
This book is better than any other one. (Comparative Degree)
Question 3.
Ruby is as red as blood.
Answer:
Blood is not redder than ruby. (Comparative Degree)
Question 4.
Emerald is as green as grass.
Answer:
Grass is not greener than emerald. (Comparative Degree)
Question 5.
Pencils are cheaper than pens.
Answer:
Pens are not as cheap as pencils. (Positive Degree)

54. Question 6.
Anushka is not smarter than Rabia.
Answer:
Rabia is as smart as Anushka. (Positive Degree)
Question 7.
Birbal was the wisest courtier in Akbar’s court.
Answer:
No other courtier was as wise as Birbal in Akbar’s court. (Positive Degree)
Birbal was wiser than any other courtier in Akbar s court. (Comparative Degree)
Question 8.
The Taj Mahal is more famous than any other monument in India.
Answer:
No other monument in India is as famous as the Taj Mahal. (Positive Degree)
The Taj Mahal is the most famous monument in India. (Superlative Degree)
Question 9.
Pen is mightier than sword.
Answer:
Sword is not as mighty as pen. (Positive Degree)
Question 10.
Baikal lake is the deepest fresh water lake in the world.
Answer:
No other fresh water lake in the world is as deep as Baikal lake. (Positive Degree)
Baikal lake is deeper than any other fresh water lake in the world. (Comparative Degree)

55. Question 11.
Gungun is as sweet as her brother.
Answer:
Her brother is not sweeter than Gungun. (Comparative Degree)
Question 12.
The cap of blue pen is bigger than that of red pen.
Answer:
The cap of red pen is not so big as that of blue pen. (Positive Degree)
Question 13.
Books are the most interesting companions.
Answer:
No other companion is as interesting as the books. (Positive Degree)
Books are more interesting than any other companion. (Comparative Degree)
Question 14.
They are the most reliable friends.
Answer:
No other friend is as reliable as they are. (Positive Degree)
They are more reliable than all other friends. (Comparative Degree)
Question 15.
Dheeraj is as strong as his father.
Answer:
His father is not stronger than Dheeraj. (Comparative Degree)

56. Thank You….!