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Degree Change

Adjectives can change their form when we want to compare two or more things. There are three Degrees:

  • Positive (Pos): The base word (e.g., Tall, Beautiful)

  • Comparative (Comp): Adds -er or more (e.g., Taller, More beautiful)

  • Superlative (Sup): Adds -est or most (e.g., Tallest, Most beautiful)


TYPE 1: Comparing TWO things

When you are comparing only TWO people or things, a Superlative degree is IMPOSSIBLE. You can only switch between Positive and Comparative.

 Rule:

  1. Swap the places of Subject 1 and Subject 2.

  2. If the sentence is Affirmative, make it Negative (add 'not').

  3. If the sentence is Negative, make it Affirmative.

Formula A (Affirmative to Negative):

  • Positive: [Subject 1] + is + as [Pos] as + [Subject 2]

  • Comparative: [Subject 2] + is NOT + [Comp] than + [Subject 1]

  • Positive: Ram is as tall as Shyam.

  • Comparative: Shyam is not taller than Ram.

Formula B (Negative to Affirmative):

  • Positive: [Subject 1] + is NOT as [Pos] as + [Subject 2]

  • Comparative: [Subject 2] + is + [Comp] than + [Subject 1]

  • Pos: Silver is not as expensive as Gold.

  • Comp: Gold is more expensive than Silver.

TYPE 2: Comparing 1 vs All

This is used when one person or thing is the absolute best, biggest, or worst in the entire group. There is no one else equal to them.

The Formulas:

  • Superlative: [Subject] + verb + the [Sup] + [Object].

  • Comparative: [Subject] + verb + [Comp] than any other + [Object].

  • Positive: No other + [Object] + verb + as [Pos] as + [Subject].

Example:

  • Superlative: Mount Everest is the highest peak in the world.

  • Comparative: Mount Everest is higher than any other peak in the world.

  • Positive: No other peak in the world is as high as Mount Everest.


TYPE 3: “One of the Best”

This is used when the subject is not the single absolute best, but they are in the "top tier" group. There are a few others just as good/bad.

The Formulas:

  • Superlative: [Subject] + verb + one of the [Sup] + [Plural Object].

  • Comparative: [Subject] + verb + [Comp] than most other + [Plural Object].

  • Positive: Very few + [Plural Object] + plural verb + as [Pos] as + [Subject].

Example Walkthrough:

  • Superlative: Ashoka was one of the greatest kings of India.

  • Comparative: Ashoka was greater than most other kings of India.

  • Positive: Very few kings of India were as great as Ashoka.


  • Superlative uses "one of the". 

  • Comparative uses "most other" instead of "any other". 

  • Positive ALWAYS starts with "Very few" and takes a PLURAL verb.

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