Definite article ‘the’ is used before the adjective in..?
– If the word has many syllables, the adjective takes ‘most’ before it.
Ex. The most beautiful, the most important, the most interesting.
– Definite article ‘the’ is used before the adjective in Superlative Degree.
Ex. The best, the greatest, the most popular.
COMPARATIVE DEGREE
When the comparison is between two Nouns of the same quality, the adjective is said to be in Comparative Degree.
Ex. 1. Kolkata is larger than Mumbai.
2. Cricket is more interesting than foot ball.
– In comparative Degree ‘er’ is added to the adjective.
Ex. Higher, Taller, Greater
– A many syllable word takes ‘more’ before it.
Ex. More beautiful, More Import ant, More Interesting.
Note: Article ‘the’ is not used before the adjective in Comparative Degree.
POSITIVE DEGREE
l When the mere quality of a noun is said, the adjective is said to be in Positive Degree.
Ex. India is a great country.
R.K.Narayan is a popular writer.
– Plain adjective (without ‘er’ / ‘est’ or ‘more/most’) is used in Positive Degree.
INTERCHANGE OF THE DEGREES OF COMPARISON
MODEL – 1
1. Mt. Everest is the highest peak in the world. (S.D)
Mt. Everest is higher than any other peak in the world (C.D)
No other peak in the world is so high as Mt. Everest. (P.D)
STRUCTURE –
SUPERLATIVE:
Subject + Verb + Def. article + adjective (east / most) + Noun + Phrase
COMPARATIVE:
Subject + Verb + adjective (er /more) + than any other + Signature Noun +Phrase.
POSITIVE:
No other + Singular Noun + phrase + Singular Verb + so- as + Subject.
Note: Between ‘So’ and ‘as’ plain adjective is used.
1 John Keats is the greatest poet in English (S.D)
John Keats is greater than any other poet in English. (C.D)
No other poet in English is so great as John Keats. (P.D)
2 The U.S.A is the strongest nation in the world. (S.D)
The U.S.A is stronger than any other nation in the world. (C.D)
No other nation in the world is so strong as the U.S.A. (P.D)
3 Diwali is the most important festival for the Hindus. (S.D)
Diwali is more important than any other festival for the Hindus. (C.D)
No other festival for the Hindus is so important as Diwali. (P.D)
4 Kashmir is the most beautiful place in India. (S.D)
Kashmir is more beautiful than any other place in India. (C.D)
No other place in India is so beautiful as Kashmir. (P.D)
MODEL-2
1 India is one of the greatest countries in the world. (S.D)
India is greater than many other countries in the world. (C.D)
Very few countries in the word are as great as India. (P.D)
STRUCTURES:
SUPERLATIVE:
Subject + Verb + one of the + Adjective (est / most) + Plural Noun + Phrase
COMPARATIVE DEGREE:
Subject + Verb + Adjective (er / more) + than many other +plural Noun + Phrase
Positive Degree:
Very few +Plural Noun + Phrase + Plural Verb (are / were)+as –as + Subject.
Note: Between ‘as and ‘as’ plain Adjective is used.
2. Vani is one of the cleverest girls in our class. (S.D)
Vani is cleverer than many other girls in our class. (C.D)
Very few girls in our class are as clever as Vani. (P.D)
3. The Godavari is one of the longest rivers in India (S.D)
The Godavari is longer than many other rivers in India. (C.D)
Very few rivers in India are as long as the Godavari. (P.D)
4. Cricket is one of the most interesting games. (S.D)
Cricket is more interesting than many other games. (C.D)
Very few games are as interesting as cricket. (P.D)
5. Ramesh is one of the most hard-working students in our class. (S.D)
Ramesh is more hard-working than many other students in our class. (C.D)
Very few students in our class are as hard-working as Ramesh. (P.D)
MODEL-3
1. London is not the biggest city. (S.D)
London is not bigger than some other cities (C.D)
Some cities are atleast as big as London. (P.D)
STRUCTURES:
SUPERLATIVE DEGREE:
Subject + Verb + not +Def.article+ Adjective (est / most) + Noun
COMPARATIVE DEGREE:
Subject + Verb + not + Adjective (are / were) +at least +as-as +Subject
Note: Between ‘as’ and ‘as’ plain adjective is used.
2. Sita is not the poorest girl in our class. (S.D)
Sita is not poorer than some other girls (C.D)
Some girls are atleast as poor as Sita. (P.D)
3. Telugu is not the easiest language. (S.D)
Telugu is not easier than some other languages. (C.D)
Some languages are at least as easy as Telugu. (P.D)
4. He is not the most experienced teacher in the school. (S.D)
He is not more experienced than some other teachers in the school. (C.D)
Some teachers in the school are atleast as experienced as he. (P.D)
5. Steel is not the most useful metal. (S.D)
Steel is not more useful than some other metals. (C.D)
Some metals are atleast as useful as steel. (P.D)
MODEL-4
1 India is greater than Italy. (C.D)
Italy is not so great as India. (P.D)
Note: There is no Superlative Degree in this Model.
STRUCTURES-
COMPARATIVE DEGREE:
Subject (I) +Verb +Adjective (er/more)+than +Subject (II)
POSITIVE DEGREE:
Subject (II) + Verb + not + so –as +Subject (I)
2. Sheela is cleverer than Leela. (C.D)
Leela is not so clever as Sheela. (P.D)
3. Gopal is stronger than Bhupal. (C.D)
Bhupal is not so strong as Gopal. (P.D)
4. Pen is mightier than sword. (C.D)
Sword is not so mighty as pen. (P.D)
5. Mysore is more beautiful than Bangalore. (C.D)
Bangalore is not so beautiful as Mysore. (P.D)
-Completer the following sente- nces using the appropriate form of the adjectives 10 x 1 = 10
1. She is ________ than her sister
a) pretty b) prettier c) prettiest d) more prettier
2. Sita is a ___________ girl.
a) nice b) nicer
c) nicest d) nicely
3. Pravallika is the __________ girl in the class.
a) intelligent
b) more intelligent
c) most intelligent
4. John speaks English__________
a) well b) better
c) best d) good
5. Russia is the ____________ country in the world
a) big b) bigger c) biggest d) smaller
6. China is a ___________ country.
a) Big b) bigger
c) biggest
7. India is ________ than Srilanka.
a) big b) bigger
c) biggest d) smaller
8. This is the _________ book I have ever read.
a) interesting
b) more interesting
c) most interesting
9. I am ________ than you
a) smart b) smarter c) smartest d)shortest
10. Take the__________ of the two routes
a) short b) shorter
c) shortest
KEY : 1) Prettier 2) nice 3) most intelligent 4) well 5) biggest 6) big
7) bigger 8) most interesting 9) smarter 10) shorter
II Degrees of comparison exercise. 10×1=10
Complete the following senten- ces using the correct degree of the adjectives given in the bracket.
1. My brothers hand writing is ________( bad) mine
2. Health is _______ (important) wealth
3. Blood is ______ water (Thick)
4. Everest is___________ peak in the world (high)
5. This is________ play I have ever heard on the radio (interesting)
6. Ramani is__________ of ale the four sisters (beautiful)
7. The planet mars is_________ from the earth than the satellite moon (far)
8. The elephant is ____________ animal in the world (large)
9. An ocean is certainly________ a sea (big)
10. I am ___________in cricket than in foot ball interested
Key: 1) Worse than 2) more important than 3) Thicker than 4) The highest peak
5) the most interesting
B.Vivekananda
Sr. Faculty
Hyderabad, 9912343401
