WREN & MARTIN's English grammar-Degrees of Comparison: Positive to Comparative Degree

 

Degrees of Comparison: Positive to Comparative Degree

1. "Lead is as heavy as any other metal." (Change to Comparative)

A. Lead is heavier than any other metal.

B. Any other metal is as heavy as lead.

C. Lead is not heavier than any other metal.

D. Lead is more heavy than other metals.

2. "I am not as tall as he is." (Change to Comparative)

A. I am taller than him.

B. He is taller than I am.

C. He is not taller than me.

D. He is as tall as I am.

3. "This knife is not so sharp as that one." (Change to Comparative)

A. This knife is sharper than that one.

B. That knife is as sharp as this one.

C. That knife is sharper than this one.

D. That knife is more sharp than this one.

4. "Very few Indian cities are as large as Mumbai." (Change to Comparative)

A. Mumbai is larger than any other Indian city.

B. Mumbai is larger than most other Indian cities.

C. Mumbai is not as large as other cities.

D. Other cities are larger than Mumbai.

5. "Iron is as useful as any other metal." (Change to Comparative)

A. Iron is usefuler than any other metal.

B. Other metals are as useful as iron.

C. Iron is more useful than any other metal.

D. Any other metal is more useful than iron.

6. "No other boy in the class is as intelligent as James." (Change to Comparative)

A. James is as intelligent as any other boy.

B. James is more intelligent than any other boy in the class.

C. Other boys are more intelligent than James.

D. James is intelligent than other boys.

7. "Water is not as light as air." (Change to Comparative)

A. Water is lighter than air.

B. Air is lighter than water.

C. Air is as light as water.

D. Water is more light than air.

8. "Gold is not as useful as iron." (Change to Comparative)

A. Gold is more useful than iron.

B. Iron is more useful than gold.

C. Iron is not more useful than gold.

D. Gold is usefuler than iron.

9. "The mango is as sweet as the apple." (Change to Comparative)

A. The mango is sweeter than the apple.

B. The apple is sweeter than the mango.

C. The apple is not sweeter than the mango.

D. The mango is more sweet than the apple.

10. "Some girls in the class are at least as bright as Mary." (Change to Comparative)

A. Mary is not brighter than some other girls in the class.

B. Mary is brighter than some other girls.

C. Mary is the brightest girl.

D. Some girls are more bright than Mary.

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Answer Key

Question	Answer	Rule Applied
1	A	Affirmative positive becomes affirmative comparative with "than any other."
2	B	Negative positive becomes affirmative comparative.
3	C	"Not so... as" indicates the second subject is superior.
4	B	"Very few" in positive degree becomes "than most other" in comparative.
5	C	Use "more" for polysyllabic adjectives like 'useful.'
6	B	"No other" becomes "than any other."
7	B	Logic: If water is not as light, air must be lighter.
8	B	Swapping subjects to maintain the original meaning.
9	C	If they are equal, one cannot be "sweeter" than the other.
10	A	"At least as bright" means Mary is not superior to everyone else.