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

 

Degrees of Comparison: Positive to Superlative Degree

1. "No other metal is as heavy as lead." (Change to Superlative)

A. Lead is heavier than any other metal.

B. Lead is the heaviest of all metals.

C. Lead is one of the heaviest metals.

D. No other metal is the heaviest.

2. "Very few poets were as great as Kalidasa." (Change to Superlative)

A. Kalidasa was the greatest poet.

B. Kalidasa was one of the greatest poets.

C. Kalidasa was greater than most other poets.

D. Kalidasa was as great as the greatest poet.

3. "No other boy in the class is as tall as James." (Change to Superlative)

A. James is taller than all boys.

B. James is one of the tallest boys.

C. James is the tallest boy in the class.

D. James is the most tall boy.

4. "No other story-book is as popular as the Arabian Nights." (Change to Superlative)

A. The Arabian Nights is more popular than any other story-book.

B. The Arabian Nights is the most popular story-book.

C. The Arabian Nights is popularer than others.

D. The Arabian Nights is one of the most popular story-books.

5. "Very few animals are as useful as the cow." (Change to Superlative)

A. The cow is the most useful animal.

B. The cow is more useful than any other animal.

C. The cow is one of the most useful animals.

D. The cow is usefulest of all.

6. "No other spice is as common as pepper." (Change to Superlative)

A. Pepper is the commonest of all spices.

B. Pepper is more common than most spices.

C. Pepper is one of the commonest spices.

D. Pepper is commoner than any other spice.

7. "Very few Indian kings were as wise as Ashoka." (Change to Superlative)

A. Ashoka was the wisest Indian king.

B. Ashoka was one of the wisest Indian kings.

C. Ashoka was wiser than any other king.

D. Ashoka was as wise as the wisest king.

8. "No other peak in the world is as high as Everest." (Change to Superlative)

A. Everest is one of the highest peaks.

B. Everest is the highest peak in the world.

C. Everest is higher than any other peak.

D. Everest is the most high peak.

9. "Very few games are as popular as football." (Change to Superlative)

A. Football is the most popular game.

B. Football is one of the most popular games.

C. Football is more popular than most games.

D. Football is the popularest game.

10. "No other woman was as beautiful as Helen of Troy." (Change to Superlative)

A. Helen of Troy was the most beautiful woman.

B. Helen of Troy was more beautiful than any other woman.

C. Helen of Troy was one of the most beautiful women.

*D. Helen of Troy was the beautifulest woman.

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Answer Key

Question	Answer	Key Rule / Transformation
1	B	"No other" becomes "the -est."
2	B	"Very few" becomes "one of the -est."
3	C	Single-syllable adjective 'tall' takes '-est.'
4	B	Multi-syllable adjective 'popular' takes 'the most.'
5	C	"Very few" + long adjective = "one of the most."
6	A	"No other" matches the unique superlative "the commonest."
7	B	"Very few" always leads to "one of the."
8	B	Everest is unique; use "the highest."
9	B	Matches the plural group "one of the most popular games."
10	A	"Beautiful" is a long adjective; use "the most."