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

 

Degrees of Comparison: Superlative to Comparative Degree

1. "The Nile is the longest river in the world." (Change to Comparative)

A. The Nile is longer than most other rivers in the world.

B. The Nile is longer than any other river in the world.

C. No other river is as long as the Nile.

D. The Nile is as long as other rivers.

2. "Lead is the heaviest of all metals." (Change to Comparative)

A. Lead is heavier than any other metal.

B. Lead is heavier than most other metals.

C. Lead is one of the heaviest metals.

D. No other metal is heavier than lead.

3. "Mount Everest is the highest peak in the world." (Change to Comparative)

A. Mount Everest is higher than most other peaks.

B. Mount Everest is higher than any other peak in the world.

C. No other peak is higher than Mount Everest.

D. Mount Everest is one of the highest peaks.

4. "Shakespeare is the greatest English poet." (Change to Comparative)

A. Shakespeare is greater than most other English poets.

B. Shakespeare is one of the greatest English poets.

C. Shakespeare is greater than any other English poet.

D. Other poets are not as great as Shakespeare.

5. "Ashoka was one of the greatest Indian kings." (Change to Comparative)

A. Ashoka was greater than any other Indian king.

B. Ashoka was greater than most other Indian kings.

C. No other Indian king was as great as Ashoka.

D. Ashoka was the greatest Indian king.

6. "The Arabian Nights is the most popular story-book." (Change to Comparative)

A. The Arabian Nights is more popular than most other story-books.

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

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

D. No other story-book is as popular as the Arabian Nights.

7. "Iron is the most useful of all metals." (Change to Comparative)

A. Iron is more useful than any other metal.

B. Iron is more useful than most other metals.

C. Iron is usefuler than all other metals.

D. No other metal is as useful as iron.

8. "Football is one of the most popular games." (Change to Comparative)

A. Football is more popular than any other game.

B. Football is more popular than most other games.

C. Football is the most popular game.

D. Very few games are as popular as football.

9. "The rose is the most beautiful of all flowers." (Change to Comparative)

A. The rose is more beautiful than most other flowers.

B. The rose is more beautiful than any other flower.

C. No other flower is as beautiful as the rose.

D. The rose is beautifuler than other flowers.

10. "Tokyo is one of the most crowded cities in the world." (Change to Comparative)

A. Tokyo is more crowded than any other city in the world.

B. Tokyo is more crowded than most other cities in the world.

C. No other city is as crowded as Tokyo.

D. Tokyo is the most crowded city.

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Answer Key

Question	Answer	Rule Applied
1	B	"The -est" becomes "than any other."
2	A	Absolute superlative requires "than any other."
3	B	Everest is a unique record; use "any other."
4	C	"The greatest" (solo) becomes "greater than any other."
5	B	"One of the greatest" (group) becomes "than most other."
6	C	Standard transformation for absolute popularity.
7	A	"Useful" is polysyllabic; use "more useful than any other."
8	B	"One of the most" requires "than most other."
9	B	The rose is uniquely "the most"; use "any other."
10	B	Tokyo is in a group; use "than most other."