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

 

Degrees of Comparison: Superlative to Positive Degree

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

A. No other river in the world is as long as the Nile.

B. Very few rivers are as long as the Nile.

C. The Nile is as long as any other river.

D. A few rivers are as long as the Nile.

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

A. Very few metals are as heavy as lead.

B. All metals are as heavy as lead.

C. No other metal is as heavy as lead.

D. Lead is as heavy as some metals.

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

A. No other peak in the world is as high as Mount Everest.

B. Some peaks are as high as Mount Everest.

C. Very few peaks are as high as Mount Everest.

D. Mount Everest is as high as a peak.

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

A. Very few story-books are as popular as the Arabian Nights.

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

C. Some story-books are more popular than the Arabian Nights.

D. Many story-books are as popular as the Arabian Nights.

5. "Shakespeare is the greatest English poet." (Change to Positive)

A. Very few English poets are as great as Shakespeare.

B. No other English poet is as great as Shakespeare.

C. Shakespeare is as great as any poet.

D. Some poets are as great as Shakespeare.

6. "Ashoka was one of the greatest Indian kings." (Change to Positive)

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

B. Very few Indian kings were as great as Ashoka.

C. Ashoka was as great as any king.

D. All Indian kings were as great as Ashoka.

7. "The rose is the most beautiful of all flowers." (Change to Positive)

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

B. Very few flowers are as beautiful as the rose.

C. The rose is as beautiful as other flowers.

D. Some flowers are as beautiful as the rose.

8. "Iron is the most useful of all metals." (Change to Positive)

A. No other metal is as useful as iron.

B. Very few metals are as useful as iron.

C. Iron is as useful as any metal.

D. Metals are as useful as iron.

9. "Prevention is the best cure." (Change to Positive)

A. No other cure is as good as prevention.

B. Very few cures are as good as prevention.

C. Cure is as good as prevention.

D. Prevention is as good as any cure.

10. "Football is one of the most popular games." (Change to Positive)

A. No other game is as popular as football.

B. Very few games are as popular as football.

C. Football is as popular as any game.

D. All games are as popular as football.

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Answer Key

Question	Answer	Rule Applied
1	A	"The -est" (unique) becomes "No other... as."
2	C	"The heaviest" implies absolute superiority.
3	A	Standard transformation for a unique superlative.
4	B	"The most popular" becomes "No other... as popular."
5	B	Shakespeare is unique here; use "No other."
6	B	"One of the greatest" becomes "Very few... as."
7	A	Reverses the absolute superlative to the negative positive.
8	A	"The most useful" indicates none other matches it.
9	A	"Best" (superlative) becomes "good" (positive).
10	B	"One of the most" indicates a group; use "Very few."