what is Degree in English grammar

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Degrees of comparison with rules and examples

Introduction

In simple words, the degree is the form of the adjective(Positive, comparative, and superlative) used to show different degrees or levels denoted by the adjective.

By using degrees of comparison of adjectives, we can show similarity, compare and show the highest positions.

So the degree of adjectives is a very important part of our English speaking and writing.

What is a degree in English grammar?

The three forms -positive, comparative, and superlative used for the qualitative comparison of adjectives and adverbs is called a degree in English grammar.

Examples-

A)positive degree

1)He is a good player.

2)He is as good as his friend.

B)Comparative degree

1)He is better than his friend.

c)Superlative degree

He is the best player among his friends.

Let’s see all three types of degrees in detail.

Types of the degree in English

There are three main types of degrees. They are positive, comparative, and superlative degrees.

We will learn them in detail here.

1)Positive degree-

A positive degree is used to show the similarity between two nouns or noun groups. It can be affirmative or negative.

Its structure is as follows.

As/so+ positive degree adjective+ as

Example-

1)John is as brave as his brother.

2)John is not so/as brave as his brother.

2)Comparative degree-

The comparative degree is used to compare two nouns or noun groups. Its structure is as follows.

Comparative degree adjective+ than.

Example-

1)John is braver than his brother.

2)John is not braver than his brother.

3)Superlative degree-

The superlative degree is used to show the highest position of the noun or noun group.

Its structure is as follows.

Example-

1)John is the bravest person in his family.

2)John is not the bravest person in his family.

In this way, we have 3 degrees in English. We use three degrees of adjectives as positive, comparative, and superlative to change the degree of comparison.

So we will see now the chart of three degrees of adjectives

Chart of positive comparative and superlative degree adjectives

Sr.no Positive degree adj. Comparative degree adj. Superlative degree adj.
1 Much More Most
2 Warm Warmer Warmest
3 Tall Taller Tallest
4 High Higher Highest
5 Sweet Sweeter Sweetest
6 strong stronger Strongest
7 Small Smaller Smallest
8 Bold Bolder Boldest
9 Clever Cleverer Cleverest
10 Kind Kinder Kindest
11 Young Younger Youngest
12 great greater Greatest
13 Brave Braver Bravest
14 White Whiter Whitest
15 Large Larger Largest
16 Able Abler Ablest
17 Noble Nobler Noblest
18 wise Wiser Wisest
19 Fine Finer Finest
20 Happy Happier Happiest
21 Easy Easier Easiest
22 Heavy Heavier Heaviest
23 Wealthy Wealthier Wealthiest
24 Red Redder
25 Big Bigger Biggest
26 Hot Hotter Hottest
27 Thin Thinner Thinnest
28 Sad Sadder Saddest
29 fat Fatter fattest
30 Active More active Most active
31 Difficult More difficult Most difficult
32 Interesting More interesting Most interesting
33 Tired More tired Most tired
34 Useful More useful Most useful
35 Beautiful More beautiful Most beautiful
36 Good Better Best
37 Bad Worse Worst
38 Well Better Best
39 Little Less Least
40 Much More Most
41 Many More Most
42 old Older/elder Oldest/eldest

Use of older, elder, oldest, eldest-

Comparative adjective elder and superlative adjective eldest is used only for human beings on the other hand older and oldest are used for people, animals, and all things.

Up to now, we have studied What are types of degrees and forms of adjectives in the positive, comparative and superlative degrees.

Now we will learn how to change the degree such as positive -comparative-superlative without changing the meaning of the sentences.

How to change a positive degree to a comparative degree

First, we will see some examples and then find out the rules from them.

1)Sam is not as kind as John.

Answer-John is kinder than Sam.

2)The train is not as fast as the plane.

Answer-The plane is faster than the train.

Rules for changing positive to a comparative degree-

1)Begin the sentence with a noun higher in degree.

2)Use comparative degree adjectives.

3)Then use than and the noun which is not higher in degree than the other noun.

Some more examples for practice.

3)The old man can not walk as quickly as the young man.

Answer-The young man can walk faster than the old man.

4)Tokyo is not as crowded as New York.

Answer-New York is more crowded than Tokyo.

5)Silver is not as expensive as Gold.

Answer-Gold is more expensive than Silver.

How to change comparative degree sentences to positive degree sentences

Let’s see some examples first and then we will form the rules from them.

Examples-

1)I can play better than you.

Answer-You can not play as well as I.

2)This bridge is bigger than the London bridge.

Answer-London bridge is not as big as this bridge.

Rules for changing comparative to a positive degree.

1)First begin the sentence with the last noun or noun group.

2)Use or remove not as per the need to keep the meaning the same.

3)Use as+ positive degree adjective+ as

Some more examples for the practice.

3)Iron is cheaper than copper.

Answer-Copper is not as cheap as Iron.

4)The car is more comfortable than the bike.

Answer-The bike is not as comfortable as the car.

How to change superlative degree sentences to a positive and comparative degree

First, we will see some examples, and then we will form rules from them.

Examples-

1)Education is the best option.

A positive degree-No other option is as good as education.

Comparative degree-Education is better than any other option.

2)Burge Khalifa is the tallest building in the world.

Positive degree-No other building in the world is as tall as Burge Khalifa.

Comparative degree- Burge Khalifa is taller than any other building.

3)Electricity is the greatest invention.

Positive degree-No other invention is as great as electricity.

Comparative degree-Electricity is greater than any other invention.

Rules for changing superlative degree to positive and comparative degree.

1)We can change the superlative degree to a positive degree by beginning the sentence with no other. Then use the noun used after the adjective and use structure as+ positive degree adjective+ as

2)For changing superlative degree to comparative degree, begin a sentence with the same noun used in superlative and then use Comparative degree adjective + than any other.

Some more examples for practice.

4)Everest is the highest peak in the world.

Positive degree- No other peak in the world is as high as Everest is.

Comparative degree- Everest is higher than any other peak in the world.

5)Jeff Bezos is the richest man in the world.

Positive degree- No other man in the world is as rich as Jeff Bezos.

Comparative degree- Jeff Bezos is richer than any other man in the world.

6)Parris is the most stylish city in the world.

Positive degree- No other city in the world is as stylish as Parris is.

Comparative degree- Parris is more stylish than any other city in the world.

The above sentences show the highest position but some sentences show the highest position shared by very few.

Such sentences are formed in the superlative degree by “one of the “

Superlative degree sentences with one of the to a positive and comparative degree

Let’s see some examples first and then form rules from them.

Examples of changing superlative degree one of the sentences to positive and comparative degree

1)Computer is one of the smartest inventions of the 21st century.

Positive degree- Very few inventions of the 21st century are as smart as the Computer is.

Comparative degree- The computer is smarter than many other inventions of the 21st century.

2)The dog is one of the most faithful animals for humans.

Positive degree- Very few animals are as faithful as the dog is.

Comparative degree- The dog is more faithful than many other animals for humans.

From the above examples, we can form rules as follows.

1)While changing one of the sentences of superlative degree, begin the sentence with very few. Use a plural helping verb for the plural subject. Then use as+ positive degree adjective+ as.

2)While changing one of the sentences of the superlative degree, into the comparative degree, use the comparative degree adjective and then use than many/most other.

Some more examples for practice.

1)The Banyan tree is one of the largest trees.

Positive degree- Very few trees are as large as the Banyan tree is.

Comparative degree- The Banyan tree is larger than many other trees.

2)Mobile is one of the most useful gadgets.

Positive degree- Very few gadgets are as useful as mobile is.

Comparative degree- Mobile is more useful than many other gadgets.

3)Gold was one of the most precious metals.

Positive degree- Very few metals were as precious as gold is.

Comparative degree- Gold was more precious than many other metals.

Conclusion for degrees of comparison

Here we can conclude that there are three degrees of comparison of adjectives. They are positive, comparative, and superlative.

We can change them in each other without changing the meaning.

I hope you will find this helpful. Do let us know through your comments.

With love+ respect from team learnhatkey.com

Dipak D. Jagtap: Always the learner.Having spent 16 years in English language training, its time now to reach the world to learn more and to share my experience and practices....
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