Positive Degree to Superlative Degree and Vice Versa : Interchange of Degrees of Comparison

Interchange of degrees of Comparison is one of the most important chapters for examinations. We see at least one question or two in almost every competitive exams. 

Interchange of positive degree and Comparative degree has been discussed. Now, in this article we will be talking how to change positive degree to Superlative degree.

Table of Contents:

Type I -

• Superlative to Positive
• Positive to Superlative

Type II - [Using "One of the"]

• Superlative to Positive
• Positive to Superlative

Type I

Superlative Degree to Positive Degree:

Superlative – America is the richest country. (Rewrite using the positive degree of the adjective ‘richest’)

Steps to turn Superlative Degree to Positive Degree: 

Step 1:

The object of superlative degree is used as the subject of positive degree following a negative phrase ‘No other’ to keep the sense unchanged. 

No other country...

Step 2:

Use a suitable verb.

 (Here, it is a suitable be verb).

No other country is...

Step 3:

Put as...as or so...as after the verb.

No other country is as...as...

Step 4:

Put down the positive degree of the adjective in the space between as/so and as.

(Here, the adjective is ‘richest’ - rich-richer-richest)

No other country is as rich as...

Step 5:

Use the subject of superlative as the object of positive. 

But,

Remember: that, if the subject of superlative is a personal pronoun, the the nominative case of the pronoun is used as the object of positive.  

(Here, the subject of superlative is ‘America’)

Positive – No other country is as rich as America. 

Or,

Positive – No other country is so rich as America. 

Examples :–

Superlative – He is the dullest boy.

Positive – No other boy is so dull as he.

Here ‘he’ is the nominative case of the personal pronoun ‘he’, which is used as the object.

Superlative – The Motera stadium is the largest cricket-stadium.

Positive – No other cricket stadium is so large as the Motera stadium.

Superlative – The Bourj Khalifa is the tallest building in the world.

Positive – No other building is as tall as the Bourj Khalifa.

Read more:Changing Positive Degree to Comparative Degree

Superlative – Akhtar is the fastest bowler in the world.

Positive – No other bowler in the world is so fast as Akhtar.

Superlative – Bolt is the fastest runner.

Positive – No other runner is so fast as Bolt.

Superlative – I will be the happiest man one day.

Positive – No other man will be so happy as I will be.

Also read:10 Most Common Grammar Errors you need to know

Positive Degree to Superlative Degree:

Positive Degree – No other girl in the class is so/as good as Elia. (Turn it into superlative degree)

Steps to Change Positive to Superlative –

Step 1: 

Use the object of positive as the subject of superlative. 

(Here, it is Elia.)

Elia...

Step 2:

Use a suitable verb.

(Here, it is a suitable be verb.)

Elia is...

Step 3:

Remove ‘as...as’ / ‘so...as’.

Step 4:

Use the superlative degree of the adjective. 

A superlative degree is followed by a ‘the’.

(Here, The adjective is ‘good’- ‘good-better-best’).

Elia is the best...

Step 5:

After the adjective, use the subject of positive as the object of superlative. 

Elia is the best girl...

Step 6:

Remove ‘No other’.

Step 7:

Write in/of + others – if this structure is in the positive. 

(Here, it is ‘in’ + others) 

Superlative – Elia is the best girl in the class. – this is the answer.

(Step 7 is not mandatory)

Other examples:–

Positive – No other leader was as great as Mahatma Gandhi.

Superlative – Mahatma Gandhi was the greatest leader.

Positive – No other game is as popular as cricket in India.

Superlative – Cricket is the most popular game in India.

Positive – No other peak is so high as Mt. Everest. 

Superlative – Mt. Everest is the highest peak on this planet.

Positive – No other girl is so intelligent as she.

Superlative – She is the most intelligent girl.

Positive – No other city is so beautiful as Darjeeling. 

Superlative – Darjeeling is the most beautiful city.

Positive – No other man is as noble as he.

Superlative – He is the noblest man.

Positive – No other day is as bright as this day.

Superlative – This day is the brightest day.

Type II –

When the structure of superlative starts with – One of the

Like, One of the most influential leaders, One of the best singers etc.

Superlative to Positive:

Superlative – He is one of the tallest boys in the class. (Use the positive degree of the adjective ‘strongest’ and rewrite the sentence.)

Steps to Turn Superlative Degree into Positive Degree:

Step 1: 

Use the object of superlative degree as the subject of positive degree. 

(Here, it is ‘boys’)

Boys...

Step 2:

Use a suitable verb after the subject.

(Here, it is a be verb)

Boys are...

Step 3:

Remove ‘one of the’ and use ‘very few’ before the subject.

Boys are very few...

No, use the ‘very few’ before the subject.

Very few boys are...    

Perfect!

Step 4:

Use as...as or so...as.

Very few boys are as...as...

Step 5:

Put the positive degree of the adjective between the two ‘as’s or between so and as.

Very few boys are as tall as... or,

Very few boys are so tall as...

Step 6:

Use the subject of superlative as the object of positive. 

Here the object must be in nominative case (he) not in objective case (him).

Positive – Very few boys are as tall as him. ❌ 

Positive – Very few boys are as tall as he. ✅ 

Use of/in + others (if necessary) after the subject of positive. 

Examples:–

Superlative – She is one of the most mischievous ladies.

Positive – Very few ladies are so much mischievous as she.

Superlative – He was one of the bravest soldiers in the history.

Positive – Very few soldiers in the history were as brave as he.

Superlative – Jerusalem is one of the holiest places.

Positive – Very few places are as holy as Jerusalem. 

Superlative – It was one of the most dangerous places in the state.

Positive – Very few places in the state were as much dangerous as it was.

Positive to Superlative : 

Very few kings were as great as Ashoka. (Use the superlative degree of the adjective ‘great’ and rewrite the sentence) 

Steps to Turn Positive Degree into Superlative Degree: 

Step 1:

Use the object of superlative as the subject of positive.

Ashoka...

Step 2:

Use a verb suitable for the subject. 

(Here, it is a be verb)

Ashoka was...

Step 3: 

Use ‘one of the’ removing ‘very few’.

Ashoka was one of the...

Step 4:

Put the superlative degree of the adjective. 

(Here, the adjective is ‘great’, ‘greatest’ is the superlative degree of it.)

Ashoka is one of the greatest...

Step 5:

Use the subject of positive as the object of superlative. 

(Here, the subject of positive is ‘kings’)

Positive – Ashoka is one of the greatest kings.

Remember: The object of this type of sentences is always plural.

Examples:–

Positive – Very few players are as good as she.

Superlative – She is one of the best players.

Positive – Very few shops are as old as this in Kolkata.

Superlative – This is one of the oldest shops in Kolkata. 

Positive – Very few birds are as much beautiful as the peacock.

Superlative – The peacock is one of the most beautiful birds. (Much-more-most)

Positive – Very few monuments in India are as famous as the Tajmahal.

Superlative – The Tajmahal in one of the most famous monuments in India.

Now practice- 

Interchange of Degrees Exercises

Thank you...