Interchange of Degrees of Comparison

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We can change the degrees of comparison of an adjective or adverb without changing the meaning of the sentence.

Study the example given below.

I am as tall as he is.

This sentence uses the positive adjective tall. We can express the same idea using the comparative adjective taller. Study the sentence given below:

He is not taller than I (am).
OR
He is not taller than me.

Note that when we compare two people or things, we do not normally use the superlative adjective.

More examples are given below.

Apples are not as sweet as mangoes. (This sentence uses the positive adjective sweet.)

Mangoes are sweeter than apples. (This sentence uses the comparative adjective sweeter.)

J K Rowling is the most successful writer of our times. (Superlative)

J K Rowling is more successful than any other writer of our times. (Note the use of the expression any other in this case.)

No other writer of our times is as successful as J K Rowling. (Note the use of the expression no other in this case.)

Now study the sentence given below.

J K Rowling is one of the most successful writers of our times. (= J K Rowling is not the most successful writer. She is one of them. There are a few others too.)

In this case, we can't use no other or any other when we change the degrees of comparison. Instead, we use the expressions few other and most other.

Few other writers of our times are as successful as J K Rowling.

J K Rowling is more successful than most other writers of our times.

Interchange of the degrees of comparison exercise

Change the degrees of comparison without changing the meaning of the sentence.

1. Iron is more useful than any other metal.

2. Platinum is the most precious metal.

3. The giraffe is taller than any other animal.

4. This box is not as heavy as that box.

5. Maria is prettier than Alice.

6. Shyam is the most intelligent boy in the class.

7. Tokyo is the most populous city in the world.

8. Mr. Yadav is the oldest member of the club.

9. Few playwrights write as interestingly as Bernard Shaw.

10. Mumbai is one of the richest cities in India.

Answers

1. Iron is the most useful metal. (Superlative) / No other metal is as useful as iron. (Positive)

2. Platinum is more precious than any other metal. (Comparative) / No other metal is as precious as platinum. (Positive)

3. The giraffe is the tallest animal. (Superlative) / No other animal is as tall as giraffe. (Positive)

4. That box is heavier than this box. (Comparative)

5. Alice is not as pretty as Maria. (Positive)

6. Shyam is more intelligent than any other boy in the class. (Comparative) / No other boy in the class is as intelligent as Shyam. (Positive)

7. Tokyo is more populous than any other city in the world. (Comparative) / No other city is as populous as Tokyo. (Positive)

8. Mr. Yadav is older than any other member of the club. (Comparative) / No other member of the club is as old as Mr. Yadav. (Positive)

9. Bernard Shaw writes more interestingly than most other playwrights. (Comparative - We use the expression most other in this sentence because the word few was used in the comparison with the positive adjective.)

10. Few cities in India are as rich as Mumbai. (Positive) / Mumbai is richer than most other cities in India.

Infinitives
Infinitives: forms
Infinitives without to
To-infinitives
Infinitive with its own subject
For-structures after adjectives
For-structures after verbs
For-structures: other uses
Infinitive clauses of purpose
Verbs that can be followed by infinitives
Adjectives that can be followed by infinitives
Nouns that can be followed by infinitives

Interchange of Degrees of Comparison

Answers

See Also

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