SEBA Class 10 Degree of Comparison Guide: Rules & Transformation
This guide covers all the rules for Degrees of Comparison (Positive, Comparative, Superlative) with a special focus on the “Transformation of Sentences” questions that are most common in the SEBA HSLC Examination.
Part 1: The Three Degrees & How to Form Them
Positive Degree: Describes a quality. No comparison.
Example: He is a tall boy.
Comparative Degree: Compares two people or things.
Example: He is taller than his brother.
Superlative Degree: Compares more than two people or things.
Example: He is the tallest boy in the class.
Rules for Forming Degrees
Rule 1: One Syllable: Add -er (Comparative) and -est (Superlative).
tall -> taller -> tallest
small -> smaller -> smallest
high -> higher -> highest
strong -> stronger -> strongest
Rule 2: Ending in -e: Add -r and -st.
wise -> wiser -> wisest
large -> larger -> largest
brave -> braver -> bravest
Rule 3: CVC (Consonant-Vowel-Consonant): Double the last consonant, then add -er and -est.
big -> bigger -> biggest
hot -> hotter -> hottest
thin -> thinner -> thinnest
Rule 4: Ending in -y: Change y to i, then add -er and -iest.
happy -> happier -> happiest
easy -> easier -> easiest
heavy -> heavier -> heavyest
busy -> busier -> busiest
Rule 5: Two or More Syllables: Use more (Comparative) and most (Superlative).
beautiful -> more beautiful -> most beautiful
intelligent -> more intelligent -> most intelligent
important -> more important -> most important
difficult -> more difficult -> most difficult
Rule 6: Irregular Degrees (Very Important – Must Memorize)
good / well -> better -> best
bad / ill -> worse -> worst
much / many -> more -> most
little -> less -> least
far -> farther / further -> farthest / furthest
old -> older / elder -> oldest / eldest
(Use elder/eldest only for family members: “He is my elder brother.”)
Part 2: Fill-in-the-Blanks (Identifying Clues)
This is the first type of question. Look for these “clue words”.
Clue 1: than -> Use Comparative Degree.
If you see than after the blank, use the Comparative form.
Example: He is (tall) than his brother. -> He is taller than his brother.
Example: This book is (interesting) than that one. -> This book is more interesting than that one.
Clue 2: the -> Use Superlative Degree.
If you see the before the blank, use the Superlative form.
Example: He is the (good) boy in the class. -> He is the best boy in the class.
Example: This is the (beautiful) place I have seen. -> This is the most beautiful place I have seen.
Clue 3: as … as -> Use Positive Degree.
If the blank is between as and as, use the Positive form.
Example: He is as (tall) as his brother. -> He is as tall as his brother.
Clue 4: so … as (Negative) -> Use Positive Degree.
Used in negative sentences.
Example: He is not so (tall) as his brother. -> He is not so tall as his brother.
Clue 5: of the two -> Use The + Comparative Degree.
This is a special, common exception.
Example: He is the (tall) of the two brothers. -> He is the taller of the two brothers.
Example: This is the (good) of the two books. -> This is the better of the two books.
Clue 6: senior, junior, superior, inferior, prefer -> Use to (not than).
These Latin comparatives do not use than.
Example: He is senior to me.
Example: This cloth is superior to that.
Example: I prefer tea to coffee. (Note: prefer uses the positive form).
Part 3: Transformation of Sentences (The Most Important Part)
This is the main question type. There are two main patterns.
Pattern 1: Universal Superlative (The Best)
This pattern is for comparing one thing to all others.
Superlative: Shakespeare is the greatest English poet.
Superlative: Iron is the most useful of all metals.
Superlative: He is the best boy in the class.
To change this to Positive, use No other…
Formula: No other + [rest of sentence] + is + as + [Positive Degree] + as + [Subject].
(S) Example: Shakespeare is the greatest English poet.
(P) Answer: No other English poet is as great as Shakespeare.
(S) Example: Iron is the most useful of all metals.
(P) Answer: No other metal is as useful as iron.
(S) Example: He is the best boy in the class.
(P) Answer: No other boy in the class is as good as he.
To change this to Comparative, use …than any other
Formula: [Subject] + is + [Comparative Degree] + than any other + [rest of sentence].
(S) Example: Shakespeare is the greatest English poet.
(C) Answer: Shakespeare is greater than any other English poet.
(S) Example: Iron is the most useful of all metals.
(C) Answer: Iron is more useful than any other metal.
(S) Example: He is the best boy in the class.
(C) Answer: He is better than any other boy in the class.
Pattern 2: “One of the…” Superlative
This pattern is for comparing one thing to a group of top things.
Superlative: Guwahati is one of the biggest cities in India.
Superlative: He is one of the best boys in the class.
Superlative: Kalidasa was one of the greatest poets of India.
To change this to Positive, use Very few…
Formula: Very few + [rest of sentence (plural)] + are + as + [Positive Degree] + as + [Subject].
(S) Example: Guwahati is one of the biggest cities in India.
(P) Answer: Very few cities in India are as big as Guwahati.
(S) Example: He is one of the best boys in the class.
(P) Answer: Very few boys in the class are as good as he.
(S) Example: Kalidasa was one of the greatest poets of India.
(P) Answer: Very few poets of India were as great as Kalidasa. (Note: was changes to were).
To change this to Comparative, use …than most other
Formula: [Subject] + is + [Comparative Degree] + than most other + [rest of sentence (plural)].
(S) Example: Guwahati is one of the biggest cities in India.
(C) Answer: Guwahati is bigger than most other cities in India.
(S) Example: He is one of the best boys in the class.
(C) Answer: He is better than most other boys in the class.
9F. (S) Example: Kalidasa was one of the greatest poets of India.
(C) Answer: Kalidasa was greater than most other poets of India.
Pattern 3: Simple Comparison (Two Items)
This is the simplest transformation, comparing only two things.
Comparative: Ram is taller than Hari.
Comparative: This book is more expensive than that one.
To change this to Positive, use …not as/so … as
Formula: [Second Item] + is not + as + [Positive Degree] + as + [First Item].
(C) Example: Ram is taller than Hari.
(P) Answer: Hari is not as tall as Ram.
(C) Example: This book is more expensive than that one.
(P) Answer: That one is not as expensive as this book.