What is Degree in English Grammar? What are types of Degrees?
What is Degree in English Grammar? What are types of Degrees?
Ans: In English Grammar, Degree is a level which is
used to demonstrate qualitative comparison of adjectives or adverbs. Degree is
used to express the good thing, the better thing and the best one. As we know
verbs have three forms i,e., present form (v1), past form (v2) and past
participle form (v3), similarly adjectives in degree have three froms which are
positive form (adj-1), comparative form (adj-2) and superlative froom (adj-3). Likewise
tense, degrees too have formations.
CHART
| Positive | Comparative | Superlative |
|---|---|---|
| No other | Than any other | The |
| Very few | Than most other | One of the |
We have to keep in mind that if ‘positive degree’
starts with ‘No other’, to make it comparative, we must use the formula of “Than
any other”. Never and ever, we can use ‘Than most other’ formula. Similarly, to
make superlative, we must use the formula of ‘The’, never use ‘One of the’
formula. Don’t cross boarders to change from positive to comparative, positive
to superlative or comparative to positive, comparative to superlative and vice
versa.
Formation of positive degree:
| Positive degree formation |
|---|
| No other+noun+object+verb+as+adj-1+as+subject |
| Very few++nouns+object+verb+as+adj-1+as+subject |
Example: Honey is the sweetest thing all over world.
The above example is in superlative degree because we
have found the superlative form of ‘sweet’ i.e., sweetest. Another
identification of having found superlative degree is the use of ‘the’ after
subject noun. Now break the sentence ‘Honey is the sweetest thing all over
world’ into words.
Honey: Indicates subject (noun).
Is: Indicates
verb.
The: Has been taken from superlative degree formation.
Sweetest: Adjective number three i.e., adj-3
Thing: noun
Thing all over world: objective
Now to change into positive degree, follow the
formation of positive degree, that are-
|
No other+noun+object+verb+as+adj-1+as+subject |
|
Very few++nouns+object+verb+as+adj-1+as+subject |
But there are two formations of positive degree, which formation is to follow, that depends on chart. We’re going to follow the first formation because the example has only ‘the’ after the subject noun, but ‘not one of the’. If the example had ‘one of the’ then we’d like to follow the second formation of positive degree.
Positive degree: No other thing all over the world is as sweet as
honey.
More
Examples:
1. Rajhdhani Express is the fastest train in India.
Positive: No other train in India is as fast as Rajhdhani Express.
2. Rajhdhani Express is one of the fastest trains in India.
Positive: Very few trains in India are as fast as Rajhdhani Express.
3. Kolkata is the biggest city in West Bengal.
Positive: No other city in West Bengal is as big as Kolkata.
4. Kolkata is of the biggest cities in West Bengal.
Positive: Very few cities in West Bengal are as big as Kolkata.
Formation of Comparative degree:
| Comparative degree formation |
|---|
| Subject+verb+adj-2+than any other+noun+object |
| Subject+verb+adj-2+than most other+nouns+object |
Examples: She is the most beautiful girl in the class.
The example is in superlative degree. We have to change
it to comparative degree. To change into comparative degree, we will follow first
rule of comparative degree because the example we have seen the use of ‘the’ after
the subject noun. The first formation of comparative degree is-
|
Subject+verb+adj-2+than any other+noun+object |
|
Subject+verb+adj-2+than most other+nouns+object |
She: Indicate subject.
Is: Indicates verb.
The: Has taken from the formation of superlative degree.
Most beautiful:
Adjective number
three or superlative form of the adjective.
Girl: Indicates noun.
In the class: Indicates object.
Comparative: She is more beautiful than any other girl in the
class.
More
Examples:
1. He is the tallest boy in the team.
Superlative: He is taller than any boy in the class.
2. She is the bravest knight. (No object)
Superlative: He is braver than any other knight. (No object)
3. Kolkata is the most populous city in India.
Superlative: Kolkata is more populous than any other city in India.
4. China is the largest country in the world.
Superlative: China is larger than any other country in the world.
Formation of Superlative degree:
| Superlative degree formation |
|---|
| Subject+verb+the+adj-3+noun+object |
| Subject+verb+ one of the+adj-3+nouns+object |
Example: No other day in this month was as warm as this.
The above example is in positive degree. Then we need
to change into the superlative degree. So, we’ll follow the first formula of
superlative degree because the example starts with no other.
Superlative degree: This was the warmest day in this month.
More
Examples:
1. Very few countries in the world are as rich as
Japan.
Superlative degree: Japan is one of the richest countries in the world.
2. No other river in Assam is as long as Brahmaputra.
Superlative degree: Brahmaputra is the longest river in Assam.
3. Google Chrome is better than any other browser.
Superlative degree: Google Chrome is the best browser.
4. Raju is more intelligent than any other boy.
Superlative degree: Raju is the most intelligent boy.
Click on the following links-
1. Simple ⇆ Complex ⇆ Compound
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