Degree of Comparison
Prepared by Sri Rupjyoti Goswami, PGT (English) Bhogeswar Hazarika GIRLS’ HSS, Nagaon

Introduction : There are three degrees of Comparison of Adjectives-Positive Degree, Comparative Degree and Superlative degree.

1. Positive Degree : It is simply a statement of a quality or quantity of a person or thing without making any comparison with anyone or anything. (অন্য কোনো ব্যক্তি বা বস্তৰ গুণ বা পৰিমাণৰ লগত তুলনা নকৰাকৈ কোনো ব্যক্তি বা বস্তৰ গুণ, দোষপ্ৰকাশ কৰা Degree ক Positive Degree বোলা হয়।) For example : ‘She is a beautiful girl’. In this sentence, no comparison is made between her beauty and anybody else’s.
2. Comparative Degree : In this type of sentence, comparison is made between two persons or thingswith regard to quality or quantity. (এনে ধৰণৰ বাক্যত দুটা বস্তু বা দুজন ব্যক্তিৰ মাজত তুলনা এজন আনজনতকৈ ভাল/বেয়া/ ওখ/চাপৰ/বুদ্ধিমান-আদি সিদ্ধান্তত উপনীত হোৱা যায়।) There are two methods of usingComparative Degrees. (Comparative Degree প্ৰকাশ কৰাৰমূলত দুটা পদ্ধতি দেখা যায়।)
   (a) Using “er” after the adjective word followed by “than”(Adjective ৰ পাছত er বহুৱাই তাৰ পাছত than যোগ দিয়া হয়): For example, “She is taller than Reena”
   (b) Using “more” before the adjective word and “than” after the adjective word : This happens normally with words that have 6 or more than 6 letters, excluding the exceptions in special circumstances. (সাধাৰণতে যিবিলাক Adjective ৰ ৬ টাবা ততোধিক আখৰ থাকে সিহঁতৰ ক্ষেত্ৰত adjective টোৰ আগত more বহুৱাই তাৰ পাছত than ব্যৱহাৰ কৰা হয়।অৱশ্যে ইয়াৰ দুই এটা ব্যতিক্ৰম নথকাও নহয়।) For example:
   Water is more useful than diamond’.
   She is more intelligent than Bina.
3. Superlative Degree : Inthis type of degree, comparison of quality or quantity is made among many people or things. The number of people or things involved must notbe less than three. Here also two types of comparisons are found. (Superlative Degree ৰ বাক্যবোৰত বহু ব্যক্তি বা বহুত বস্তুৰ গুণাগুণৰ তুলনা কৰি আটাইতকৈ ভাল বা আটাইতকৈ বেয়া/ওখ/ চাপৰ/বুদ্ধিমান আদি সিদ্ধান্তত উপনীত হোৱা যায়। Superlative Degree ৰ বাক্যত তুলনা কৰিবলৈ নিম্নতম ৩ জন ব্যক্তি বা ৩ টা বস্ত থাকিবই লাগিব।)
   (i) Using “est” after the adjective word followed by “of all” or the noun involved (সাধাৰণতেকোনো বাক্যক Superlative Degree ত প্ৰকাশ কৰিবলৈ adjective বোৰৰ আগত the বহুৱাই adjective বোৰৰ পাছত est যোগ দিয়া হয়। কিন্তু যিবিলাক শব্দৰ পাছত est যোগ দিব নোৱাৰি সিহঁতক Superlative Degree লৈ নিবলৈ Adjective ৰ আগত most বহুৱাই adjective টোৰ পাছত of all লিখি তাৰপাছত বাক্যটোত থকা Noun টো ব্যৱহাৰ কৰা হয়। কিন্তু বেছিভাগ বাক্যত of all ব্যৱহাৰ নকৰি পোনপটীয়াকৈ Noun টো ব্যৱহাৰ কৰা দেখা যায়।). For example,
   Mount Everest is the highest mountain peak in the world. (or)
   Mount Everest is the highest of all mountain peaks in the world.
   (ii) Using “the most” before the adjective word followed by “of all” or the noun involved. For example: She is the most beautiful of all girls in the school. (or)
   She is the most beautiful girl in the school.
   Superlative Degree ৰ বাক্যক Positive Degree আৰু Comparative Degree লৈ পৰিবৰ্তন কৰাৰ নিয়ম: Superlative Degree ৰ বাক্যক Positive Degree লৈ পৰিবৰ্তন কৰিবলৈ বাক্যবোৰৰ আৰম্ভণিতে No other লিখা হয়। তাৰপাছত Adjective বোৰৰ পাছত থকা অংশটো শেষলৈকৈ লিখি “be”verb/ helping verb বহুওৱা হয়। তাৰপাছত Adjective বোৰৰ আগত থকা the আৰু পাছত থকা est টো আতৰাই adjective টোৰ আগত আৰু পাছত as বহুৱাই আৰম্ভণিৰ Subjectৰ স্থানত থকা word টো একেবাৰে শেষলৈ অনা হয়। যিবিলাক adjective ৰ পাছত est নাথাকে সিহঁতৰ ক্ষেত্ৰত আগত থকা the most অংশটো আতৰাই অন্যান্য পৰিবৰ্তনসমূহো একেধৰণেৰেই কৰা হয়।
   আকৌ Superlative Degree ৰ বাক্যক Comparative Degree লৈ নিবলৈ প্ৰথমতে Subject আৰু be verb বোৰ নিজৰ থকা স্থানতেই লিখি ল’ব লাগে। তাৰপাছত Definite Article- “the” টো বাদ দি adjectiveৰ পাছত থকা est টো আতৰাই তাৰ স্থানত er লিখিতাৰপাছত than any other যোগ দিব লাগে। বাক্যটোৰ বাকী থকা অংশটো যেনেকৈ আছে তেনেকৈ শেষৰফালে লিখিব লাগে। যিবিলাক adjective ৰ পাছত er যোগ দিব নোৱাৰি, সিহতৰ আগত more যোগ দিব লাগে। (a) Australia is the largest island in the world. (Superlative Degree)
   Ans:- Positive : No other island in the world is as large as (so large as) Australia.
   Comparative : Australia is larger than any other island in the world. (b) She is the most beautiful girl in the school. (Superlative Degree)
   Ans:- Positive : No other girl in the school is as beautiful as she is.
   Comparative: She is more beautiful than any other girl in the school. (c) Mukesh Ambani is the richest person in India. (Superlative Degree)
   Ans:- Positive : No other person in India is as rich as Mukesh Ambani.
   Comparative : Mukesh Ambani is richer than any other person in India. (d) Mount Everest is the highest mountain peak in the world. (Superlative Degree)
   Ans:- Positive : No other mountain peak in the world is as high as Mount Everest. (e) The USA is the most powerful country in the world.(Superlative Degree)
   Ans:- Positive : No other country in the world is as powerful as the USA.
   Comparative : The USA is more powerful than any other country in the world. (f) The dog is the most faithful of all animals. (Superlative Degree)
   Ans:- Positive : No other animal is as faithful as the dog. (g) The Black Mumba is the most venomous snake in the world. (Superlative Degree)
   Ans:- Positive : No other snake in the world is as venomous as the Black Mumba.
   Comparative : The Black Mumba is more venomous than any other snake in the world. (h) This is the best book on the subject. (Superlative Degree)
   Ans:- Positive : No other book on the subject is as good as this.
   Comparative : This is better than any other book on the subject. (i) Kolkotta is the most populous city in India. (Superlative Degree)
   Ans:- Positive : No other city in India is as populous as Kolkata.
   Comparative : Kolkata is more populous than any other city in India. (j) This is the most charming place in Assam. (Superlative Degree)
   Ans:- Positive : No other place in Assam is as charming as this.
   Comparative : This is more charming than any other place in Assam. (k) The Brahmaputra is the longest river in India.(Superlative Degree)
   Ans:- Positive : No other river in India is as long as the Brahmaputra.
   Comparative: The Brahmaputra is longer than any other river in India. (l) The Bhupen Hazarika Setu at Dhola Sadiya is the longest bridge in India. (Superlative)
   Ans:- Positive : No other bridge in India is as long as the Bhupen Hazarika Setu at Dhola Sadiya.
   Comparative : The Bhupen Hazarika Setu at Dhola Sadiya is longer than any other bridge in India. (m) Asia is the largest continent on earth. (Superlative Degree)
   Ans:- Positive : No other continent on earth is as large as Asia.
   Comparative : Asia is larger than any other continent on earth. (n) The Jupiter is the largest planet in our Solar system. (Superlative Degree)
   Ans:- Positive : No other planet in our Solar system is as large as the Jupiter. (o) The safest thing is to leave this place. (Superlative Degree)
   Ans:- Positive : Nothing is as safe as leaving this place.
   Comparative : Nothing is safer than leaving this place. 4. Quasi-Superlative Degree : Thereare some sentences in which the Superlative form is used with “one of”. Though these sentences contain “est” after the adjective word or “themost” before the adjective word, yet these can’t be categorized as Superlative Degrees. Hence there is a slight variation in changing these to Positive or Comparative Degrees. Let’s observe these variations in the following examples. (এনে কিছুমান বাক্য আছে যিবিলাকক দেখাত Superlative Degree ত থকা যেন লাগিলেও প্ৰকৃততে Superlative নহয়। One of থকা এই বাক্যবিলাকত Adjective ৰ পাছত est বা আগত the most ব্যৱহাৰ হোৱা বাবে Superlative যেন লাগে।তথাপিও এইবিলাক বাক্যকো Positive আৰু Comparative লৈ পৰিবৰ্তন কৰাৰ কিছুমান পদ্ধতি আছে। এইবিলাক বাক্যক Positive Degree লৈ পৰিবৰ্তন কৰিবলৈ বাক্যবোৰৰ ঠিক আৰম্ভণিতেই Very few ব্যৱহাৰ কৰি তাৰ পাছতেই adjective ৰ পাছত থকা অংশটো শেষলৈকে যোগ দি বহুবচনত থকা Be verb ব্যৱহাৰ কৰা হয়।ইয়াৰ পাছত Adjectiveটোক Positive Degree লৈ নি তাৰ আগত আৰু পাছত as যোগ দি শেষত বাক্যটোৰ আৰম্ভণিতে Subjectৰ স্থানত থকা word টো একেবাৰে শেষত লিখা হয়।
   এনেধৰণৰ বাক্যবিলাকক Comparative Degree লৈ পৰিবৰ্তন কৰিবলৈ প্ৰথমতে একাদিক্ৰমে Subject আৰু “Be” verb লিখি ল’ব লাগে। তাৰপাছত the টো আতৰাই Adjective টো Comparative Degreeত লিখিব লাগে (পাছত er ব্যৱহাৰ কৰিয়েই হওঁক বা আগত more ব্যৱহাৰ কৰিয়েই হওঁক)। ইয়াৰ পাছত than most other লিখি বাক্যটোৰ বাকী থকা অংশটো লিখিব লাগে। উদাহৰণস্বৰূপে- (a) MS Dhoni is one of the best batsmen in world cricket. (Quasi-Superlative)
   Ans:- Positive : Very few batsmen in world cricket are as good as MS Dhoni.
   Comparative : MS Dhoni is better than most other batsmen in world cricket. (b) The Brahmaputra is one of the longest rivers in the world. (Quasi-Superlative)
   Ans:- Positive : Very few rivers in the world are as long as the Brahmaputra.
   Comparative : The Brahmaputra is longer than most other rivers in the world. (c) Sri Lanka is one of the smallest countries in the world. (Quasi-Superlative)
   Ans:- Positive : Very few countries in the world are as small as Sri Lanka.
   Comparative : Sri Lanka is smaller than most other countries in the world. (d) Shakespeare is one of the greatest dramatists in the world.(Quasi-Superlative)
   Ans:- Positive : Very few dramatists in the world are as great as Shakespeare.
   Comparative : Shakespeare is greater than most other dramatists in the world. (e) This is one of the easiest subjects. (Quasi-Superlative)
   Ans:- Positive : Very few subjects are as easy as this.
   Comparative : This is easier than most other subjects. (f) Cobra is one of the most poisonous snakes in the world. (Quasi-Superlative)
   Ans:- Positive : Very few snakes in the world are as poisonous as Cobra.
   Comparative : Cobra is more poisonous than most other snakes in the world. (g) Lata Mangeshkar is one of the melodious singers in the world.(Quasi-Superlative)
   Ans:- Positive : Very few singers in the world are as melodious as Lata Mangeshkar.
   Comparative : Lata Mangeshkar is more melodious than most other singers in the world. (h) Shillong is one of the most beautiful places in the world.(Quasi-Superlative)
   Ans:- Positive : Very few places in the world are as beautiful as Shillong.
   Comparative : Shillong is more beautiful than most other places in the world. (i) Kohli is one of the most widely followed sportspersons on Instagram. (Quasi-Superlative)
   Ans:- Positive : Very few sportspersons on Instagram are as widely followed as Kohli.
   Comparative : Kohli is more widely followed than most other sportspersons on Instagram. (j) She is one of the most brilliant students of our school. (Quasi-Superlative)
   Ans:- Positive : Very few students of our school are as brilliant as she is.
   Comparative : She is more brilliant than most other students of our school.
4. Superlative Degree ত থকা কিছুমান বাক্য Negative form অটো থাকিব পাৰে অৰ্থাৎ No, not আদিৰ ব্যৱহাৰ হ’ব পাৰে। এনেধৰনৰ বাক্যক Positive Degree লৈ পৰিৱৰ্তন কৰিবলৈ বাক্যটোৰ আৰম্ভণিতে Some other ব্যৱহাৰ কৰি তাৰ ঠিক পাছতেই Adjective পাছত থকা অংশটোৰ শেষলৈকে লিখিব লাগে। তাৰ পাছত একাদিক্ৰমে বহুবচনত থকা “Be”verb (are, were) আৰু at least ব্যৱহাৰ কৰিব লাগে। তাৰপাছত Adjective টো PositiveDegree ত লিখি তাৰ আগত আৰু পাছত “as” লিখি Subject ৰ স্থানত থকা word টোক শেষত লিখিব লাগে।
   ঠিক তেনেধৰণেৰে এইবিলাক বাক্যক Comparative Degree লৈ পৰিবৰ্তন কৰিবলৈ প্ৰথমতে একাদিক্ৰমে Subject আৰু “be” verb লিখি তাৰ ঠিক পাছতেই অৰ্থ অনুসৰি not more/not less /not+adjective-er+than লিখিব লাগে। ইয়াৰ পাছত adjective টোৰ পাছত than some other লিখি বাক্যটোৰ শেষত থকা অংশটো লিখিব লাগে। উদাহৰণস্বৰূপে- (a) Godwin Austin is not the highest mountain peak in the world.(Superlative)
   Ans:- Some other mountain peaks in the world are at least as high as Godwin Austin. (Positive)
   Godwin Austin is not higher than some other mountain peaks in the world. (Comparative) (b) Mr Barua is not the most intelligent member of the staff. (Superlative)
   Ans:- Some other members of the staff are at least as intelligent as Mr Barua. (Positive)
   Mr Barua is not more intelligent than some other members of the staff. (Comparative) (c) The Brahmaputra is not the longest river in the world. (Superlative)
   Ans:- Some other rivers in the world are at least as long as the Brahmaputra. (Positive)
   The Brahmaputra is not longer than some other rivers in the world.(Comparative)
5. One of ব্যৱহাৰ হোৱা Superlativedegree ত থকা যেন লগা বাক্যবোৰত যদি no, not আদি থাকে, তেতিয়া সেইবিলাকক Positive Degree লৈ পৰিবৰ্তন কৰিবলৈ আৰম্ভণিতে Subject ৰ স্থানত থকা word টো লিখি তাৰ পাছত একাদিক্ৰমে “Be” verb আৰু not লিখিব লাগে। তাৰপাছত adjectiveটোৰ আগত so/as আৰু পাছত as বহুৱাই some other যোগ দি বাক্যটোৰ বাকী থকা অংশটো লিখিব লাগে।
   ঠিক তেনেধৰণেৰে one of যুক্ত Superlative ৰ নিচিনা এই negative বাক্যবোৰক Comparative Degree লৈ পৰিৱৰ্তন কৰিবলৈ বাক্যটোৰ আৰম্ভণিতে Some লিখিব লাগে। তাৰপাছত Adjectiveৰ পাছত থকা অংশটো শেষলৈকে লিখি তাৰ ঠিক পাছতেই বহুবচনত থকা “Be” verb লিখিব লাগে। তাৰপাছত adjective টো উপযুক্ত Comparative form ত লিখি than যোগ দি শেষত বাক্যটোৰ আৰম্ভণিতে থকা wordটো লিখিব লাগে। উদাহৰণস্বৰূপে- (a) He is not one of the best bowlers in this era. (S)
   Ans:- He is not as good as some other bowlers in this era. (Positive)
   Some bowlers in this era are better than he. (Comparative) (b) Shillong is not one of the highest places in the world. (S)
   Ans:- Shillong is not as high as some other places in the world.(Positive)
   Some places in the world are higher than Shillong. (Comparative) (c) Bangladesh is not one of the most interesting countries in the world. (P)
   Ans:- Bangladesh is not as interesting as some other countries in the world. (Positive)
   Some countries in the world are more interesting than Bangladesh.(Comparative) (d) Greek is not one of the easiest languages in the world. (S)
   Ans:- Greek is not as easy as some other languages in the world.(Positive)
   Some languages in the world are easier than Greek. (Comparative) (e) Silver is not one of the costliest metals in the world. (S)
   Ans:- Silver is not as costly as some other metals in the world.(Positive)
   Some metals in the world are costlier than Silver. (Comparative)
6. দুটা বস্ত বা দুজন ব্যক্তিৰ মাজত তুলনা কৰা Positive Degree ৰ বাক্যক Comparative Degree লৈ পৰিৱৰ্তন কৰিবলৈ বাক্যটোৰ শেষত থকা Noun বা Pronoun টোক বাক্যটোৰ একেবাৰে আৰম্ভণিলৈ আনি উপযুক্ত “Be” verb বহুৱাব লাগে। তাৰপাছত not বহুৱাই Adjective টোৰ Comparative Degree ব্যৱহাৰ কৰি than লিখিব লাগে। শেষত Positive Degree ৰ বাক্যটোৰ আৰম্ভণিতে Subject ৰ স্থানত থকা word টোক বাক্যটোৰ শেষত লিখিব লাগে। উদাহৰণ স্বৰূপে- (a) He is as intelligent as you. (Positive)
   Ans:- You are not more intelligent than he. (Comparative) (b) Rita is as beautiful as Sita. (Positive)
   Ans:- Sita is not more beautiful than Rita. (Comparative) (c) Mumbai is as busy as Shanghai. (Positive )
   Ans:- Shanghai is not busier than Mumbai. (Comparative)
7. দুটা বস্ত বা দুজন ব্যক্তিৰ মাজত তুলনা কৰা Comparative Degree ৰ Affirmative বাক্যক Positive Degree লৈ পৰিবৰ্তন কৰিবলৈ than ৰ পাছত থকা অংশটোক বাক্যটোৰ আৰম্ভণিলৈ আনি উপযুক্ত “Be” Verb বহুওৱা হয়। ইয়াৰ ঠিক পাছতেই not as বা not so লিখি adjective টোক Positive Degree ত লিখা হয় আৰু তাৰপাছত as যোগ দিয়া হয়। ইয়াৰ পিছত Comparative Degree ৰ বাক্যটোৰ আৰম্ভণিতে থকা Subject টোক বাক্যটোৰ শেষত লিখা হয়। উদাহৰণ স্বৰূপে- (a) He is taller than I. (Comparative)
   Ans:- I am not as tall as he. (Positive) (b) Difficulty is sweeter than victory. (Comparative)
   Ans:- Victory is not as sweet as difficulty. (Positive) (c) The Pacific is deeper than the Atlantic. (Comparative)
   Ans:- The Atlantic is not as deep as the Pacific. (Positive) (d) Gold is more previous than silver. (Comparative)
   Ans:- Silver is not as precious as Gold. (Positive)
8. Comparative Degree ৰ কিছুমান বাক্যত less …than ব্যৱহাৰ হোৱা দেখা যায়। এনেকুৱা বাক্যক Positive Degree লৈ পৰিবৰ্তন কৰিবলৈ lessৰ স্থানত not as আৰু than ৰ স্থানত as ব্যৱহাৰ কৰি বাকী অংশটো একেধৰণেৰে ৰখা হয়। উদাহৰণস্বৰূপে – (a) He is less intelligent than you said. (Comparative)
   Ans:- He is not as intelligent as you said. (Positive) (b) She is less beautiful than you described. (Comparative)
   Ans:- She is not as beautiful as you described. (Positive) (c) This place is less attractive than I thought. (Comparative)
   Ans:- This place is not as attractive as I thought. (Positive) (d) She is less brilliant than I imagined. (Comparative)
   Ans:- She is not as brilliant as I imagined. (Positive)

Mr. Rupjyoti Goswami

Post Graduate Teacher (English)

Bhogeswar Hazarika Girls’ Higher Secondary School, Bebejia, Nagaon, Assam.

Email: rupjyotigoswami983@gmail.com

Mobile: 9864425896.

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