Interchange of Degrees of Comparison

There are three degrees of Adverb and Adjective which are:
(i) Positive e.g. big.
(ii) Comparative e.g. bigger.
(iii) Superlative e.g. biggest.

Rule 1: (a) Positive degree mostly comes between 'so-as', 'such-as' or 'as-as'. Generally use 'so + positive degree + as' for Negative Sentences and 'as + positive degree + as' for Affirmative Sentences. (See examples 1, 2)
(b) Always use 'than' after Comparative degree.
(c) 'the' comes before Superlative degree.

Rule 2: Adjective word, which contains two or more syllables for example - beautiful, intelligent etc. Add 'more' for making their Comparative degree and 'most' for the Superlative degree. (see example 6)

Rule 3: If there is a comparison between two things or persons then in that condition interchange is possible only with Positive and Comparative.

1. Positive - I am not so wise as he.
Comparative - He is wiser than I.

2. Positive - Ram walks as fast as Mohan.
Comparative - Mohan does not walk faster than Ram.

3. Positive - No other city in India is so big as Calcutta.
Comparative - Calcutta is bigger than any other city in India.
Superlative - Calcutta is the biggest city in India.

4. Positive - No other poet of India was so great as Kalidas.
Comparative - Kalidas was greater than any other poet of India.
Superlative - Kalidas was the greatest poet of India.

5. Positive - Very few Indian leaders were as great as Mahatma Gandhi.
Comparative - Mahatma Gandhi was greater than most other Indian leaders.
Superlative - Mahatma Gandhi was one of the greatest Indian leaders.

6. Positive - Very few girls are as beautiful as Sonia.
Comparative - Sonia is more beautiful than most other girls.
Superlative - Sonia is one of the most beautiful girls.

7. Positive - This city is at least as calm as some other cities.
Comparative - Some cities are not calmer than this one.

This city is not less calm than some cities.

8. Positive - Some boys are at least as brave as Ram.
Comparative - Ram is not braver than some other boys.

Some boys are not less brave than Ram.
Superlative - Ram is not the bravest of all boys.

9. Positive - I have never seen so beautiful as a building the Taj.
Comparative - The Taj is more beautiful than any other building that I have ever seen.
Superlative - The Taj is the most beautiful building that I have ever seen.

10. Positive - The other boy does not behave as politely as Mohan.
Comparative - Mohan behaves more politely of the two boys.

11. Positive - This razor is not as sharp as that one.
Comparative - That razor is sharper than this one.

12. Positive - I did not expect him to be so brave.
Comparative - He is braver than I expected.

13. Positive - I did not think it would be so difficult.
Comparative - It was more difficult than I thought.

14. Positive - No other metal is as useful as Aluminium.
Comparative - Aluminium is useful than any other metal.
Superlative - Aluminium is the most useful of all metals.

15. Positive - It is not as cheap as to buy a new one to repair the old one.
Comparative - It is cheaper to repair the old one than to buy a new one.

16. Positive - Talking to him is not as convenient as writing to him.
Comparative - Writing to him is more convenient than talking to him.

17. Positive - Rashmi is not so clever as some other girls in the class.
Comparative - Some girls in the class are cleverer than Rashmi.

Rashmi is less clever than some other girls in the class.
Superlative - Rashmi is not one of the cleverest girls in the class.

Also Read

List of Degrees of Comparison of Adjectives and Adverbs

Active to Passive Voice

Direct and Indirect Narration

Introduction

Assertive Sentences Part 1

Assertive Sentences Part 2

Assertive Sentences Part 3

Interrogative Sentences

Imperative Sentences
Optative Sentences
Exclamatory Sentences
Chart of changes in Indirect Speech
Mixed Sentences and Dialogues

Tenses - English to English Translation