Degree of Comparison - Lesson 2 for University Admission Test, Job Application Test, BCS Exam and Any Competitive Examination

DEGREE OF COMPARISON

Part 1: Primary Discussion

Degree of Comparison

বাক্যে দুই বা ততোধিক ব্যক্তি, প্রাণী এবং বস্তুর মধ্যে দোষ, গুণ, অবস্থা ইত্যাদি তুলনা করতে adjective এর যে রূপভেদ বা পরিবর্তন হয় তাকে Degree of Comparison বলে। Adjective এর তিনটি Degree বা মাত্রা রয়েছে।

1. Positive Degree: যখন কোনো তুলনা করা হয় না, কেবল সাধারণ গুণ বোঝায়।

   • Ex: He is a tall boy.

2. Comparative Degree: যখন দুইয়ের মধ্যে তুলনা করা হয়।

   • Ex: He is taller than his brother.

3. Superlative Degree: যখন অনেকের মধ্যে তুলনা করে শ্রেষ্ঠত্ব বা নিকৃষ্টত্ব বোঝানো হয়।

   • Ex: He is the tallest boy in the class.

Part 2: Formation of Degrees

Rule 1: এক Syllable বিশিষ্ট Adjective এর শেষে -er যোগ করে Comparative এবং -est যোগ করে Superlative করা হয়।

Positive	Comparative	Superlative
Tall	Taller	Tallest
Small	Smaller	Smallest
Great	Greater	Greatest
Bold	Bolder	Boldest
Young	Younger	Youngest

Rule 2: Adjective এর শেষে -e থাকলে শুধু -r এবং -st যোগ করতে হয়।

Positive	Comparative	Superlative
Large	Larger	Largest
Fine	Finer	Finest
Brave	Braver	Bravest
Wise	Wiser	Wisest

Rule 3: Adjective এর শেষে একটি Consonant এবং তার আগে একটি Vowel থাকলে, শেষের Consonant টি দ্বিগুণ (Doubled) হয়, তারপর -er এবং -est যোগ হয়।

Positive	Comparative	Superlative
Big	Bigger	Biggest
Hot	Hotter	Hottest
Fat	Fatter	Fattest
Sad	Sadder	Saddest

Rule 4: Adjective এর শেষে -y এবং তার আগে Consonant থাকলে, y এর পরিবর্তে i হয় এবং তারপর -er ও -est যোগ হয়। (তবে y এর আগে Vowel থাকলে y পরিবর্তন হয় না, যেমন: Grey > Greyer > Greyest)।

Positive	Comparative	Superlative
Happy	Happier	Happiest
Heavy	Heavier	Heaviest
Easy	Easier	Easiest
Busy	Busier	Busiest

Rule 5: দুই বা ততোধিক Syllable বিশিষ্ট Adjective এর পূর্বে more যোগ করে Comparative এবং most যোগ করে Superlative করা হয়।

Positive	Comparative	Superlative
Beautiful	More beautiful	Most beautiful
Useful	More useful	Most useful
Intelligent	More intelligent	Most intelligent
Interesting	More interesting	Most interesting

Rule 6: কিছু Adjective এর তুলনা অনিয়মিত (Irregular) ভাবে হয়।

Positive	Comparative	Superlative
Good / Well	Better	Best
Bad / Ill / Evil	Worse	Worst
Much / Many	More	Most
Little	Less	Least
Far	Farther / Further	Farthest / Furthest
Old	Older / Elder	Oldest / Eldest

Part 3: Structure & Transformation Rules

1. Positive Degree Structure

• Structure 1: No other + noun (singular) + verb + as/so + adj (positive) + as + subject.

  • Ex: No other city in Bangladesh is as big as Dhaka.

• Structure 2: Very few + noun (plural) + verb (plural) + as + adj (positive) + as + subject.

  • Ex: Very few metals are as useful as iron.

• Structure 3: Subject + verb + as + adj + as + noun/pronoun.

  • Ex: He is as strong as a lion.

2. Comparative Degree Structure

• Structure 1: Subject + verb + adj (comparative) + than any other + noun (singular).

  • Ex: Dhaka is bigger than any other city in Bangladesh.

• Structure 2: Subject + verb + adj (comparative) + than most other / than all other + noun (plural).

  • Ex: Iron is more useful than most other metals.

• Structure 3: Subject + verb + adj (comparative) + than + noun/pronoun.

  • Ex: He is stronger than I.

3. Superlative Degree Structure

• Structure 1: Subject + verb + the + adj (superlative) + noun + (of/in...).

  • Ex: Dhaka is the biggest city in Bangladesh.

• Structure 2: Subject + verb + one of the + adj (superlative) + noun (plural).

  • Ex: Iron is one of the most useful metals.

Important Rules regarding Degree Change

Rule 1: No other / Than any other / The + Superlative

• Sup: He is the best boy in the class.

• Comp: He is better than any other boy in the class.

• Pos: No other boy in the class is as good as he.

Rule 2: One of the / Than most other / Very few

• Sup: Gold is one of the most precious metals.

• Comp: Gold is more precious than most other metals.

• Pos: Very few metals are as precious as gold.

Rule 3: Only two items (Comparative <-> Positive)

দুইজন ব্যক্তি বা বস্তুর মধ্যে তুলনা হলে Superlative হয় না, শুধু Positive ও Comparative এর পরিবর্তন হয়। যদি Positive বাক্যটি Affirmative হয়, তবে Comparative টি Negative হবে এবং vice-versa।

• Pos: Rahim is as wise as Karim.

• Comp: Karim is not wiser than Rahim.

• Pos: He is not as strong as I.

• Comp: I am stronger than he.

Rule 4: Double Comparatives (যত... তত...)

• Structure: The + comparative ..., the + comparative ...

• Ex: The more you read, the more you learn.

• Ex: The sooner, the better.

Rule 5: Latin Comparatives

Senior, Junior, Superior, Inferior, Prior, Ulterior, Posterior ইত্যাদি শব্দের পর 'than' না বসে 'to' বসে।

• Ex: He is senior to me. (Not 'than me')

• Ex: This cloth is superior to that.

Rule 6: Logical Comparison

তুলনা সবসময় সমজাতীয় জিনিসের মধ্যে হতে হবে। যদি তুলনাটি ভুল হয় (Illogical), তবে 'that of' (singular এর জন্য) বা 'those of' (plural এর জন্য) ব্যবহার করে তা ঠিক করতে হয়।

• Incorrect: The rice of Barishal is better than Dhaka. (চাল এর সাথে ঢাকার তুলনা হয় না)

• Correct: The rice of Barishal is better than that of Dhaka. (ঢাকার চালের সাথে তুলনা)

• Incorrect: The streets of Dhaka are wider than Khulna.

• Correct: The streets of Dhaka are wider than those of Khulna.

Rule 7: Absolutes (No Comparison)

কিছু Adjective আছে যেগুলোর অর্থই চরম বা চূড়ান্ত, তাই এদের Comparative বা Superlative হয় না। যেমন: Perfect, Unique, Supreme, Universal, Eternal, Round, Dead, Complete, Infinite, Ideal ইত্যাদি।

• Incorrect: It is the most unique idea.

• Correct: It is a unique idea.

Previous Questions

DU Questions & Answers

01. A comedy is _____ than an action movie. [DU-B: 17-18]

• (A) more funny

• (B) funnier

• (C) most funny

• (D) funniest

Ans: (B)Explanation: Funny (y শেষে) এর comparative form হলো Funnier.

02. Which is the correct sentence? [DU-7 College: 20-21]

• (A) The Nile is the longest river in Africa.

• (B) The Nile is longest river in Africa.

• (C) Nile is longest river in the Africa.

• (D) Nile is longest river in Africa.

Ans: (A)Explanation: নদীর নামের আগে 'The' এবং Superlative degree এর আগে 'the' বসে।

03. There is nothing _____ a glass of cold water on a hot sunny day. [DU-A: 21-22]

• (A) as refreshed as

• (B) so refreshing that

• (C) more refreshing than

• (D) refreshing enough

Ans: (C)Explanation: তুলনামূলক অর্থে 'more refreshing than' সঠিক।

04. The more you read, _____ you learn. [DU-D: 16-17]

• (A) the less

• (B) less

• (C) least

• (D) the least

Ans: (A) (অথবা context অনুযায়ী the more হতে পারে, কিন্তু প্রশ্নে অপশন অনুযায়ী double comparative structure 'the + comparative' হবে।) [Note: Usually 'The more you read, the more you learn'. If option A is 'the less', it implies inverse relation which is grammatically correct structure but contextually pessimistic. Standard structure requires 'The + comparative'.]

05. It is the _____ city of the country. [DU-D: 19-20]

• (A) most populous

• (B) more populous

• (C) most people

• (D) most population

Ans: (A)Explanation: Superlative degree 'the most populous'.

JU Questions & Answers

01. _____ the matter gets, _____ he feels. [JU-D: 24-25]

• (A) the easier, the better

• (B) to easier, in better

• (C) easier, better

• (D) None

Ans: (A)Explanation: Double comparative: The + comparative ..., the + comparative.

02. The superlative form of 'far' is _____. [JU-C1: 23-24]

• (A) most far

• (B) more far

• (C) farther

• (D) farthest

Ans: (D)

RU Questions & Answers

01. _____ higher you climb, _____ colder it gets. [RU-B: 23-24]

• (A) The, the

• (B) no article, no article

• (C) The, a

• (D) The, no article

Ans: (A)

02. This dictionary costs _____ the other one. [RU-B: 18-19]

• (A) twice more than

• (B) twice as much as

• (C) three times as much

• (D) twice as much

Ans: (B)Explanation: গুণিতক বা multiple number এর ক্ষেত্রে 'times + as much as' বসে।

CU Questions & Answers

01. She wanted to have _____ of the two pieces of cake. [CU-D: 24-25]

• (A) the smaller

• (B) smallest

• (C) the small

• (D) more small

Ans: (A)Explanation: দুইয়ের মধ্যে নির্বাচনের ক্ষেত্রে 'The + comparative + of' বসে।

02. Cuba is _____ sugar-growing countries in the world. [CU-B: 23-24]

• (A) one of the larger

• (B) one of the largest

• (C) one of largest

• (D) large

Ans: (B)Explanation: 'One of the' এর পর Superlative degree বসে।

03. My research report is much bigger _____ my friend. [CU-B: 22-23]

• (A) than

• (B) then

• (C) than that

• (D) than that of

Ans: (D)Explanation: Logical comparison: Report এর সাথে Report এর তুলনা (that of).

Part 5: SELF TEST

01. The clearer your thought is, the _____ your writing becomes.

• (A) good

• (B) worse

• (C) better

• (D) purer

Ans: (C) (Double comparative)

02. Which is the superlative degree of 'costly'?

• (A) costly

• (B) costliest

• (C) costlyest

• (D) most costly

Ans: (B)

03. Of the two new teachers, one is experienced and _____.

• (A) the others are not

• (B) another is inexperienced

• (C) the other is not

• (D) other lacks experience

Ans: (C)

04. Your answers are better than _____ of Mohan.

• (A) that

• (B) those

• (C) this

• (D) these

Ans: (B) ('Answers' plural, তাই 'those' হবে।)

05. He is _____ judge.

• (A) a most perfect

• (B) a perfect

• (C) absolutely a perfect

• (D) such a perfect

Ans: (B) (Perfect এর কোনো degree হয় না।)

06. Superlative form of the word 'Easy' is -

• (A) more easy

• (B) most easy

• (C) easiest

• (D) easier

Ans: (C)

07. There were _____ guests than I expected.

• (A) less

• (B) lesser

• (C) fewer

• (D) few

Ans: (C) (Guests countable, তাই fewer)

08. Which is the correct sentence?

• (A) She is senior than me.

• (B) She is senior to me.

• (C) She is more senior to me.

• (D) She is senior from me.

Ans: (B) (Latin comparative 'senior' takes 'to')

09. Iron is _____ useful than any other metal.

• (A) most

• (B) more

• (C) very

• (D) much

Ans: (B) (Comparative degree)

10. Very few metals are _____ gold.

• (A) as precious as

• (B) precious than

• (C) so precious than

• (D) as precious than

Ans: (A) (Positive degree structure)

Exercise

1. Rahim is one — superstitious (সুপারস্টিশাস-কুসংস্কারাচ্ছন্ন) people I know. [DU (B) 14-15]

A. much

B. very much

C. of the more

D. of the most

Ans: D

2. Tahseen was one --------- [RU (Law) 05-06] Sara was one --------- [CU (C3) 12-13] Sumon was one --------- [কারিগরি শিক্ষা দপ্তরের অধীনে কারিগরি জুনিয়র ইনস্ট্রাক্টর-০৫]

A. of the happy childs of his class

B. child who was the happiest of all the classes

C. of the happiest child of the class

D. of the happiest children in the class

Ans: D

3. Dhaka is becoming one of the – cities in Asia.[ IU G 10-11, রেলওয়ের উপসহকারী প্রকৌশলী (সিভিল)-১৬]

A. more busy

B. busiest

C. busy

D. most busiest

Ans: B

4. Choose the correct sentence.

A. Bangladesh is like Vietnam.

B. Bangladesh is as like as Vietnam. [CU (B) 02-03]

C. Bangladesh is some like Vietnam.

D. Bangladesh is same to Vietnam.

Ans: A

5. Although they are smaller, chipmunks are – most other ground squirrels. [JU (IBA) 11-12]

A. alike

B. like as

C. same as

D. like

Ans: A

6. Although we often use ‘speed’ and ‘velocity’ interchangeably, in a technical sense, ‘speed’ is not always – ‘velocity’. [DU C 02-03, PUST A 11-12, JnU D 16-17, JU F 16-17]

A. alike

B. the same as

C. similar

D. as

E. as good as

Ans: B

7. Last year, Matin earned – his brother, who has a better position. [CU D 12-13, E 16-17, JU E3 13-14]

A. twice as much as

B. twice more than

C. twice as many as

D. twice as more as

Ans: A

8. Staying in a hotel costs – renting room in a dormitory for a week. [NSTU (C) 12-13, CU (B1) 12-13]

A. twice more than

B. twice as much as

C. as much twice as

D. as much as twice

Ans: B

9. This dictionary costs – the other one. (এই অভিধানের দাম অন্যটার দ্বিগুণ) [JU (B) 18-19]

A. twice more than

B. twice as much as

C. twice as much

D. twice as many

Ans: B

10. Mina has been suffering from fever for two months. She --- [CU (B-1) 14-15]

A. is comparatively better today

B. is comparatively the best today

C. is nicely today

D. is better today.

Ans: D

11. Which of the following sentences is correct? [ডাক ও টেলিযোগাযোগ মন্ত্রণালয়ের হিসাবরক্ষণ কর্মকর্তা-০৩]

A. He is good today than before

B. He is better today [RU (মার্কেটিং) 07-08, Medical 13-14]

C. He is best today than yesterday

D. He is comparatively better today.

Ans: B

12. Choose the correct sentence. (আজ আমি আগের চেয়ে ভালো বোধ করছি) [NU (বিজ্ঞান) 11-12]

A. I feel more good today

B. I feel better today

C. I feel more better today

D. He is comparatively better today.

Ans: B

13. She is one of the most courgeous persons — [NU (মানবিক) 12-13]

A. I known

B. which I know

C. who I know

D. I have ever known.

Ans: D

14. My uncle is the best story-teller — [CU (B) 05-06]

A. than I’ve ever met

B. I’ve ever met

C. that never met

D. that I’ve ever met

Ans: B

15. Which one is the superlative degree? (সব ফুলের মধ্যে গোলাপ সবচেয়ে সুন্দর) [IU (Law) 04-05]

A. Rose is the finest of all flowers.

B. The rose is the finest of all flowers.

C. The rose is finest of all flowers.

D. The rose is the finest of all flower.

Ans: B

16. Which one is correct? (নীল নদ আফ্রিকা মহাদেশের দীর্ঘতম/সবচেয়ে বড় নদী) [17th BCS, মাধ্যমিক ও উচ্চ মাধ্যমিক শিক্ষা অধিদপ্তরের অধীনে প্রদর্শক-০৪, RU 06-07, IU (ঝ) 12-13, Rupali Bank -13, BRUR (A) 15-16]

A. The Nile is longest river in Africa.

B. The Nile is longest river in the Africa.

C. Nile is longest river in Africa.

D. The Nile is the longest river in Africa.

Ans: D

17. He drives much — than he needs to do. [DU (B) 99-00, NU 10-11] I prepare my lesson — than you. [ত্রাণ ও পুনর্বাসন অধিদপ্তরের প্রকল্প বাস্তবায়ন কর্মকর্তা-০৬]

A. so carefully

B. more careful

C. carefully

D. more carefully

Ans: D

18. Dhaka is one of the largest cities in Bangladesh. (Positive) [১০ম স্কুল শিক্ষক নিবন্ধন-১৪]

A. No other cities in Bangladesh are as big as Dhaka.

B. Very few cities in Bangladesh are as big as Dhaka.

C. Very few cities in Bangladesh is as big as Dhaka.

D. Some cities in Bangladesh is as big as Dhaka.

Ans: B

19. He is one of the worst men in the world. (Make Positive) [১৩তম শিক্ষক নিবন্ধন (স্ক) ১৬]

A. Very few men in the world were so bad as he.

B. Very few man in the world was so bad as he.

C. Very few men in the world were so bad so he.

D. Very few man in the world were as bad as he.

Ans: A

20. Salman is one of the richest persons in the town. What does the sentence imply? [DU C 19-20]

A. No other man is as rich as Salman in the town.

B. No one in this town is rich.

C. Very few persons in the town are as rich as Salman.

D. Salman is very rich but others are also rich.

Ans: C

21. It burns the prettiest of any wood. (Positive) [৮ম স্কুল শিক্ষক নিবন্ধন-১২, ১৫তম শিক্ষক নিবন্ধন-১৯]

A. No other wood is as pretty as it burns

B. No other wood burns is as pretty as it

C. No other wood burns as pretty as it

D. No other wood burn as pretty as it

Ans: C

22. It is more than honesty. (Make it ‘Postive’) [১৫তম শিক্ষক নিবন্ধন (২)-১৯]

A. Honesty is not as much as it.

B. Honesty are not as much as it.

C. Honesty is as much as it.

D. Honesty is less much as it.

Ans: A

23. The sentence ‘He is one of the best boys in the village’ can be written as - [RU (E, বিজোড়) 16-17]

A. Very few boys in the village is so good as he

B. Very few boys in the village are as good as he

C. Very few boys in the village are better as he

D. Very few boys in the village is very good as he

Ans: B

24. Mango is one of the sweetest fruits in the world. (Comparative) [৬ষ্ঠ শিক্ষক নিবন্ধন-১০]

A. Mango is more sweet than any other fruits in the world.

B. Mango is more sweet than all other fruits in the world.

C. Mango is sweeter than most other fruits in the world.

D. Mango is sweeter than any other fruits in the world.

Ans: C

25. Belal is the best boy in the class. (Comparative) [১২তম স্কুল শিক্ষক নিবন্ধন (২)-১৫]

A. Very few boys in the class as good as Belal

B. Belal is a good boy in the class

C. Belal is better than any other boy in the class

D. Belal is better than any other boys in the class

Ans: C

26. The Padma is one of the biggest rivers in Bangladesh. (Positive) [১২তম স্কুল শিক্ষক নিবন্ধন-১৫]

A. Very few river in Bangladesh is as big as the Padma

B. Very few rivers in Bangladesh are as big as the Padma

C. No other river in Bangladesh is so big as the Padma

D. No other rivers in Bangladesh are as big as the Padma

Ans: B

27. ‘Iron is the most useful metal’. The positive form of the sentence is- [বিটিভির সহকারী প্রকৌশলী (সিভিল)-১৭, RU 05-06]

A. Very few metals are as useful as iron.

B. Iron is as useful as many other metals.

C. No other metal is as useful as iron.

D. Iron is more useful than many other metals.

Ans: C

28. He is the best boy in the class. (Positive) [৯ম স্কুল শিক্ষক নিবন্ধন-১৩]

A. He is a good boy in the class

B. No other boy is so good as he.

C. No other boy in the class is as good as he.

D. He is better than any other boy

Ans: C

29. Change positive to comparative without any change of meaning. ‘He is as ferocious as tiger’ [JnU (D) 15-16]

A. A tiger is not more ferocious than he.

B. A tiger is not ferocious than he.

C. A tiger is not ferocious than he

D. A tiger is not more ferocious than him

Ans: A