Question

Change the following from the positive to the superlative degree of comparison without changing the meaning of the sentence:
Very few instruments are as useful as knives.
A) The knife is the most useful of all the instruments.
B) The knife is more useful than many other instruments.
C) The knife is the most useful of very few instruments.
D) The knife is one of the most useful instruments.

Answer 1

Hint: Every adjective has a degree. There are three forms of adjective degrees. These degrees are used to determine how strong the adjectives are. There are three adjective types: Positive, Comparative, and Superlative degree adjectives. When there is no comparison, a positive degree adjective is used.

Complete answer:
Here in the question, there is a sentence, we have to change it to the superlative degree of comparison without changing the meaning of the given sentence. So, let’s understand what superlative degree of comparison is exactly -

If there is a comparison, adjectives in the comparative and superlative degrees are used. When we use an adjective to equate two nouns or one noun with a category, we use comparative degree; when we use an adjective to compare a noun to the rest of the group, we use superlative degree.

Now, let’s evaluate the options –
Option A) The knife is the most useful of all the instruments: In the given sentence we are talking about “very few instruments” and here “all instruments” is used. So, the meaning of the sentence has changed. Hence, this option is incorrect.
Option B) The knife is more useful than many other instruments: The question has asked to change into a superlative degree of comparison but the statement is in the comparative degree of comparison as there is the use of ‘than’ and comparative form of ‘use’ has been used. Hence, this option is incorrect.
Option C) The knife is the most useful of very few instruments: The meaning of the initial sentence changed by arranging the sentence in this form. Hence, this option is incorrect.
Option D) The knife is one of the most useful instruments: The superlative rules of using a ‘the’ and superlative form of ‘useful’ have been used and also the correct meaning of the initial sentence has been conveyed. Hence, this option is correct.

Thus the correct answer is the option ‘D’ thus correct sentence is ‘The knife is one of the most useful instruments’.

Note:
- We use the comparative form of the word followed by ‘than' when translating a positive sentence to a comparative degree of adjective.
- We use the superlative form of the term followed by ‘the' when translating a positive degree of adjective to a superlative degree of adjective. We use ‘as...as' or ‘like' with a favourable degree of adjective.