Question

Fill in the blank with the most appropriate word.
David’s sister is thin but not ____________ Mike’s.
A) So thin
B) Thinner
C) The thinnest
D) As thin as

Answer 1

Hint: Degree of adjectives expresses the intensity of adjectives in increasing order. Adjectives have three degrees. They are comparative, superlative and positive degrees of adjectives. For example- degree of adjective of happy
Positive – happy
Comparative – happier
Superlative - happiest

Complete answer:
Comparative degree of adjective – when comparing a noun to another noun and it is ending with er.
Superlative degree of adjective – when comparing two or more nouns and it is ending with est.
Positive degree of adjectives – relating to adjectives and adverbs and this degree does not make any comparison.
Option A) So thin – is an incorrect answer because ‘so thin’ does not fit in the blank and form meaningless sentences. Thus, this is an incorrect answer.

Option B) Thinner – is an incorrect answer because thinner is a comparative degree of adjective and use of ‘thinner’ in the blank makes the sentence grammatically incorrect. Thus, this is an incorrect answer.

Option C) The thinnest – is an incorrect answer because thinnest is the highest degree and it is the superlative degree of adjective and its use in the blank makes the sentence grammatically incorrect. Thus, this is an incorrect answer.

Option D) As thin as – is the correct answer because a positive degree of adjective is being used and there is no comparison. So, the use of this option is the correct answer.

Hence, the correct answer is Option D.

Note: A positive degree of adjective is the base form of the adjective or adverb and positive degree of adjective does not show comparison. In this sentence, no comparison is being done so the blank needs a positive degree of the adjective. In other words, the comparison is at the same level and there is no difference in the adjectives.