Question

Change the degree of comparison from superlative to comparative, without changing the meaning of the sentence:
(This question has multiple correct options)
The cheetah is the fastest animal.
a. No other animal is as fast as the cheetah.
b. No other animal is faster than the cheetah.
c. The cheetah is faster than any other animal.
d. The cheetah is faster than all the other animals.

Answer 1

Hint:Finding the option(s) in which comparative degree of adjectives is used should be the priority of the student. This will enable the student to find the correct answer by eliminating the answers which use the superlative or positive degree of adjectives.

Complete answer: In this question, it will be helpful for the student to recall the concept of the degrees of comparison. An adjective is a word or set of words that modifies (i.e., describes) a noun or pronoun. They come in three degrees, positive, comparative and superlative. To compare two things, we use a comparative adjective and when we compare more than two things, we use the superlative form of the adjective.
Let us analyze the options given to us in this question -
Option (a.), 'No other animal is as fast as the cheetah', is incorrect as the adjective is given in the positive degree.
Option (b.), ‘No other animal is faster than the cheetah', is correct as it indicates that no animal’s speed is faster than the cheetah, i.e. the cheetah’s speed is faster than all other animals. Also, the adjective is given in the comparative degree.
Option (c.), ‘The cheetah is faster than any other animal', is correct as it compares the speed of the cheetah with any other animal. Also, the adjective is given in the comparative degree.
Option (d.), ‘The cheetah is faster than all the other animals', is incorrect as the adjective is given in positive degree.
Therefore, option (b) is the correct choice.

Note: When this, that, these, and those are followed by a noun, they are adjectives. When they appear without a noun following them, they are pronouns.
eg: -This house is for sale. (Adjective) -This is for sale. (Pronoun)