CBSE Class 8 English Chapter 11 Active and Passive Voice
1. Study the following chart.
Note:
- When no comparison is made, it is said to be in the Positive degree.
Sujata is a clever girl. - When two persons or things of the same class are compared, we use the Comparative Degree. The Comparative Degree is generally followed by the Conjunction than.
- She is wiser than her sister.
- Comparative Degree can sometimes be used without than.
- She is wiser of the two girls.
- The poor fellow had seen happier days.
- When more than two persons or things of the same class are compared, it is said to be in the Superlative Degree.
- Akbar was the greatest king.
Note:
The Superlative Degree is preceded by the and followed by of, as :
Sheila is the cleverest of all the girls.
But we can also say :
Sheila is the cleverest girl
The Comparative Degree
2. We form Comparatives by adding er or more.
Examples: Big – bigger
Deep – deeper
Beautiful – more beautiful
Comfortable – more comfortable
Note: Adjectives which are bigger, are of more than two syllables, form the Comparative by adding the word more.
3. Some Adjectives form their
Comparatives in an irregular way.
Examples:
Good – better
Little – less
Bad – worse
Much – more
Many – more
Exercise 1
Complete the sentences using the Comparative form:-
Question 1. I have seen many tall buildings, but the buildings in New York are _____________.
Answer: I have seen many tall buildings, but the buildings in New York are taller.
Question 2. The flight over the mountains was rather short. I had expected it __________.
Answer: The flight over the mountains was rather short. I had expected it to be longer.
Question 3. Please give me some sugar. I like my coffee to be __________.
Answer: Please give me some sugar. I like my coffee to be sweeter.
Question 4. Don’t walk so slowly. I know you can ________.
Answer: Don’t walk so slowly. I know you can walk faster.
Question 5. We went to the next room to find some quiet place but it ____________.
Answer: We went to the next room to find some quiet place, but it was noisier.
Question 6. You have no experience of doing this work. We want someone ___________.
Answer: You have no experience of doing this work. We want someone more experienced.
Question 7. Raman was rejected because he was only 18. The company wanted someone __________.
Answer: Raman was rejected because he was only 18. The company wanted someone older.
Question 8. This movie is awful. Let us watch ___________.
Answer: This movie is awful. Let us watch a better one.
Question 9. We missed the train. We should have ____________.
Answer: We missed the train. We should have left earlier.
Question 10. He was already feeling bad about his behaviour at the party. His friends’ comments made him ____________.
Answer: He was already feeling bad about his behaviour at the party. His friends’ comments made him feel worse.
Exercise 2
Use much, better, a lot, a little, a bit in the following sentences to turn them to Comparative degrees:
Question 1. The old woman was very tired; she requested us to walk__________ slowly.
Answer: The old woman was very tired; she requested us to walk a little slowly.
Question 2. It is_________ to eat at home than in a restaurant.
Answer: It is much better to eat at home than in a restaurant.
Question 3. He had made _________ of effort to make his party a ___________.
Answer: He had made a lot of effort to make his party a bit.
Question 4. Ashok is______ than me and can resist any infection.
Answer: Ashok is much than me and can resist any infection.
Question 5. If you had been _________ more careful, the accident would not have taken place.
Answer: If you had been a little more careful, the accident would not have taken place.
Question 6. He was too proud to bend even________ and make _______ friends in his neighborhood.
Answer: He was too proud to bend even a bit and make a lot friends in his neighborhood.
Exercise 3
Read the biodata of two girls given below. Then complete the blanks in the passage given below using the Comparative Degree:
Fill in the blanks in the suitable Comparative forms :
Arushi and Mansi study in the same school and class. Mansi is(1)________ (old) than Arushi by one year. She is (2)____________ (short) in height but is(3)__________ (weight) than Arushi. Mansi is (4)____________ (smart) than Arushi who is(5)__________(attractive). Arushi is(6)__________ (good) in studies than Mansi, who is an average student. Arushi is(7)_________(good) in English and Maths, but Mansi scores(8)____ (much) in Science. The difference in their hobbies is (9)__________(big) as Arushi loves swimming and reading, whereas Mansi loves singing and dancing(10)___________ (much) than anything else.
Answer:
Arushi and Mansi study in the same school and class. Mansi is Older than Arushi by one year. She is Shorter in height but is Heavier than Arushi. Mansi is Smarter than Arushi, who is more attractive. Arushi is Better in studies than Mansi, who is an average student. Arushi is Better in English and Maths, but Mansi scores much more in Science. The difference in their hobbies is bigger as Arushi loves swimming and reading, whereas Mansi loves singing and dancing much more than anything else.
4. Study how Comparisons are made in some cases.
The faster you walk, the sooner you will reach the place.
The more he argued, the more angry I felt.
We use the – the with two comparatives when one thing is directly related to the other. (Rule the + Comparative ____________, the + Comparative)
Exercise 4
Question 1. Life is getting__________and _______________ (hard).
Answer: Life is getting harder and harder.
Question 2. The_________you start, the__________ you will finish the work, (soon)
Answer: The sooner you start, the sooner you will finish the work.
Question 3. The_____(rich) you are, the_________ (greedy) you become.
Answer: The richer you are, the greedier you become.
Question 4. The_________(high) you climb, ___________ (difficult) it becomes.
Answer: The higher you climb, more difficult it becomes.
Question 5. The__________(much) you work, the____________ (much) you achieve.
Answer: The more you work, the more you achieve.
Question 6. The__________(more) the prices, the______________ (less) are the buyers.
Answer: The higher the prices, the fewer are the buyers.
5. Special Note: We usually say: He is as poor as me. (Not that I)
He is poorer than me. (Not I)
He is poorer than I am.
He is as poor as I am.
Exercise 5
Rewrite the following sentences using
Question 1. It is hot today, but it was hotter yesterday.
Answer: Yesterday was not as hot as today.
Question 2. This is an interesting story, but the one I read yesterday was more interesting.
Answer: The story I read yesterday was not as interesting as this one.
Question 3. Dhoni could captain the team better than Dravid.
Answer: Dravid could not captain the team as well as Dhoni.
Question 4. I do not think Ishant Sharma can bowl better than Irfan Pathan.
Answer: I think Irfan Pathan can not bowl as well as Ishant Sharma.
Question 5. Delhi is a costlier city than Chennai.
Answer: Chennai is not as costly as Delhi.
6. The Superlative Degree
We usually form Superlatives by adding est or using most. Just as in Comparative degree, est is added to short words and most to longer words.
tall – tallest
beautiful- most beautiful
- One must use the before a Superlative, the best, the most beautiful.
- After Superlatives, we use in with places and of with periods of time.
Examples: Mukesh Ambani is the richest person in India.
Yesterday was the saddest day of my life.
Exercise 6
Complete the following sentences with Superlative degree
Question 1. Monday is___________ (busy) day of the week for us.
Answer: Monday is the busiest day of the week for us.
Question 2. Who is the___________________ (famous) novelist in the country?
Answer: Who is the the most famous novelist in the country?
Question 3. Of the three reports, yours was___________ (good) one.
Answer: Of the three reports, yours was the best one.
Question 4. This is__________(pretty) dress in the showroom.
Answer: This is the prettiest dress in the showroom.
Question 5. China is________(big) country in the world.
Answer: China is the biggest country in the world.
Question 6. My mother is__________ (graceful) lady I have ever seen.
Answer: My mother is the most graceful seen.
Question 7. Amita dresses_________ (good) in the class.
Answer: Amita dresses the best in the class.
Question 8. The new washing machine brought out by Samsung is_________ (economical) model in the market.
Answer: The new washing machine brought out by Samsung is the most economical model in the market.
Question 9. It is the best as it uses____________ (less) energy and saves your money.
Answer: It is the best as it uses the least energy and saves your money.
Question 10. The __________ (bad) floods of the century destroyed plants, animals, and buildings, besides killing thousands.
Answer: The worst floods of the century destroyed plants, animals, and buildings, besides killing thousands.
Exercise 7
Fill in the blanks with the Comparative or Superlative form of the words given in brackets
Question 1. The Mississippi is a large river, but the Amazon is_______ (large).
Answer: The Mississippi is a large river, but the Amazon is larger.
Question 2. The circus company had many strong men in their employees, but Suliman was __________ (strong).
Answer: The circus company had many strong men in their employees, but Suliman was the strongest.
Question 3. How is your brother today? Is he _______(good) now ?
Answer: How is your brother today? Is he better now?
Question 4. Of the two evils before him, he chose_________(little)
Answer: Of the two evils before him, he chose the lesser
Question 5. He thinks he is________(wise) than his parents which is_________(foolish) on his part.
Answer: He thinks he is wiser than his parents, which is the most foolish on his part.
Exercise 8
Fill in each blank with a Superlative. You can take the help of the adjectives given in the box
strong, great, common, serious, large
The sun is the (1)_______________ force on earth. But we are still not using the sun to the (2) _________ extent possible. Instead, fossil fuels are presently the (3)____________source of electricity. However, these fuels are also one of (4)___________ causes of air pollution. To use the force of the sun to the maximum, we need our most creative thinking and our (5)_____________efforts.
Answer:
The sun is the strongest force on Earth. But we are still not using the sun to the greatest extent possible. Instead, fossil fuels are presently the most common the source of electricity. However, these fuels are also one of the most serious causes of air pollution. To use the force of the sun to the maximum, we need our most creative thinking and our greatest efforts.
Exercise 9
Fill in the blanks with a Superlative in each of the following sentences:
Question 1. Who made the_____(early) spaceship?
Answer: Who made the earliest spaceship?
Question 2. Which country has the _________ (large) number of spaceships?
Answer: Which country has the largest number of spaceships?
Question 3. Which spaceship made the_____________(long) journey in space?
Answer: Which spaceship made the longest journey in space?
Question 4. Is a space module the _______ (easy) way to travel in space?
Answer: Is a space module the easiest way to travel in space?
Question 5. Isn’t space travel the __________ (cost) and not the _________(easy) way to travel?
Answer: Isn’t space travel the most costly, and not the easiest way to travel?
Exercise 10
Change the following sentences as directed:
Question 1. Ashoka was one of the greatest kings (Change to Positive degree)
Answer:
Positive degree: Very few kings were as great as Ashoka.
Question 2. I have not eaten a more delicious cake.( Change to Superlative degree)
Answer: Superlative degree: This is the most delicious cake i have ever eaten.
Question 3. This is the oldest church in Spain. (Change to Comparative degree)
Answer: Comparative degree: This church is older the any other church in spain.
Question 4. No pop singer is more famous than Michael Jackson. (Change to Superlative degree)
Answer: Superlative degree: Michael Jackson is the most famous pop singer.
Question 5. No one is as lazy as Mohan in the class.(Change to Comparative degree)
Answer: Comparative degree: Mohan is lazier than any other student in the class.
Question 6. Hari and you are taller than me. (Change to Positive degree)
Answer: Positive degree: I am not as tall as Hari and you.