Select the option that changes the degree of comparison in the given sentence from superlative to positive without changing the meaning of the sentence.
Kalpana Ahuja is the tallest girl in the colony.
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: D
Explanation
The correct answer is option 4 i.e. No other girl in the colony is as tall as Kalpana Ahuja.
Error concept: Changing superlative to positive degree
What is wrong: The original sentence uses the superlative degree (tallest). To express the same meaning in positive degree, the sentence must compare Kalpana with others without using -est.
Grammatical concept: Positive degree of adjective describes the quality without comparison, and as…as structure is used to make comparisons in positive degree.
Incorrectness of the concept in context: Other options either use wrong comparative forms or incorrect structures like as taller as.
How to correct: Use as tall as to maintain meaning in positive degree.
Correct phrase/ correction: as tall as Kalpana Ahuja
Final sentence: No other girl in the colony is as tall as Kalpana Ahuja.
Hence, the chosen option is correct.