Capital

Section 3: Form of value or exchange value.
Commodities come into the world in the shape of use values.
They are commodities because they are: object of utility and the depositories of value. They are in form of commodities when they have a physical or natural form and a value form.
The value of commodities has only a purely social value.
That value only manifests itself in the social relation of the commodity to the community.
Money form.
In fact we start from exchange value to find out the value lies behind it

Hence the relation between the values of two commodities provide us the simplest expression of the value of a single commodity.
1. The two poles of expression of value. Relative form and equivalent form.
The whole mystery of the form of value lies behind this elementary form. 20 yard of linen = 1 coat
Linen relative value, coat : equivalent value.
Linen expressed its value in the coat and the coat serves as a material in which value is expressed.
The former play an active, the latter passive part.
The relative and equivalent form are mutually dependent and inseparable and the same time exclusive, antagonistic extremes poles of expression.

The value of the linen can be expressed relatively.
The relative form of value of linen presupposes the presence of some other commodity under the form of equivalent value.
The second value is not the one whose value is expressed. In function it is only serve as a material in which the first value is expressed. (ORDER IS VERY IMPORTANT.)
A same commodity therefore, could not simultaneously assume both forms.
Relative form or equivalent depends on accidental position. Value is being expressed or in which value is expressed.


2. Relative form of Value