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Lesson 14 of 14 – Degree of Comparison
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Degree of Comparison

Degrees of Comparison are used to compare people, animals, places, or things. There are three degrees: Positive, Comparative, and Superlative.

Important:
Positive: tall
Comparative: taller
Superlative: tallest
What is Degree of Comparison?

Degrees of Comparison show the quality of a noun in different ways or compare one person or thing with another.

✔ Ram is tall. (Positive)
✔ Ram is taller than Mohan. (Comparative)
✔ Ram is the tallest boy in the class. (Superlative)

Hindi Meaning: तुलना की अवस्थाएँ

Three Degrees of Comparison
Degree Use Example
Positive Describes a quality without comparison Rita is tall.
Comparative Compares two people or things Rita is taller than Sita.
Superlative Compares one with a whole group Rita is the tallest girl in the class.
Rules for Short Adjectives

For many short adjectives, add -er for the comparative and -est for the superlative.

PositiveComparativeSuperlative
talltallertallest
smallsmallersmallest
fastfasterfastest
oldolderoldest
shortshortershortest
✔ A car is faster than a bicycle.
✔ Cheetah is one of the fastest land animals.
Adjectives Ending in -e

When an adjective ends in -e, usually add -r and -st.

PositiveComparativeSuperlative
largelargerlargest
widewiderwidest
nicenicernicest
bravebraverbravest
✔ This room is larger than that one.
✔ She is the bravest player on the team.
Adjectives Ending in Consonant + y

For many adjectives ending in consonant + y, change y to i and add -er or -est.

PositiveComparativeSuperlative
happyhappierhappiest
easyeasiereasiest
busybusierbusiest
heavyheavierheaviest
✔ This question is easier than the last one.
✔ Today is the busiest day of the week.
Double the Final Consonant

Some short adjectives ending in consonant-vowel-consonant double the final consonant before adding -er or -est.

PositiveComparativeSuperlative
bigbiggerbiggest
hothotterhottest
thinthinnerthinnest
sadsaddersaddest
✔ This bag is bigger than mine.
✔ July is usually one of the hottest months here.
Long Adjectives: More and Most

With many longer adjectives, use more for the comparative and most for the superlative.

PositiveComparativeSuperlative
beautifulmore beautifulmost beautiful
importantmore importantmost important
expensivemore expensivemost expensive
comfortablemore comfortablemost comfortable
interestingmore interestingmost interesting
✔ This book is more interesting than that one.
✔ It is the most comfortable chair in the room.
Irregular Degrees

Some adjectives have irregular comparative and superlative forms. Learn these forms by heart.

PositiveComparativeSuperlative
goodbetterbest
badworseworst
farfarther / furtherfarthest / furthest
little (amount)lessleast
much / manymoremost
✔ Your answer is better than mine.
✔ This is the best film I have seen.
✔ Today’s weather is worse than yesterday’s.
Using “Than” and “The”
  • Use than after a comparative adjective when making a direct comparison.
  • Usually use the before a superlative adjective.
✔ My brother is taller than me.
✔ This is the tallest building in the city.
✔ She is more careful than her friend.
✔ He is the most careful driver in our family.

Hindi: Than = से; The (before a superlative) = सबसे / वह विशेष

As...as and Not as...as

Use as + positive adjective + as to show equal degree. Use not as + positive adjective + as to show a lower degree.

✔ Ravi is as tall as Mohan. (रवि मोहन जितना लंबा है।)
✔ This bag is as expensive as that one.
✔ This road is not as wide as the main road.
✔ I am not as tired as I was yesterday.
Common Mistakes
WrongCorrect
He is more taller than me.He is taller than me.
She is the most smartest student.She is the smartest student.
This is more better.This is better.
Ravi is tallest than Mohan.Ravi is taller than Mohan.
She is most beautiful girl in the class.She is the most beautiful girl in the class.
Remember: Do not normally use “more” with an -er form, or “most” with an -est form.
Comparison Table: Quick Revision
PositiveComparativeSuperlative
clevercleverer / more clevercleverest / most clever
richricherrichest
strongstrongerstrongest
weakweakerweakest
prettyprettierprettiest
dangerousmore dangerousmost dangerous
goodbetterbest
badworseworst
Daily Life Examples
✔ English is easier when you practise every day.

✔ My new phone is better than my old phone.

✔ This is the cheapest shop in the market.

✔ Health is more important than money.

✔ She is as friendly as her sister.

✔ This is the most beautiful place in our town.

✔ Today is hotter than yesterday.

✔ This is the worst mistake I have made.

Use these patterns in everyday speaking and writing to compare people and things naturally.

Quick Rules Summary
  • Positive degree describes a quality without direct comparison.
  • Comparative degree commonly compares two people or things.
  • Superlative degree compares one person or thing with a group.
  • Short adjectives often take -er and -est.
  • Longer adjectives often use more and most.
  • Remember irregular forms such as good, better, best.
  • Use “than” with many comparative constructions and usually “the” with superlatives.

🧠 Lesson Quiz

1. Choose the comparative form of “good”.



2. Choose the superlative form of “beautiful”.



3. Complete the sentence: “A lion is _____ than a cat.”



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