English

Degrees of Comparison

Class 4 | CBSE / NCERT / ICSE

🎯 Learning Objectives

Understand the three degrees of comparison: positive, comparative, and superlative.
Learn the rules for forming comparative and superlative forms of adjectives.
Handle special cases: doubling the last letter, changing y to i, and irregular adjectives.
Use degrees of comparison correctly in sentences.

Image: Three elephants of increasing size labelled "tall" (positive), "taller" (comparative), "tallest" (superlative). Title: "Degrees of Comparison".
Style: Colourful flat illustration, child-friendly, Indian context
Size: 700×350px

📖 Let Us Begin!

Look at these three sentences: "Ravi is tall." "Ravi is taller than Amit." "Ravi is the tallest boy in the class." All three sentences use the adjective "tall," but in different forms. When we compare people, animals, or things, we change the form of the adjective. These different forms are called degrees of comparison.

The Three Degrees

Every adjective has three degrees:

1. Positive Degree -- describes one person or thing without comparing. Example: "This mango is sweet."

2. Comparative Degree -- compares two persons or things. We usually add -er. Example: "This mango is sweeter than that one."

3. Superlative Degree -- compares three or more persons or things. We usually add -est. Example: "This is the sweetest mango in the basket."

Think about it: When we compare two things, we use the comparative. When we compare three or more, we use the superlative.

Rules for Forming Comparatives and Superlatives

Rule 1: Short adjectives (one syllable) -- Add -er for comparative and -est for superlative.

Example

Examples

tall -- taller -- tallest | small -- smaller -- smallest | long -- longer -- longest

Rule 2: Adjectives ending in -e -- Add only -r or -st.

Example

Examples

large -- larger -- largest | brave -- braver -- bravest | fine -- finer -- finest

Rule 3: Short adjectives ending in a consonant after a single vowel -- Double the last letter, then add -er / -est.

Example

Examples

big -- bigger -- biggest | hot -- hotter -- hottest | thin -- thinner -- thinnest | fat -- fatter -- fattest

Rule 4: Adjectives ending in -y -- Change y to i, then add -er / -est.

Example

Examples

happy -- happier -- happiest | easy -- easier -- easiest | heavy -- heavier -- heaviest | lazy -- lazier -- laziest

Rule 5: Long adjectives (two or more syllables) -- Use more for comparative and most for superlative.

Example

Examples

beautiful -- more beautiful -- most beautiful | careful -- more careful -- most careful

Irregular Adjectives

Some adjectives do not follow any rule. Their forms change completely. You must learn them by heart.

Positive	Comparative	Superlative
good	better	best
bad	worse	worst
little	less	least
much / many	more	most

Think about it: We say "Anita is a better singer than Priya," not "Anita is a gooder singer."

Adjective Comparison Table

Positive	Comparative	Superlative	Rule Used
tall	taller	tallest	Add -er / -est
short	shorter	shortest	Add -er / -est
fast	faster	fastest	Add -er / -est
strong	stronger	strongest	Add -er / -est
brave	braver	bravest	Ends in -e; add -r / -st
large	larger	largest	Ends in -e; add -r / -st
big	bigger	biggest	Double last letter
hot	hotter	hottest	Double last letter
thin	thinner	thinnest	Double last letter
happy	happier	happiest	Change y to i
easy	easier	easiest	Change y to i
heavy	heavier	heaviest	Change y to i
beautiful	more beautiful	most beautiful	Use more / most
good	better	best	Irregular
bad	worse	worst	Irregular

📝 Key Words

Key Word	Meaning
Positive Degree	The simple form of an adjective; no comparison is made.
Comparative Degree	Used to compare two persons or things; usually ends in -er or uses "more."
Superlative Degree	Used to compare three or more; usually ends in -est or uses "most."
Irregular Adjective	An adjective whose comparative and superlative forms are completely different.

⭐ Key Points to Remember

Positive degree describes one thing; comparative compares two; superlative compares three or more.
Short adjectives: add -er (comparative) and -est (superlative).
Adjectives ending in -e: add only -r or -st.
Short adjectives ending in consonant after single vowel: double the last letter, then add -er / -est.
Adjectives ending in -y: change y to i, then add -er / -est.
Long adjectives: use "more" and "most" before the adjective.
Irregular adjectives (good/better/best, bad/worse/worst) must be memorised.
Use "than" with the comparative degree: "Ravi is taller than Suresh."
Use "the" before the superlative degree: "She is the tallest girl."

Finished learning? Now test what you know!

🎯 Quick Quiz — Test Yourself!

Answer these 8 questions about degrees of comparison. Read each one carefully and pick the best answer!

Score: 0 / 8

1. The comparative degree compares how many things?

Comparative compares two things; superlative compares three or more.

2. What is the comparative of "tall"?

Short adjectives add -er for the comparative: tall → taller.

3. What is the superlative of "tall"?

Short adjectives add -est for the superlative: tall → tallest.

4. What is the comparative of "good"?

"Good" is irregular: good → better → best.

5. Which word do we use after a comparative adjective?

Use "than" with the comparative: "Ravi is taller than Suresh."

6. For a long adjective like "beautiful", the comparative is...

Long adjectives use "more" for the comparative: more beautiful.

7. Write the comparative of "happy".

Adjectives ending in -y change y to i and add -er: happy → happier.

8. Write the superlative of "bad". (bad → worse → ?)

"Bad" is irregular: bad → worse → worst.

✏️ Practice Questions

A. Fill in the Blanks with the Correct Degree

1. An elephant is than a dog. (big)

2. Mount Everest is the mountain in the world. (high)

3. Meera is than Sita at drawing. (good)

4. This road is than that road. (narrow)

5. Today is the day of the year. (hot)

C. Multiple Choice Questions

1. The comparative form of "happy" is:

(a) happyer(b) happier(c) more happy

2. The superlative form of "good" is:

(a) goodest(b) better(c) best

3. Which sentence is correct?

(a) She is tallest than me.(b) She is taller than me.(c) She is more tall than me.

D. Write Sentences Using the Given Degree

1. Use the comparative of "fast" to compare a cheetah and a horse.

2. Use the superlative of "sweet" to describe your favourite fruit.

3. Use the comparative of "bad" in a sentence about weather.

🎨 Fun Activity -- Comparison Chain

Look at the three items in each row. Write one sentence using the comparative and one using the superlative.

1. Ganga river, a pond, the Indian Ocean (deep)

2. A bicycle, a car, an aeroplane (fast)

3. A guava, a watermelon, a grape (big)

Want to review the lesson again?

English

Degrees of Comparison

Class 4 | CBSE / NCERT / ICSE

Name: Class: Date:

Learning Objectives

Understand the three degrees of comparison: positive, comparative, and superlative.
Learn the rules for forming comparative and superlative forms of adjectives.
Handle special cases: doubling the last letter, changing y to i, and irregular adjectives.
Use degrees of comparison correctly in sentences.

[Image: Three elephants of increasing size labelled "tall" (positive), "taller" (comparative), "tallest" (superlative). Title: "Degrees of Comparison"]

Let Us Begin!

The Three Degrees

Every adjective has three degrees:

1. Positive Degree -- describes one person or thing without comparing. Example: "This mango is sweet."

2. Comparative Degree -- compares two persons or things. We usually add -er. Example: "This mango is sweeter than that one."

3. Superlative Degree -- compares three or more persons or things. We usually add -est. Example: "This is the sweetest mango in the basket."

Think about it: When we compare two things, we use the comparative. When we compare three or more, we use the superlative.

Rules for Forming Comparatives and Superlatives

Rule 1: Short adjectives (one syllable) -- Add -er for comparative and -est for superlative.

Examples: tall -- taller -- tallest | small -- smaller -- smallest | long -- longer -- longest

Rule 2: Adjectives ending in -e -- Add only -r or -st.

Examples: large -- larger -- largest | brave -- braver -- bravest | fine -- finer -- finest

Rule 3: Short adjectives ending in a consonant after a single vowel -- Double the last letter, then add -er / -est.

Examples: big -- bigger -- biggest | hot -- hotter -- hottest | thin -- thinner -- thinnest | fat -- fatter -- fattest

Rule 4: Adjectives ending in -y -- Change y to i, then add -er / -est.

Examples: happy -- happier -- happiest | easy -- easier -- easiest | heavy -- heavier -- heaviest | lazy -- lazier -- laziest

Rule 5: Long adjectives (two or more syllables) -- Use more for comparative and most for superlative.

Examples: beautiful -- more beautiful -- most beautiful | careful -- more careful -- most careful

Irregular Adjectives

Some adjectives do not follow any rule. Their forms change completely. You must learn them by heart.

Positive	Comparative	Superlative
good	better	best
bad	worse	worst
little	less	least
much / many	more	most

Think about it: We say "Anita is a better singer than Priya," not "Anita is a gooder singer."

Adjective Comparison Table

Positive	Comparative	Superlative	Rule Used
tall	taller	tallest	Add -er / -est
short	shorter	shortest	Add -er / -est
fast	faster	fastest	Add -er / -est
strong	stronger	strongest	Add -er / -est
brave	braver	bravest	Ends in -e; add -r / -st
large	larger	largest	Ends in -e; add -r / -st
big	bigger	biggest	Double last letter
hot	hotter	hottest	Double last letter
thin	thinner	thinnest	Double last letter
happy	happier	happiest	Change y to i
easy	easier	easiest	Change y to i
heavy	heavier	heaviest	Change y to i
beautiful	more beautiful	most beautiful	Use more / most
good	better	best	Irregular
bad	worse	worst	Irregular

Key Words

Key Word	Meaning
Positive Degree	The simple form of an adjective; no comparison is made.
Comparative Degree	Used to compare two persons or things; usually ends in -er or uses "more."
Superlative Degree	Used to compare three or more; usually ends in -est or uses "most."
Irregular Adjective	An adjective whose comparative and superlative forms are completely different.

⭐ Key Points to Remember

Positive degree describes one thing; comparative compares two; superlative compares three or more.
Short adjectives: add -er (comparative) and -est (superlative).
Adjectives ending in -e: add only -r or -st.
Short adjectives ending in consonant after single vowel: double the last letter, then add -er / -est.
Adjectives ending in -y: change y to i, then add -er / -est.
Long adjectives: use "more" and "most" before the adjective.
Irregular adjectives (good/better/best, bad/worse/worst) must be memorised.
Use "than" with the comparative degree: "Ravi is taller than Suresh."
Use "the" before the superlative degree: "She is the tallest girl."

English

Degrees of Comparison — Practice

Class 4 | CBSE / NCERT / ICSE

A. Fill in the Blanks with the Correct Degree

1. An elephant is than a dog. (big)

2. Mount Everest is the mountain in the world. (high)

3. Meera is than Sita at drawing. (good)

4. This road is than that road. (narrow)

5. Today is the day of the year. (hot)

B. Multiple Choice Questions

1. The comparative form of "happy" is:

(a) happyer(b) happier(c) more happy

2. The superlative form of "good" is:

(a) goodest(b) better(c) best

3. Which sentence is correct?

(a) She is tallest than me.(b) She is taller than me.(c) She is more tall than me.

C. Write Sentences Using the Given Degree

1. Use the comparative of "fast" to compare a cheetah and a horse.

2. Use the superlative of "sweet" to describe your favourite fruit.

3. Use the comparative of "bad" in a sentence about weather.

🎨 Fun Activity -- Comparison Chain

Look at the three items in each row. Write one sentence using the comparative and one using the superlative.

1. Ganga river, a pond, the Indian Ocean (deep)

2. A bicycle, a car, an aeroplane (fast)

3. A guava, a watermelon, a grape (big)

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