2

En capítulo

Comparing and Emphasizing

Regla 1 de 8 en este capítulo
B2 adjectives_adverbs 3 min de lectura

Comparative Structures with

To compare X and Y, put `se` after Y: 'X Y-se adjective is'.

The Rule in 30 Seconds

  • Use `se` to mean 'than' in Hindi.
  • Place `se` immediately after the thing being compared.
  • Adjectives agree with the first noun (subject).
  • For 'best' or 'most', use `sabse` (than all).

Quick Reference

Comparison Type Hindi Pattern English Equivalent Example
Simple Comparison A + B + `se` + Adj A is [adj]-er than B `Chai coffee se garam hai`
Superlative A + `sabse` + Adj A is the [adj]-est `Yeh sabse sasta hai`
Intensifier `kahin` / `kaafi` + `zyada` Far more / Much more `Woh kahin zyada sundar hai`
Equality (Negative) `utna` ... `jitna` Not as ... as `Woh utna tez nahi hai`
Preference A + `se` + B + `pasand` Prefer A over B `Mujhe car se bike pasand hai`
Quantity A + B + `se` + `kam/zyada` More/Less than `Ismein us se kam chini hai`

Ejemplos clave

3 de 10
1

Delhi Mumbai `se` bada hai.

Delhi is bigger than Mumbai.

2

Meri Hindi tumhari Hindi `se` behtar hai.

My Hindi is better than your Hindi.

3

Yeh phone `sabse` mehanga hai.

This phone is the most expensive.

🎯

Pronoun Logic

When using pronouns with `se`, remember the oblique case! `Main` + `se` becomes `Mujhse`. `Tum` + `se` becomes `Tumse`. Don't say `Main se`—that sounds like a caveman talking.

💬

The 'Behtar' Option

While `achha` (good) is common, Hindi speakers often switch to `behtar` when making comparisons. It sounds slightly more sophisticated, like wearing a collared shirt instead of a tee.

The Rule in 30 Seconds

  • Use `se` to mean 'than' in Hindi.
  • Place `se` immediately after the thing being compared.
  • Adjectives agree with the first noun (subject).
  • For 'best' or 'most', use `sabse` (than all).

Overview

Want to say something is bigger, better, or tastier than something else? In Hindi, you don't change the adjective itself like in English (big → bigger). Instead, you use the magic postposition se. It literally means "from," but in comparisons, it acts just like "than". Think of it as saying "Compared from X, Y is good."

How This Grammar Works

The logic is simple: you create a reference point using se. If you want to say "Tea is better than coffee," you say "Tea coffee-than good is." The word se tags the thing you are comparing *against*. It works for simple comparisons between two things and for superlatives (comparing one thing to everything).

Formation Pattern

  1. 1Start with the Subject (the main thing).
  2. 2Add the Object of Comparison (the rival).
  3. 3Attach se to the Object of Comparison.
  4. 4Add the Adjective (matches the Subject).
  5. 5Finish with the Verb (usually hai).
  6. 6Structure: [Subject] + [Object] se + [Adjective] + [Verb]

When To Use It

  • Comparing two specific items (yeh vs woh).
  • Declaring a winner in a group (sabse - from all).
  • Expressing preference (mujhe tea se coffee pasand hai).
  • Comparing actions (He runs faster se me).

When Not To Use It

  • Don't use se if there's no comparison happening (obviously!).
  • Don't add English suffixes like "-er" to Hindi words. There is no "bada-er".
  • Avoid using se when ki tulna mein (in comparison to) is required for very formal texts, though se is fine 99% of the time.

Common Mistakes

  • Wrong Order: Putting se after the subject instead of the object. It changes the meaning entirely!
  • Gender Confusion: The adjective must agree with the *Subject*, not the word attached to se.
  • Double Comparatives: Using zyada (more) when it's not needed. Amit se lamba is enough; Amit se zyada lamba is okay but sometimes redundant unless you mean "more tall".

Contrast With Similar Patterns

  • se vs ki tulna mein: se is everyday logic. ki tulna mein is like saying "in comparison with" – proper, but a bit stiff for ordering pizza.
  • se vs zyada: You often see them together (us se zyada achha), but se carries the weight of "than". zyada just adds intensity.

Quick FAQ

Q. Can I use this for "best"?

A. Yes! Just use sabse (all-from). "He is the best" = Woh sabse achha hai.

Q. Does se change form?

A. Nope. It's distinct from ka/ke/ki. It stays se regardless of gender or number.

Reference Table

Comparison Type Hindi Pattern English Equivalent Example
Simple Comparison A + B + `se` + Adj A is [adj]-er than B `Chai coffee se garam hai`
Superlative A + `sabse` + Adj A is the [adj]-est `Yeh sabse sasta hai`
Intensifier `kahin` / `kaafi` + `zyada` Far more / Much more `Woh kahin zyada sundar hai`
Equality (Negative) `utna` ... `jitna` Not as ... as `Woh utna tez nahi hai`
Preference A + `se` + B + `pasand` Prefer A over B `Mujhe car se bike pasand hai`
Quantity A + B + `se` + `kam/zyada` More/Less than `Ismein us se kam chini hai`
🎯

Pronoun Logic

When using pronouns with `se`, remember the oblique case! `Main` + `se` becomes `Mujhse`. `Tum` + `se` becomes `Tumse`. Don't say `Main se`—that sounds like a caveman talking.

💬

The 'Behtar' Option

While `achha` (good) is common, Hindi speakers often switch to `behtar` when making comparisons. It sounds slightly more sophisticated, like wearing a collared shirt instead of a tee.

⚠️

Don't Double Up

You don't need to say `more better`. Just `better` is enough. Similarly, avoid `bahut zyada` unless you really mean 'very much more'. Usually, just `zyada` does the trick.

💡

Word Order Matters

Keep `se` glued to the thing you are comparing *against*. `Tea coffee se achhi hai` (Tea is better than coffee). If you move `se`, you might accidentally say Coffee is better!

Ejemplos

10
#1 दिल्ली मुंबई से बड़ा है।

Delhi Mumbai `se` bada hai.

Focus: se

Delhi is bigger than Mumbai.

Standard comparison. Adjective 'bada' matches 'Delhi'.

#2 मेरी हिंदी तुम्हारी हिंदी से बेहतर है।

Meri Hindi tumhari Hindi `se` behtar hai.

Focus: se

My Hindi is better than your Hindi.

Using 'behtar' (better) - a common Urdu loanword.

#3 यह फोन सबसे महंगा है।

Yeh phone `sabse` mehanga hai.

Focus: sabse

This phone is the most expensive.

Superlative: 'sab' (all) + 'se'.

#4 आज कल से ज़्यादा गर्मी है।

Aaj kal `se` zyada garmi hai.

Focus: zyada

Today is hotter than yesterday.

Literally: Today, from yesterday, more heat is.

#5 ✗ वह मुझसे लंबा नहीं है। → ✓ वह मुझसे ज़्यादा लंबा नहीं है।

Woh mujhse lamba nahi hai.

Focus: mujhse

He isn't taller than me.

Actually, the first one is grammatical but implies 'He isn't tall compared to me'. Adding 'zyada' clarifies distinct comparison.

#6 आपकी चाय मेरी चाय से मीठी है।

Aapki chai meri chai `se` meethi hai.

Focus: meethi

Your tea is sweeter than my tea.

Adjective 'meethi' is feminine because 'chai' is feminine.

#7 ट्रेन बस की तुलना में तेज़ है।

Train bus `ki tulna mein` tez hai.

Focus: ki tulna mein

The train is fast in comparison to the bus.

Formal variation. Use this in essays, not texts.

#8 ✗ राम श्याम से अच्छा गाता है। → ✓ राम श्याम से बेहतर गाता है।

Ram Shyam se achha gaata hai.

Focus: behtar

Ram sings better than Shyam.

While 'achha' works, 'behtar' is specifically 'better' and sounds more natural for skills.

#9 तुम्हें मुझसे क्या चाहिए?

Tumhein mujh `se` kya chahiye?

Focus: se

What do you want from me?

Edge case! Here 'se' means 'from', not comparison. Context is key.

#10 यह रास्ता उस रास्ते से कहीं आसान है।

Yeh raasta us raaste `se` kahin aasan hai.

Focus: kahin

This path is far easier than that path.

Advanced: 'kahin' adds emphasis like 'far' or 'way'.

Ponte a prueba

Complete the comparison: 'My car is faster than yours.'

Meri car tumhari car ___ tez hai.

✓ ¡Correcto! ✗ No del todo. Respuesta correcta: se

We use `se` to mean 'than' when comparing two objects.

Make it a superlative: 'This is the best book.'

Yeh kitaab ___ achhi hai.

✓ ¡Correcto! ✗ No del todo. Respuesta correcta: sabse

`Sabse` combines `sab` (all) + `se` to form the superlative 'best'.

Choose the correct gender agreement: 'Shimla is colder than Delhi.' (Shimla is a city/place, treated as masculine here contextually or neutral, but 'thand' (cold) is feminine noun, or 'thanda' adjective). Let's use adjective.

Shimla Delhi se ___ hai.

✓ ¡Correcto! ✗ No del todo. Respuesta correcta: thanda

Shimla (the subject) determines the adjective. Cities are generally masculine unless specified otherwise or referring to 'city' (shehar-M).

🎉 Puntuación: /3

Ayudas visuales

Degrees of Comparison

Positive
Achha Good
Comparative
... se achha Better than ...
Superlative
Sabse achha Best (Than all)

Building a Comparative Sentence

1

Are you comparing one thing to ONE other?

YES ↓
NO
Use 'Sabse' (Superlative)
2

Identify the 'loser' (the reference point)

YES ↓
NO
...
3

Add 'se' after it

YES ↓
NO
...
4

Add Adjective + Verb

YES ↓
NO
Done! (e.g. Ram se tez)

Common Comparative Adjectives

📏

Size

  • Bada (Bigger)
  • Chota (Smaller)

Quality

  • Achha (Better)
  • Bura (Worse)
⚖️

Quantity

  • Zyada (More)
  • Kam (Less)

Preguntas frecuentes

20 preguntas

It means both! Context is your best friend here. If there's an adjective involved (like big, small, good), it usually means 'than'. If it's about movement (coming, going), it means 'from'. For example, Delhi se could be 'from Delhi' or 'than Delhi' depending on the rest of the sentence.

If you just want to say 'I want more rice' without comparing it to bread, just use aur (more/additional) or zyada (plenty/more). Mujhe aur chawal chahiye.

Sabse is the shortcut for superlatives. Sab means 'all'. So sabse literally means 'from all'. If you are sabse smart, you are smarter 'from all' people.

Yes! But match the Subject (the winner), not the Object (the loser). In Sita Ram se lambi hai, lambi is female because Sita is the subject.

Indirectly. You usually add zyada or kam to help. Woh mujhse zyada padhta hai (He studies more than me).

Only in news reports, formal speeches, or textbooks. In daily life, stick to se. Using ki tulna mein to order coffee would be hilarious.

You usually pick the winner and compare it to the others, or just use sabse if one is clearly superior to the whole group.

Then don't use se! Use utna... jitna (as much as). Ram utna lamba hai jitna Shyam (Ram is as tall as Shyam).

It morphs into Mujhse. This is an 'oblique case' transformation. Same for TuTujhse.

Yes. Tairna daudne se behtar hai. Notice we use the infinitive form of the verbs as nouns here.

Yes, bura (bad) becomes se bura (worse than) or badtar (Urdu loan for worse). Sabse bura is 'worst'.

Behtar is a Persian/Urdu loanword that means 'better' by itself. You don't strictly need se if the context is clear, but X Y se behtar hai is the full pattern.

Yes! Station ghar se door hai (The station is far from the house). Here it acts as 'from', but it sets up a reference point just like a comparison.

Use pasand (like). Mujhe X se zyada Y pasand hai. Literally: 'To me, from X, more Y liked is'.

In a full sentence, yes. In casual speech, you might drop it, but keep it for now to be grammatically correct.

Kam means 'less'. Yeh us se kam mehanga hai (This is less expensive than that). It works exactly like zyada but in reverse.

Sure. Woh us se bada aur behtar hai. Just put se once after the object.

Not if the adjective implies quality (like bada, chota, achha). But for abstract amounts, zyada helps. Bada implies size, but zyada bada emphasizes 'much bigger'.

Use bada for both. Mera bhai mujhse bada hai (My brother is elder/older than me).

Sometimes people say baap (father) to mean 'the ultimate/best'. Yeh phone sabka baap hai (This phone is the father of all / the best). Use carefully!

¿Te ha servido?
¡No hay comentarios todavía. Sé el primero en compartir tus ideas!

Empieza a aprender idiomas gratis

Empieza Gratis