There are three degrees of comparison in adverbs – the Positive, the Comparative, and the Superlative. The adverbs form their comparatives and superlatives using –er and –est , and more and most. Adverbs that end in –lyuse the words more and most to form their comparatives and superlatives.
The one-syllable adverbs use --er in the comparative form, and --est in the superlative form.
Absolute | Comparative | Superlative |
early | earlier | earliest |
fast | faster | fastest |
hard | harder | hardest |
high | higher | highest |
late | later | latest |
loud | louder | loudest |
near | nearer | nearest |
soon | sooner | soonest |
Adverbs which end in --ly or have three or more syllables each form the comparative with more and the superlative with most.
Absolute | Comparative | Superlative |
angrily | more angrily | most angrily |
brightly | more brightly | most brightly |
dimly | more dimly | most dimly |
freely | more freely | most freely |
gladly | more gladly | most gladly |
heavily | more heavily | most heavily |
loudly | more loudly | most loudly |
quietly | more quietly | most quietly |
sweetly | more sweetly | most sweetly |
terribly | more terribly | most terribly |
The comparative form is used to compare two things.
Examples:
- We must not reach there later than 7 o’clock.
- You speak more loudly than a loudspeaker.
- Sirius shines more brightly than all the other stars.
The superlative form is used to compare three or more things.
Examples:
- He arrived the earliest, so he had to wait for the others.
- Why do you have to speak the most loudly of all at the meeting?
- Of all the girls, your sister sang the most sweetly.
It is not correct to use –er and more together, or –est and most together.
Examples:
- Incorrect: The tree is more taller than the giraffe.
- Correct:The tree is taller than the giraffe.
- Incorrect: This turkey is the most oldest in the farm.
- Correct: This turkey is the oldest in the farm.
Some adverbs form the comparative and the superlative irregularly.
Absolute | Comparative | Superlative |
badly | worse (than) | worst (the) |
far | farther | farthest |
far | further | furthest |
little | less | least |
much/many | more | most |
well | better | best |
Examples:
- Of the two teddy bears, which do you like better?
- This has to be the farthest I have ever walked in my life.
(For more on comparison of adverbs using more and most, see List 8 - Adverbs)