Comparison of Adverbs

Adverbs, like adjectives, can be compared to express different degrees of intensity or manner. Here’s how we form the comparative and superlative degrees of adverbs:

One-Syllable Adverbs:

• Comparative: Add “er” to the positive form.
• Superlative: Add “est” to the positive form.
• Examples:
  • Fast – faster – fastest
    • Ram runs fast. (Positive)
    • Arjun runs faster. (Comparative)
    • Hari runs fastest of all. (Superlative)
  • Hard – harder – hardest
  • Long – longer – longest
  • Soon – sooner – soonest

Adverbs ending in “ly”:

• Comparative: Add “more” before the positive form.
• Superlative: Add “most” before the positive form.
• Examples:
  • Swiftly – more swiftly – most swiftly
    • Abdul played skilfully. (Positive)
    • Karim played more skilfully than Abdul. (Comparative)
    • Ahmed played most skilfully of all. (Superlative)
  • Skillfully – more skillfully – most skillfully

Irregular Adverbs:

• These adverbs have irregular forms for the comparative and superlative degrees.
• Examples:
  • Well – better – best
    • Rama writes well.
    • Arjun writes better than Rama.
    • Hari writes best of all.
  • Badly – worse – worst
  • Much – more – most
  • Little – less – least
  • Near – nearer – nearest/next
  • Far – (farther, further) – (farthest, furthest)
  • Late – later – last

Incomparable Adverbs:

• Some adverbs cannot be compared due to their nature.
• Examples: now, then, where, there, once