Comparison of Adverbs
Comparison of Adverbs :
Some adverbs can be compared like adjectives. These adverbs have three degrees of comparison.
1. I run fast. (Adverb - positive degree)
2. My wife runs faster. (Adverb - comparative degree)
3. My daughter runs fastest of all. (Adverb – superlative)
Positive…..Comparative…..Superlative
1. Fast…..faster……fastest
2. Long…..longer…..longest
3. Hard…..harder…..hardest
4. Soon…..sooner…..soonest
Note : Adverbs ending in LY form the comparative by adding more and the superlative by adding most.
Positive…..Comparative…..Superlative
1. Swiftly…..more swiftly…..most swiftly
2. Skillfully…..more skillfully…..most skillfully
There is an exception.
Early…..earlier….. earliest
Only certain adverbs admit of comparison.
They are Adverbs of Manner, Adverbs of degree and Adverbs of time.
Note also such Adverbs as now, then, where, there & once cannot be compared.
Irregular Adverbs of Comparison
Some of the commonest adverbs form their degrees of comparison irregularly.
Positive…..Comparative…..Superlative
1. ill…..worse…..worst
2. badly…..worse…..worst
3. well…..better…..best
4. llttle…..less…..least
5. near…..nearer…..nearest
6. far…..farther…..farthest
7. far…..further…..furthest
8. late…..later…..latest
Study the following.
1. I write well. (Positive)
2. My son writes better than I. (Comparative)
3. My wife writes best of all. (Superlative)
1. Does the commissioner work much? (Positive)
2. No. The Deputy works more than the commissioner works. (Comparative)
3. The superintendent works most of the three of them. (Superlative)
Comparative and Superlative Adverbs
Usually comparative and superlative adverbs are made with more and most.
Can you talk more quietly?
The engine runs most quietly.
A few adverbs have comparative and superlative forms with ER & EST
The most important ones are….
1. Fast…..faster…..fastest
2. Soon…..sooner…..soonest
3. Early…..earlier…..earliest
4. Late…..later…..latest
5. Hard…..harder…..hardest
6. Long…..longer…..longest
7. Well…..better…..best
8. Far…..farther…..farthest
9. Far…..further…..furthest
10. Near…..nearer…..nearest
11. Often…..more often…..most often
12. Much…..more…..most
13. Badly…..worse…..worst
14. Little…..less…..least
15. Quick quicker …..quickest
16. Loud…..louder…..loudest
17. Slow…..slower…..slowest
1. I cannot come earlier.
2. The longest I can stay is thirty minutes.
3. You are talking louder.
LESSER can be used both as an Adjective and Adverb.
LESSER : (adjective - adverb)
Not used with than
Not so great or so much as the other (of two) in worth, degree or size
1. It is the lesser of the two evils. (Adjective)
2. He is one of the lesser known modern poets. (Adverb)
Study the following.
1. Does she speak more clearly than her husband doee?
2. No. She speaks much less clearly.
3. Does he speak more clearly than Mr. Ram?
4. No. He speaks far less clearly.
5. He speaks rather less clearly.
6. He speaks a little less clearly.
7. I rather like the way Mr. Plus teaches more than I used to.
8. In my view, the officer hasn't worked anymore efficiently than you have.
9. The party went home virtually by the same route as we'came.
10. She is not nearly such a bad cook as I had supposed.
11. I had to walk almost twice as far as Jill did to get there.
12. I am not quite as stupid as they say I am.
Adverbs of degree are often used with comparative adjectives and adverbs, especially in clauses.
The most common are…
1. Much
2. Far
3. A Lot
4. Quite a Bit
5. A Great Deal
6. A Little
7. Rather
8. Not much
9. Not any
10. Not all that much
1. Mr. Sunil Dutt is much older than his wife is.
2. Janu is a little heavier than her brother but not very much.
3. Mrs. Robinson feels a little better than she did last week.
4. Mr. Jasan works much harder than he used to.
5. Tony has now proved far worse than he did the last one.
Study the adverbs of degree in the following sentences carefully.
1. Mary is almost as tall as her brother.
2. Mr. West doesn't earn nearly as much money as Mr. East.
3. Mr. Rich found practically as many as Mr. Pat found.
4. These books are virtually as good as new.
5. These books are virtually as good as they were when they were new.
6. Does the new typist type less carefully than the old one did?
Comparison of Adverbs
The Grammar Index
