COMPARATIVE AND SUPERLATIVE FORMS OF

ADVERBS

Klara Ndoni

Like adjectives some adverbs can take comparative and superlative forms,

with -er and -est:  

Sally works hard.

Steve works harder than Sally

Kathy and Sue work the hardest of all.

The bird sings loudly.The moose sang louder than the

bird.Pete sang the loudest of them all.

                                                

loud

louder

loudest

List of adverbs in which -er and -est may be added

However, the majority of adverbs do not take these endings. Instead, they form the comparative using

more and the superlative using most:  

Irregular Comparative and Superlative Adverbs

Some comparative and superlative forms are irregular and do not follow any rules or patterns. These must be memorized.

Irregular Adverbs

Word Comparative Superlative

badly worse worst

much more most

little less least

much more most

well better best

Examples:

• Jim works harder than his brother.

• Everyone in the race ran fast, but John ran the fastest of all.

• The teacher spoke more slowly to help us to understand.

• Could you sing more quietly please?

Choose the best answer:

• Mary speaks __________ than Max does.

• a.quicklier

• b.quickliest

• c.more quickly

• d.most quickly

• Of all the students in the class, Max studied the __________.

• a.more hard

• b.most hard

• c.harder

• d.hardest

• Mike played __________ than any other player on the team.

• a.better

• b.best

• c.more better

• d.most better

• Mark walked __________ in one hour than Steve did in three hours.

• a.more far

• b.most far

• c.farther

• d.farthest

• Of all the girls in my English class, Maria dances the __________.

• a.better

• b.best

• c.well

• d.most bestest