Comparative adverbs
Level: beginner
We can use comparative adverbs to show change or make comparisons:
I forget things more often nowadays.
She began to speak more quickly.
They are working harder now.
We often use than with comparative adverbs:
I forget things more often than I used to.
Girls usually work harder than boys.
Level: intermediate
We use these words and phrases as intensifiers with comparatives:
| much | far | a lot | quite a lot |
| a great deal | a good deal | a good bit | a fair bit |
I forget things much more often nowadays.
We use these words and phrases as mitigators:
| a bit | slightly | rather |
| a little | a little bit | just a little bit |
She began to speak a bit more quickly.
Level: beginner
Superlative adverbs
We can use superlative adverbs to make comparisons:
His ankles hurt badly, but his knees hurt worst.
It rains most often at the beginning of the year.
Level: intermediate
We use these words and phrases as intensifiers with superlatives:
| easily | by far | much |
When we intensify a superlative adverb, we often put the in front of the adverb:
In our office, Jill works by far the hardest.
Of the three brothers, Brian easily runs the fastest.
Level: beginner
How to form comparative and superlative adverbs
We make comparative and superlative adverbs using the same rules as for comparative and superlative adjectives. For example:
| One syllable: Jill works fast. | > | faster | > | fastest |
| One syllable ending in –e: They arrived late. | > | later | > | latest |
| Two or more syllables: Alan finished the test quickly. | > | more quickly | > | most quickly |
| well: She speaks English well. | > | better | > | best |
| badly: She speaks German badly. | > | worse | > | worst |
| far: He'll go far. | > | farther/further | > | farthest/furthest |
- Comparative adverbs 1
- Comparative adverbs 2
- Superlative adverbs 1
- Superlative adverbs 2
Comments
Hello Ondra K,
'Walk' here is a normal verb describing an action. It is not a link verb.
Best wishes,
Peter
The LearnEnglish Team
Hi, could you explain to me what is the difference, in meaning, between the following sentences:
1. If you want to pass the exam you need to study harder.
2. If you want to pass the exam you need to study hard.
I would imagine the first sentence shows the comparison but what about the second one?
Thanks
Hi kecha.raut,
You are correct that the first sentence means 'more than at the moment'. It suggests the word being done at the moment is not enough. Perhaps the person is working hard, but needs to do more.
The second sentence means that the person is not working hard at the moment, and that hard work is necessary.
Best wishes,
Peter
The LearnEnglish Team
Hi to identify the types of adverbial from the answers to the questions above. let me know which is correct and which is wrong. thank you.
2. We'll have to work 'much' [intensifier] 'faster'=[comparative] to finish it 'on time'=[time]
3. She listened 'more'= [comparative] 'carefully' = [ manner] the second time
4. He played a great deal 'better than'=[comparative] 'last week'=[time]
6. He walked 'slightly'=[ manner] 'more'=[comparative] 'awkwardly'=[manner] because of his leg injury
7.John loses his temper 'far'=[intensifier] 'more' =[comparative] frequently=[frequency] these days= [time]
8. They arrived 'a bit'=[mitigators] 'sooner than'=[ comparative] I expected
I'm so lucky having all this material to teach and giving my students nice and dinamic exercises to improve their english every class.THANKYOU SO MUCH BRITISH COUNCIL and MERRY CHRISTMAS.
Thx 4 efforts
Hello all
I would like to know if we could use the adverb of frequency "always " in the present perfect tense sentence?
thank you in advance for any help
Hello studa,
Certainly, if the action is one which started in the past and continues to the present, and we want to emphasise that it has always been true:
He's always loved her.
They've always dreamed of being famous.
Best wishes,
Peter
The LearnEnglish Team
thank you so much Mr Peter for help .That s really kind of you
it is really easy
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