Comparison of Adverbs

Comparison of Adverbs:

Some Adverbs like Adjectives also have three Degrees of Comparison.

(1) Adverbs of one syllable form their Comparative by adding ‘er‘ and Superlative by adding ‘est‘ to the Positive; as,

PositiveComparativeSuperlative
FastFasterFastest
HardHarderHardest
HighHigherHighest
LightLighterLightest
LongLongerLongest
SoonSoonerSoonest

(2) Adverbs ending in ‘ly‘ from Comparative by adding more and Superlative by adding most to the Positive; as,

PositiveComparativeSuperlative
AngrilyMore AngrilyMost Angrily
CarefullyMore carefullyMost Carefully
HappilyMore HappilyMost Happily
QuicklyMore QuicklyMost Quickly
SwiftlyMore SwiftlyMost Swiftly
SkilfullyMore SkilfullyMost Skilfully

Note- Early, earlier and earliest are the exceptions.

Remember:

(1) Only the Adverbs of Time, Manner and Degree can be compared.

(2) The following Adverbs cannot be compared: once, here, there, today, now, then.

(3) Some Adverbs are compared irregularly; as,

PositiveComparativeSuperlative
ill, badlyworseworst
farfartherfarthest
furtherfurthest
latelaterlast
muchmoremost
well betterbest
in innerinnermost (inmost)
outouteroutermost (utmost)
upupperuppermost (upmost)

Some Common Errors in the use of Adverbs:

IncorrectCorrect
He ran fastly.He ran fast.
She works hardly.She works hard.
I am much tired.I am very tired.
I am too glad to see you.I am very glad to see you.
Please kindly help me. Please help me. or, Kindly help me.
She is very much sorry.She is very sorry.
I am very taller than she.I am much taller than she.
She is enough kind to help me.She is kind enough to help me.
Flour sells dearly these days.Flour sells dear these days.
This work is too much difficult for me.This work is much too difficult for me.

Adverb and its KindsKinds of Verb
Some Auxilliary and Defective VerbsThe Position of the Article
Adjective and its KindsPersonal Pronouns
Comparison of AdjectivesMass Media and Communications

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