Degree of Comparison of Adverbs

The degree of comparison of adverbs is similar to the comparison of the adjective. There are three degrees of comparison of adverbs.

Positive degree of adverbs
Comparative degree of adverbs
Superlative degree of adverbs

Table of Contents

1. Positive degree of adverbs:

The positive degree of an adverb is the adverb in its simple/basic form. It is used when no comparison is made.

Example: A motorcycle runs fast.

2. Comparative degree of adverbs:

The comparative degree of adverbs is used to compare about two actions. The comparison is made to compare two persons or things. It denotes a higher degree of action than the positive degree.

Example: A train runs faster than a motorcycle.

3. Superlative degree of adverbs:

The superlative degree of adverbs is used to compare the more than two actions. It denotes the highest degree of how an action is performed.

Example: A plane runs the fastest of all conveyances.

Rules of formation of degrees of comparison of adverbs

a. Adverbs of one-syllable form:

One-syllable positive adverbs are formed into comparative degree and superlative degree by adding the suffix ‘ER‘ and ‘EST‘ to the positive degree respectively.

Positive Degree of Adverbs	Comparative Degree of Adverbs	Superlative Degree of Adverbs
late	later	latest
long	longer	longest
hard	harder	hardest
near	nearer	nearest
soon	sooner	soonest
low	lower	lowest
high	higher	highest
fast	faster	fastest
early	earlier	earliest

Special note: If the adverb ends with the letter ‘E‘ then simply add ‘R‘ and ‘ST‘ to the end of the positive degree to form comparatives and superlatives respectively.

Example:

Positive degree: I came late.

Comparative degree: I came later than him.

Superlative degree: I came latest of all.

b. Adverbs of two or more syllable forms:

Many adverbs are made by adding the suffix ‘LY‘ to the end of an adjective. Now if an adverb has been formed according to this method, then the two or more syllable positive adverbs are formed into comparative degree and superlative degree by adding ‘more‘ and ‘most‘ before the positive degree of adverb respectively.

Positive Degree of Adverbs	Comparative Degree of Adverbs	Superlative Degree of Adverbs
quickly	more quickly	most quickly
quietly	more quietly	most quietly
wisely	more wisely	most wisely
vividly	more vividly	most vividly
beautifully	more beautifully	most beautifully
gracefully	more gracefully	most gracefully
merrily	more merrily	most merrily
swiftly	more swiftly	most swiftly
skilfully	more skilfully	most skilfully
slowly	more slowly	most slowly
brightly	more brightly	most brightly

Example:

Positive degree: My sister can dance gracefully.

Comparative degree: My sister can dance more gracefully than Sima.

Superlative degree: Payel can dance most gracefully of all.

c. Adverbs with irregular form:

Exception rule of comparison –

Some positive adverbs do not follow the above specific rules. Different words are used to form the comparative degree and superlative degree of the positive adverbs.

Positive Degree of Adverbs	Comparative Degree of Adverbs	Superlative Degree of Adverbs
well	better	best
ill/badly	worse	worst
far	farther	farthest
little	less	least
much	more	most