Comparative Adverbs
What are comparative adverbs?
Adverbs are used to modify verbs, adjectives, and other
adverbs. They add more information based on time, place, frequency, and manner.
Adverbs have usually three forms positive, comparative and superlative. The
last two degrees are used for comparison.
Here we discuss comparative adverbs, their formation, spelling changes, and examples.
Definition of Comparative Adverbs
What are comparative adverbs? Comparative adverbs are
adverbs that compare the actions of two objects and how they perform.
He got his promotion sooner than
Ali.
We don’t work harder,
but smarter.
They came later, so
they did not enjoy the party.
Formation of Compare Adverbs
To form comparative adverbs, we have three ways. The first
one is adding the suffix ‘ER’ to the base adverbs. The second one is using more/less before the adverb. The third one is related to irregular adverbs. They
have their specific forms. The word ‘than’ is used after comparative adverbs
and before the object to be compared.
Adding Suffix ‘ER’
One-syllable adverbs or adverbs that don’t end in ‘LY’ need the suffix ‘ER’ for their comparative degrees.
|
Adverb |
Comparative |
|
Fast |
Faster |
|
High |
Higher |
|
Near |
Nearer |
|
Soon |
Sooner |
|
Long |
Longer |
You must run faster than
Ali.
Ali jumped higher than
me in the contest.
When the program started, Ali came nearer.
You should have called me sooner than
him.
He cut the rope longer than
the length you told him.
Spelling Changes
When we add the suffix ‘-ER’, some spelling changes take
place.
If an adverb ends in ‘E’, we just add ‘R’.
Late ---- later
Fine ---- Finer
He called me later.
I felt finer today
than yesterday.
If an adverb ends in a consonant + ‘Y’, we change ‘y’ into
‘I’ and add the suffix ‘ER’.
Early ---- earlier
Easy ---- easier
Ali did his test earlier than
Diya.
Ali can tackle the problem easier than
you.
Adding the Word More/Less
We use the word more/less before the adverbs that end in
‘LY’ to make their comparative degrees. It means we use more/less before
adverbs that are made by adding ‘LY’ to adjectives.
|
Adverb |
Comparative |
|
Furiously |
More
furiously |
|
Slowly |
More
slowly |
|
Beautifully |
More
beautifully |
|
Happily |
More
happily |
|
Courageously |
More
courageously |
The eagle swoops more
furiously than the vulture.
I walked more slowly than
you, so I reached later.
I saw Rohama’s dance, she danced more beautifully than Adela.
I arranged the program more
happily as you were the participants.
He drove more
courageously than you even though his brakes were not working well.
Irregular Adverbs
Irregular adverbs have their specific comparative degrees.
You have to memorize them.
|
Adverb |
Comparative |
|
Badly |
Worse |
|
Well |
Better |
|
Much |
More |
|
Far |
Farther/further |
|
Little |
Less |
He replied to me worse than
you.
He had studied better than
you.
He did more for
the nation than you.
We went farther than
that place to prey yesterday.
Tea is not sweet enough. I think you have put in less than enough sugar.
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