Comparative and
superlative adverbs
YANA SANCHKIVSKA FISB-1-17
Comparative adverbs
► 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.
WE USE THESE WORDS AND
PHRASES AS MITIGATORS:
We use these words and phrases as intensifiers with
comparatives: A BIT SLIGHTLY RATHER
A LITTLE A LITTLE BIT JUST A
much far a lot quite a lot
LITTLE BIT
a great deal a good deal a good bit a fair bit
I forget things much more often nowadays. SHE BEGAN TO SPEAK A BIT MORE
QUICKLY.
I speak English (fluent) more fluently now than last year.
She greeted me (polite) _____of all.
She smiled (happy) ______than before.
This girl dances (graceful) ______ of all.
Could you write (clear) ______?
Planes can fly (high)_____ than birds.
He had an accident last year. Now, he drives _____(careful)
than before.
Jim can run (fast) _____than John.
Our team played (bad) _____of all.
He worked (hard) _____than ever before.
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.
WHEN WE INTENSIFY A
SUPERLATIVE ADVERB, WE OFTEN
PUT THE IN FRONT OF THE
We use these words and phrases as intensifiers ADVERB:
with superlatives:
IN OUR OFFICE, JILL WORKS BY FAR
easily by far much THE HARDEST.
OF THE THREE BROTHERS, BRIAN
EASILY RUNS THE FASTEST.
Exercises
► 1. I visit my parents (more often/the most often) than my brothers do.
► 2. He thinks he always knows (better/best)
► 3. Out of all my siblings, I visit my parents (more often/the most often).
► 4. David did (worse/the worst) than he thought he would do on his test.
► 5. I did (worse/the worst) out of all the students on my test.
How to form comparative and superlative
adverbs
► We make comparative and superlative adverbs ► well: She speaks English well. > better
using the same rules as for comparative and > best
superlative adjectives. For example:
► badly: She speaks German badly. > worse
► One syllable: Jill works fast. > faster > > worst
fastest
► far: He'll go far. > farther/further >
► One syllable ending in –e: They arrived late. > farthest/furthest
later > latest
► Two or more syllables: Alan finished the test
quickly. > more quickly > most
quickly
1. He lives (farther/the farthest) than Peter.
2. He lives (farther/the farthest) out of all of us.
3. He lives (farther/the farthest) than the rest of us.
4. Jim drives (faster/the fastest) than most people that I know.
5. Jim drives (faster/the fastest) of all my friends. 6. Frank welcomed us (more warmly/the most warmly) than his
wife did.
7. Frank's wife cooks (better/the best) out of anyone I know.
8. Frank's wife cooks (better/the best) than anyone I know.
9. Which of these three girls dances (better/the best)?
10. Which of these two girls dances (better/the best)?