Comparative and superlative adverbs

With adverbs ending in -ly, you must use more to form the comparative, and most to form the superlative.

Adverb Comparative Superlative
quietly more quietly most quietly
slowly more slowly most slowly
seriously more seriously most seriously
Examples
  • The teacher spoke more slowly to help us to understand.
  • Could you sing more quietly please?

With short adverbs that do not end in -ly comparative and superlative forms are identical to adjectives: add -er to form the comparative and -est to form the superlative. If the adverb ends in e, remove it before adding the ending.

Adverb Comparative Superlative
hard harder hardest
fast faster fastest
late later latest
Examples
  • Jim works harder than his brother.
  • Everyone in the race ran fast, but John ran the fastest of all.

Some adverbs have irregular comparative and superlative forms.

Adverb Comparative Superlative
badly worse worst
far farther/further farthest/furthest
little less least
well better best
Examples
  • The little boy ran farther than his friends.
  • You're driving worse today than yesterday !
  • He played the best of any player.