Comparison of adverbs

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Comparison of adverbs

    Adverb is a part of speech used to describe or modify a verb, an adjective, another adverb, clause or sentence.

    Adverbs answer the question: how, when, where, why, in what way, how much, how often, under what condition, to what degree.

    Examples :

    - Mrs Davidson drives her car carefully.

    - Nelson easily lifted the barbell.

    - We’ll use the new system tomorrow.

    Degrees of comparison for some adverbs are similar to adjectives. Degrees of comparison are used when we compare one person or one thing with another.

    Similar to adjectives, adverbs also have three degrees of comparison. They are : positive degree, comparativ degree and superlative degree.

    Adverbs consisting of one syllable from their comparative forms by adding “-er” and their superlative by adding “-est“.

    Comparative degree shows comparison of two things.

    Superlative degree shows comparison of more than two things.

    Examples :

    - John works harder than Peter.

    - Isabelle works the hardest of all.

    Adverbs ending in “-ly” from their comparative degree when combined with “more” and their superlative degree by adding “most”.

    Some adverbs ending in “-ly” do not use “more” and “most” for their comparative and superlative degrees of comparison.

    Examples :

    - Mr. Edward speaks effectively in meetings.

    - Mr. Anderson speaks even more effectively in meetings.

    - Mrs. Batna speaks the most effectively in meetings.

    - Mohamed Amine could have played more skillful than other cricketers.

    - My brother came the earliest.

    Degree of comparison for some adverbs are formed in an irregular manner.

    Examples :

    - My cousin David writes best of all.

    - The farmers reaped the best yield of crops in 2012.

    - Of all the eleven players, Dana is the worse.

    - I believe that Susy can go the furthest in this competition.

    Some adverbs do not have degree of comparison such as : now, then, where, when, there, once, already, again, yesterday, today, tomorrow, not, always, …