Grammar
Comparative and superlative adverbs
Two colleagues can work carefully, but one may work more carefully than the other. In a larger group, one person may work the most carefully. Comparative and superlative adverbs let you describe that difference.
Use comparative and superlative adverbs to compare how actions happen.
Read and practice
Read the examples and try the written questions in this guide. Listening recordings are not available for this lesson yet.
Try the written questions
She explained it more clearly than I did. /ʃi ɪkˈspleɪnd ɪt mɔː ˈklɪə.li ðæn aɪ dɪd/
The short answer
Use a comparative adverb for two actions: Maya answered more politely than I did. Use a superlative adverb for three or more: Maya answered the most politely in the group. Choose -er and -est for some short forms, and more or most for many -ly adverbs.
Rosa completed the task more quickly than I did.
Why it works: More quickly compares Rosa's speed with mine.
6 more examples
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Amir drives more carefully than his brother.
More carefully compares how Amir and his brother drive.
Not this:Amir is a
more careful driverthan his brother. What changes: More careful describes the noun driver. More carefully describes the action drives. -
The new system starts faster than the old one.
Faster is the comparative form of the short adverb fast.
Not this:The new system
is fasterthan the old one. What changes: Here faster is an adjective because it describes the noun system after is. -
Priya explained the process more clearly than I did.
Clearly ends in -ly, so more clearly is the usual comparative form.
Not this:Priya gave a
clearer explanationthan I did. What changes: Clearer describes the noun explanation. More clearly describes explained. -
Of all the runners, Niko finished the fastest.
Fastest is the superlative form of fast and identifies one result in a group.
Not this:Niko was the
fastest runnerin the race. What changes: Fastest describes the noun runner in this sentence. -
Leila answered the questions the most confidently.
Most confidently is a superlative adverb because confidently ends in -ly.
Not this:Leila was the
most confident speaker. What changes: Most confident describes the noun speaker. -
Omar speaks French better than I do.
Better is the comparative adverb form of well.
Not this:Omar is a
better French speakerthan I am. What changes: Better describes the noun speaker in this sentence.
Read the full guide
First decide whether you are comparing two actions or choosing one action from a larger group. For two, use a comparative form such as faster, more carefully, or better. For a group of three or more, use a superlative form such as fastest, most carefully, or best. Then make sure the adverb describes the action, not a noun.
Compare how two actions happen
Use a comparative adverb when two people, actions, or situations are being compared. The adverb tells us how an action happens, so look for an action verb such as speak, work, drive, or arrive.
I arrived earlier than my colleague.
Earlier compares two arrival times.
Which word compares the action in He works harder than I do?
Harder. It tells us how he works compared with someone else.
Use than after a comparative
Use than when you name the second person, action, or situation in a comparison. The second part can be a noun, a pronoun, or a short clause. A short clause makes the meaning clear when the action is different.
Zara listens more carefully than her brother.
Than her brother gives the second person in the comparison.
Zara listens more carefully than I do.
I do replaces the full action I listen carefully.
Complete the sentence: Kim reacted more calmly ___ I expected.
Than. Use than to introduce the second part of this comparison.
Use -er with many short adverbs
Some short adverbs form comparatives with -er and superlatives with -est. Fast becomes faster and fastest. Hard becomes harder and hardest. Early changes y to i: earlier and earliest.
The support team replied faster this morning.
Faster compares the speed of replies with another time or situation.
Marta arrived the earliest of the guests.
Earliest identifies Marta's arrival in the group.
Choose the comparative form of hard: harder or more hard?
Harder. Hard is a short adverb that normally takes -er.
Use more and most with -ly adverbs
Many adverbs ending in -ly use more for a comparison of two and most for the highest degree in a group. Say more politely and the most politely. Do not add -er or -est to these longer forms.
Please speak more slowly during the recording.
More slowly compares this speed with a faster speed.
Aisha described the route the most clearly.
The most clearly identifies Aisha's explanation in a group.
Choose the form: more carefully or carefuller?
More carefully. Carefully uses more because it is an adverb ending in -ly.
Use the superlative for a group
Use a superlative adverb when one action stands out in a group of three or more. Superlative adverbs often follow the action verb and usually include the: the fastest, the hardest, the most politely.
Of the four candidates, June spoke the most confidently.
The group has four candidates, and June's manner of speaking is being identified.
Of everyone on the team, Sam responded the quickest.
The quickest names the highest speed of response in the group.
Which form fits a group of five people: more clearly or the most clearly?
The most clearly. A group of five needs a superlative form.
Learn better, best, worse, and worst
A few very common adverbs have irregular comparison forms. Well becomes better and best. Badly becomes worse and worst. Learn each set together because the usual spelling rules do not make these forms.
I understand this explanation better now.
Better compares understanding now with understanding before.
Of the three students, Jo performed the best.
Best identifies Jo's performance in the group.
Complete the sentence: Of all the apps, this one works the ___. Use well.
Best. Well changes to best in the superlative form.
Avoid double comparative forms
Choose one comparison pattern. Use faster, not more faster. Use the most carefully, not the carefullest. Before you finish a sentence, check whether the adverb already has -er or -est or whether it needs more or most.
The printer works faster after the repair.
Faster already contains the comparative ending.
Mina checked the figures the most carefully.
Carefully uses most, not an -est ending.
Choose the correct form: more faster or faster?
Faster. Do not add more to an adverb that already has -er.
Before you go
Remember this
Use comparative adverbs for two actions and superlative adverbs for one action in a larger group. Many -ly adverbs use more and most. Short forms often take -er and -est. Learn well, better, best and badly, worse, worst as special forms, and avoid double forms such as more faster.
Practice with the written examples
You can practice with the written questions in the Learn tab. Each answer includes an explanation.
Try the written questionsListening test not available yet
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Try the written questionsQuestions about "Comparative and superlative adverbs"
What is a comparative adverb?
A comparative adverb compares how two actions happen. Amir drives more carefully than his brother compares the manner of two people's driving.
Amir drives more carefully than his brother.
When do I use more with an adverb?
Use more with many adverbs ending in -ly. Priya explained the process more clearly than I did uses more clearly because clearly normally does not take -er.
Amir is a more careful driver than his brother.
What is a superlative adverb?
A superlative adverb identifies how one action happens within a group of three or more. Of all the runners, Niko finished the fastest uses fastest for the highest speed in that group.
The new system starts faster than the old one.
What are the comparative and superlative forms of well?
The comparative form of well is better, and the superlative form is best. Omar speaks French better than I do uses the comparative form of well.
The new system is faster than the old one.
Can I say more faster or the most fastest?
No. Faster and fastest already carry comparison endings, so do not add more or most. The new system starts faster than the old one uses the correct comparative form.
Priya explained the process more clearly than I did.