Comparison of Adverbs

 

Similar to Adjectives, Adverbs also have three degrees. Such adverbs are generally not conjugated like adjectives.

👉 Positive Degree:

"Words that have only one syllable. They have been included in Positive degrees."

For Example, those words should be spoken only once. Such words are called Positive degrees.

That is Fast, Long, Hard, Soon, etc. These words can be spoken at once.

👉 Comparative Degree:

"Words that have more than one syllable. They have been placed in Comparative degrees of adverbs."

For Example, Long-er, Fast-er, Soon-er, Harder. It means at the end of every word it will be "er".

👉 Superlative Degree:

"Words that have more than one syllable. And most are added to use them. They are included in the Superlative degree of adverbs."

For Example, most-swiftly, fast-est, hard-est, etc. 

NOTE:

(i) Adverbs having only one syllable. Adding "er" to them forms the Comparative degree and "est " forms the Superlative degree.

                             Comparative                                    Superlative

1. Fast                  Faster                                              Fastest
2. Long                Longer                                             Longest
3. Soon                Sooner                                              Soonest
4. Hard                Harder                                             Hardest

EXAMPLE:

• Ali works hard.
• Ali works harder.
• Ali works the hardest of all.

(ii) Adverbs that end in "ly". By adding "more" in front of them, they make the Comparative degree and by adding "most" they make the Superlative degree.

          Adverb               Comparative                        Superlative 

1. Skilfully             more skilfully                        most skilfully
2. Neatly                more neatly                            most neatly
3. Swiftly               more swiftly                           most swiftly

EXAMPLE:

• Of all the ten Ayesha played most skilfully. (superlative)
• Ali played skilfully. (positive)

(iii) Many adverbs cannot naturally be compared. For example, Now, then, where, there, once, etc.

(iv) Many adverbs usually form their Comparative and Superlative degrees irregularly.

        Positive                            Comparative                        Superlative

1. Badly                                  worse                                      worst
2. Well                                    better                                        best
3. Much                                  more                                        most
4. Little                                   lest                                           least
5. Near                                  nearer                                     nearest
6. Far                               farther, further                      farthest, furthest
7. Late                                   later                                           last

EXAMPLE:

• Fatima writes well.
• Fatima writes better than ayat.
• Fatima writes best of all.

ANSWER THE FOLLOWING EXERCISE: 

 

Exercise-6

Exercise-7