Скачать или смотреть Lesson #61 - Comparative and Superlative Adverbs

Comparative and Superlative Adverbs

1) An adverb is a word or set of words that modifies verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs.
Usually adverbs modify verbs, telling us how, how often, when, or where something was
done.
We walked really slowly.

2) Most adverbs can show degree of quality or quantity by forming two degrees of
comparison: the comparative degree and the superlative degree. These degrees are formed
from the positive degree, which is the usual form of adverbs.

Positive - She eats slowly.
Comparative - She eats more slowly than we do.
Superlative - She eats the most slowly of us
all.

The comparative form is used for comparing two actions or states, while the superlative is
used for comparing one action or state with all the others in the same category.
He runs faster than Jack does. But we need to check for sure who runs the fastest.

There are three ways in which the comparatives and the superlatives are formed, depending
on the spelling of the base adverbs.
If an adverb ends in -ly, add more to make the comparative, and the most to make the
superlative.
happily – more happily – the most happily

If an adverb has the same form as an adjective, follow the same rules when you form the
comparative or superlative degree of adjectives, i.e. by adding the endings -er or -est. If an
adverb ends in -y, then you change the -y to -i before adding -er or -est. If an adverb has one
syllable and ends in -e, simply add -r or -st.
late – later – the latest


Some adverbs do not follow any of the rules explained earlier. They are irregular. Here are
the most common irregular adverbs.

Positive - well - badly - much - little - far
Comparative - better - worse - more less - farther/further
Superlative - the best - the worst
the most - the least - the farthest/the furthest

Note that it impossible to have comparatives or superlatives of certain adverbs, especially
those of time (e.g. daily, yesterday, then), place (e.g. there, up, down), and degree (e.g.
very, just, too).

Short Story Dialogue
– I haven’t thought that Paul can play basketball that well!
– Actually, he was in the basketball club at school, so back then he played even better.
Honestly, I think he played the best of any teammates.
– Yeah? I didn’t know that.
– Yeah, but after the knee injury he started to play less and less. Sadly, that was
inevitable.

Independent Practice - Comparative and Superlative Adverbs
1) Form the comparatives and the superlatives.

Positive Comparative Superlative
very
well
long
loudly
badly

2) Underline the mistakes in the following sentences. Correct them.
a. Susan came to work very lately yesterday.
b. You should speak more quitlier at the library!
c. We ran quite farly that day.
d. Tim sings the bester. Everyone loves his singing.
e. They drive more careful after the accident.

Independent Practice: Answers - Comparative and Superlative Adverbs
1) Form the comparatives and the superlatives.
Positive Comparative Superlative
very – –
well better the best
long longer the longest
loudly more loudly the most loudly
badly worse. the worst

2) Underline the mistakes in the following sentences. Correct them.
a. Susan came to work very lately late yesterday.
b. You should speak more quietly at the library!
c. We ran quite far that day.
d. Tim sings the best. Everyone loves his singing.
e. They drive more carefully after the accident.

‪@LearnEnglish101‬