Adverbs play a crucial role in enriching the English language by adding detail to verbs, adjectives, and even other adverbs. They tell us how, when, where, or to what extent an action is performed. Among these, comparative adverbs are essential for expressing how two actions measure up against each other. This guide will clarify how to form and effectively use Adverbs And Comparative Adverbs, enhancing your English communication skills.
What are Comparative Adverbs?
Comparative adverbs are used to compare two actions, highlighting which action is performed to a greater or lesser degree. Think of them as the adverbs that help you show how something is done “more” or “less” than something else. The key idea is always comparison between two distinct actions, never more in a single comparative statement.
For instance, if we say “Joe ran fast,” we’re describing Joe’s running. But if we want to compare Joe’s speed to Mary’s, we might say “Mary ran faster than Joe.” Here, “faster” is the comparative adverb, showing Mary’s action of running is to a greater degree of speed than Joe’s.
Forming Comparative Adverbs
Creating comparative adverbs is straightforward, with rules depending on the number of syllables in the base adverb.
One-Syllable Adverbs: Adding “-er”
For adverbs consisting of only one syllable, the most common way to form the comparative is by simply adding the suffix “-er”. Consider “fast” becoming “faster.” Below are more examples to illustrate this rule:
| Adverb | Comparative Adverb |
|---|---|
| Fast | Faster |
| Hard | Harder |
| High | Higher |
| Late | Later |
| Long | Longer |
| Low | Lower |
| Wide | Wider |
It’s worth noting that many one-syllable adverbs share the same form as their adjective counterparts. Don’t let this similarity cause confusion. The distinction lies in their function within a sentence. Adjectives modify nouns, while adverbs modify verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs.
| Positive | Comparative | |
|---|---|---|
| Adjective | A fast car | A faster car |
| Adverb | He drives fast | He drives faster |
Two or More Syllable Adverbs: Using “more”
When dealing with adverbs of two or more syllables, including most adverbs ending in “-ly,” we use “more” before the adverb to create its comparative form. For example, “quickly” becomes “more quickly.” Here are some examples:
| Adverb | Comparative Adverb |
|---|---|
| Carefully | More Carefully |
| Efficiently | More Efficiently |
| Happily | More Happily |
| Horribly | More Horribly |
| Often | More Often |
| Quickly | More Quickly |
| Recently | More Recently |
| Slowly | More Slowly |
| Sadly | More Sadly |
| Strangely | More Strangely |
Additionally, you can use “less” instead of “more” to indicate a reduction in the degree of action. This is useful for showing something is done to a smaller extent in comparison.
| Sentence | Example |
|---|---|
| She visits often. | Once a week |
| Now she visits more often. ↑ | Once a day |
| Now she visits less often. ↓ | Once a month |
Irregular Adverbs
Like verbs and nouns, some adverbs have irregular comparative forms that you’ll need to memorize. These are commonly used adverbs, making them important to learn early on.
| Adverb | Comparative Adverb |
|---|---|
| Badly | Worse |
| Early | Earlier |
| Far | Further/Farther |
| Little | Less |
| Much | More |
| Well | Better |
Comparative Adverbs with Informal Forms
Some adverbs have both formal and informal forms, which also affects their comparative forms. While informal versions might be heard in casual conversation among native speakers, it’s advisable to use the formal versions, especially in writing and formal examinations.
| Adverb | Comparative Adverb |
|---|---|
| Cheap/Cheaply | Cheaper/More Cheaply |
| Loud/Loudly | Louder/More Loudly |
| Quick/Quickly | Quicker/More Quickly |
| Slow/Slowly | Slower/More Slowly |
It’s also important to note that some adverbs do not have a comparative form at all. These include adverbs like: again, first, daily, yesterday, here, there, now, then, never, sometimes.
Using Comparative Adverbs in Sentences
Understanding how to form comparative adverbs is only half the battle; knowing how to use them correctly in sentences is equally crucial. Typically, comparative adverbs are used to directly compare two actions, often signaled by the word “than.”
- Trains go fast, but planes go faster.
- Planes go faster than trains.
- Trains don’t go faster than planes.
- Trains go more slowly than planes.
- Planes go less slowly than trains.
- Joe won because he played better than Jane played. (or simply: Joe won because he played better than Jane.)
- Joe won because he played better. (Context might already imply the comparison)
- Did cities grow more quickly after the Industrial Revolution?
- He hit the ball more powerfully than his competitor.
- As we get older, we remember things less easily.
- Could you talk a bit more quietly, please?
- Could you talk a bit less loudly, please?
- I can’t hear you. Please speak louder/ more loudly.
While comparative adverbs are for comparing two actions, one of these “actions” can actually represent a group. Consider this example:
- The planet Mercury revolves around the sun faster than all the other planets.
In this sentence, Mercury’s revolution is compared to the collective revolution of all other planets, still maintaining a comparison between two entities (even if one is a group).
By mastering the formation and usage of adverbs and comparative adverbs, you can express nuances and comparisons in English with greater precision and sophistication.
