Understanding adverbs is crucial for describing how actions are performed, and Comparative Adverbs take this a step further by allowing us to compare these actions. Just as regular adverbs modify verbs, comparative adverbs enable us to show how one action relates to another in terms of intensity or manner.
For instance, we might say, “He runs quickly.” Here, “quickly” describes how he runs. But if we want to compare his running speed to someone else’s, we’d use a comparative adverb: “He runs quickly, but she runs more quickly.” This comparison is fundamental to using comparative adverbs effectively. We use comparative adverbs specifically when contrasting two actions, emphasizing the difference between them. The essence of comparison lies in examining the relationship between two distinct entities or actions.
Constructing Comparative Adverbs: Three Key Methods
Forming comparative adverbs is straightforward, generally following three main rules depending on the structure of the base adverb:
1. Adding “-er” to One-Syllable Adverbs
For adverbs consisting of only one syllable, the most common way to create the comparative form is by simply adding the suffix -er. A classic example is fast, which becomes faster in its comparative form. Below are several examples illustrating this simple transformation:
| 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. This similarity shouldn’t cause confusion. Consider the examples below to see how they function differently in sentences:
| Positive | Comparative | |
|---|---|---|
| Adjective | A fast car | A faster car |
| Adverb | He drives fast | He drives faster |
2. Using “more” with Two or More Syllable Adverbs
When dealing with adverbs that have two or more syllables, or adverbs ending in -ly, we form the comparative by placing more before the adverb. For example, quickly becomes more quickly. Here are some common examples to illustrate this rule:
| 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, we can use less instead of more to indicate a decrease in the action’s intensity. This provides a way to express not only greater intensity but also lesser intensity in comparisons.
| Sentence | Example Frequency |
|---|---|
| She visits often. | Once a week |
| Now she visits more often. ↑ | Once a day |
| Now she visits less often. ↓ | Once a month |
3. Irregular Comparative Adverbs
A handful of adverbs do not follow the standard rules and have irregular comparative forms. These must be memorized individually. Here are the most common irregular comparative adverbs:
| Adverb | Comparative Adverb |
|---|---|
| Badly | Worse |
| Early | Earlier |
| Far | Further/Farther |
| Little | Less |
| Much | More |
| Well | Better |
Formal and Informal Comparative Adverbs
Some adverbs exist in both formal (often ending in -ly) and informal forms. Both forms can have comparative versions. While informal versions might be heard in casual speech, it’s advisable to use the formal versions in writing and formal settings, especially in examinations. Common examples include:
| 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 lack a comparative form altogether. These include adverbs like: again, first, daily, yesterday, here, there, now, then, never, sometimes.
Effectively Using Comparative Adverbs in Sentences
Understanding how to form comparative adverbs is only part of the picture; knowing how to use them correctly in sentences is equally important. Comparative adverbs are used to show a degree of difference between two actions. Often, the word than follows the comparative adverb to explicitly state what is being compared.
- Trains travel fast, but planes travel faster.
- Planes travel faster than trains.
- Trains do not travel faster than planes.
- Trains travel more slowly than planes.
- Planes travel less slowly than trains.
- Joe won because he played better than Jane played.
- Joe won because he played better than Jane.
- Joe won because he played better. (In context, the comparison is implied.)
- Did cities grow more quickly after the Industrial Revolution?
- He hit the ball more powerfully than his competitor.
- As we age, we remember things less easily.
- Could you speak a bit more quietly, please?
- Could you speak a bit less loudly, please?
- I can’t hear you. Please speak louder/more loudly.
Although comparative adverbs are used to compare two actions, one of these “actions” can represent a group or a collective action.
- The planet Mercury revolves around the sun faster than all the other planets.
In this example, 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 understanding these rules and examples, you can effectively use comparative adverbs to enhance your English communication, making your descriptions more nuanced and your comparisons more precise.
