Comparative and superlative adverbs
- Comparative and superlative adverbs
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Comparative and superlative adverbs are used to say how something happens or is done compared with how it happened or was done on a different occasion. They are also used to say how something is done by one person or thing compared with how it is done by someone or something else.
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◊ forming comparative and superlative adverbs
The comparative of an adverb is usually formed by putting `more' in front of the adverb.
He began to speak more quickly.
The people needed business skills so that they could manage themselves more effectively.
The superlative of an adverb is usually formed by putting `most' in front of the adverb.
You are likely to have bills which can most easily be paid by post.
The country most severely affected was Holland.
◊ single-word forms
Some very common adverbs have comparatives and superlatives that are single words and are not formed using `more' and `most'.
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The comparative and superlative forms of `well' are `better' and `best'.
...when I got to know him better.
Why don't you go back to doing what you do best?
The usual comparative and superlative forms of `badly' are `worse' and `worst'.
Socially, my wife fares worse than I do.
Those in the poorest groups are worst hit.
However, `badly' has a special meaning for which the comparative and superlative are `more badly' and `most badly'. This is explained in the entry at ↑
bad - badly.
Adverbs which have the same form as adjectives have the same comparatives and superlatives as the adjectives.
This would enable claims to be dealt with faster.
They worked harder, they were more honest.
The person who sang loudest took the rest of us with him.
The following words have the same comparative and superlative forms whether they are used as adverbs or adjectives:
close, deep, early, far, fast, hard, long, loud, low, near, quick, slow, straight, tight, wide
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The adverb `late' has the comparative form `later', and the adverb `soon' has the comparative form `sooner'. The superlative forms `latest' and `soonest' are hardly ever used.
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◊ 'the' with superlatives
It is possible to use `the' with single-word superlative adverbs, but this use is not common.
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Useful english dictionary.
2012.
Look at other dictionaries:
comparative and superlative adverbs — ◊ GRAMMAR Comparative and superlative adverbs are used to say how something happens or is done compared with how it happened or was done on a different occasion. They are also used to say how something is done by one person or thing compared with … Useful english dictionary
Comparative and superlative adjectives — ◊ GRAMMAR comparative adjectives Comparative adjectives are used to indicate that something has more of a quality than something else, or more than it used to have. The comparative of an adjective is formed by adding er , as in smaller , or by… … Useful english dictionary
comparative and superlative adjectives — ◊ GRAMMAR comparative adjectives Comparative adjectives are used to indicate that something has more of a quality than something else, or more than it used to have. The comparative of an adjective is formed by adding er , as in smaller , or by… … Useful english dictionary
superlative adverbs — ◊ GRAMMAR Comparative and superlative adverbs are used to say how something happens or is done compared with how it happened or was done on a different occasion. They are also used to say how something is done by one person or thing compared with … Useful english dictionary
Comparative adverbs — ◊ GRAMMAR Comparative and superlative adverbs are used to say how something happens or is done compared with how it happened or was done on a different occasion. They are also used to say how something is done by one person or thing compared with … Useful english dictionary
comparative adverbs — ◊ GRAMMAR Comparative and superlative adverbs are used to say how something happens or is done compared with how it happened or was done on a different occasion. They are also used to say how something is done by one person or thing compared with … Useful english dictionary
Comparative adjectives — ◊ GRAMMAR comparative adjectives Comparative adjectives are used to indicate that something has more of a quality than something else, or more than it used to have. The comparative of an adjective is formed by adding er , as in smaller , or by… … Useful english dictionary
comparative adjectives — ◊ GRAMMAR comparative adjectives Comparative adjectives are used to indicate that something has more of a quality than something else, or more than it used to have. The comparative of an adjective is formed by adding er , as in smaller , or by… … Useful english dictionary
superlative adjectives — ◊ GRAMMAR comparative adjectives Comparative adjectives are used to indicate that something has more of a quality than something else, or more than it used to have. The comparative of an adjective is formed by adding er , as in smaller , or by… … Useful english dictionary
comparative — comparatively, adv. comparativeness, n. /keuhm par euh tiv/, adj. 1. of or pertaining to comparison. 2. proceeding by, founded on, or using comparison as a method of study: comparative anatomy. 3. estimated by comparison; not positive or… … Universalium
