Adverbs can also be used to make comparisons of two or more actions.

Adverbs of manner and time have the same degrees of comparison as adjectives: positive, comparative, and superlative

Take note of the italicized words in the following sentences:

• Emily listens attentively to the tourist guide.

• They will soon meet the delegates to the World Youth Day.

The sentences above show the adverbs attentively and soon in the positive degree, the simple form of the verb.

Take note of the italicized words in the following sentences:

• Roseanne can draw more artistically than her best friend Leanne.

• We arrived in the city of Bangkok earlier than expected.

The sentences above show the adverbs more artistically and earlier in the comparative degree, comparing two actions.

Take note of the italicized words in the following sentences:

• The Lacson-Espiritu wedding party was the most extravagantly prepared gathering in the town's history.

• I climbed Mt. Apo the fastest in our group.

The sentences above show the adverbs most extravagantly and fastest in the superlative degree, comparing two or more actions.

The rules in forming adverbs and adjectives in the comparative and superlative degrees are almost the same.

1. For one-syllable and some two-syllable adverbs,

• add -r or -er to make their comparative forms

• add -st or -est to make their superlative forms

Examples:

• faster/fastest
• earlier/earliest

2. Add more or less before adverbs with two or more syllables to make their comparative forms. The words more and less are also used with some one-syllable adverbs.

Examples:

• more/less quickly
• more/less extravagantly
• more/less right

Add most or least before adverbs with two or more syllables to make their superlative forms. The words most and least are also used with some one-syllable adverbs.

Examples:

• most/least creatively
• most/least clearly
• most/least hard

Some adverbs do not follow these rules. Their comparative and superlative degrees are formed differently. They are called irregular adverbs.

Here are some commonly used irregular verbs.