Like adjectives, adverbs follow three degrees of comparison: positive, comparative, and superlative degrees.
Most one-syllable adverbs form their comparative degree by adding -er and the superlative degree by adding -est.
| Positive | Comparative | Superlative |
|---|---|---|
| hard | harder | hardest |
| late | later | latest |
| deep | deeper | deepest |
| soon | sooner | soonest |
| low | lower | lowest |
Adverbs with two or more syllables, especially those ending in -ly, form their comparative degree by using more or less and their superlative degree by using most or least.
Examples:
Grapes grow abundantly in the US.
Grapes grow more abundantly in China than in the United States.
There are some adverbs that form their comparative and superlative degrees differently.
| Positive | Comparative | Superlative |
|---|---|---|
| well | better | best |
| much | more | most |
| ill | worse | worst |
| badly | worse | worst |
| little | less | least |
Examples:
Our gardener did the landscaping of the yard well.
Your gardener did better with your garden, though.
Sheena's gardener did the best with their garden.