A - Comparison with -er/-est


hard - harder - (the) hardest


 We use -er/-est with the following adverbs:


 1) all adverbs with one syllable


 

positive


 

 

comperative


 

 

superlative


 

 

fast


 

faster


 

 

fastest


 

 

high


 

 

higher


 

 

highest


 


 
2) the adverb early


 

positive


 

 

comperative


 

 

superlative


 

 

early


 

 

earlier


 

 

earliest


 


B - Comparison with more - most


 adverbs ending on -ly (except: early)


 

positive


 

 

comperative


 

 

superlative


 

 

carefully


 

 

more carefully


 

 

(the) most carefully


 


 C - Irregular adverbs


 

positive


 

 

comperative


 

 

superlative


 

well

better


 

best


 

 

badly


 

 

worse


 

 

worst


 

 

much


 

 

more


 

 

most


 

 

little


 

 

less


 

 

least


 

 

far


 

 

farther

  further


 

 

farthest

  furthest


 


 
ATTENTION!
 In informal English some adverbs are used without -ly (e.g. cheap, loud, quick). There are two forms of comparison possible, depending on the form of the
adverb:
 cheaply - more cheaply - most cheaply
 cheap - cheaper - cheapest