Comparison of adverbs in English
The table below shows the way we create comparative and superlative forms of adverbs in English.
Adverb | Comparative | Superlative | |
---|---|---|---|
Same form as adjective: | fast | faster | fastest |
-ly adverbs of manner | easily | more easily | most easily |
briefly | more/less briefly | most/least briefly | |
clearly | more/less clearly | most/least clearly | |
quickly | more/less quickly | most/least quickly | |
Some adverbs of frequency | rarely | more rarely | most rarely |
seldom | more seldom | most seldom | |
often | more often oftener (less common) |
most often - |
|
Exceptions: | badly | worse | worst |
far | farther further |
farthest further |
|
late | later | last | |
little | less | least | |
much | more | most | |
well | better | best |
Latest and last can be adjectives.
I have bought the latest CD of Coldplay. (i.e. most recent)
I bought the last CD of Whitney Huston. (i.e. final)
Normally only last is used as an adverb.
That was a difficult question, so I answered it last.
It last snowed six months ago. (= The last time it snowed was ...)
Farther and further can be both used to refer to distance.
He drove then miles farther/further than necessary.