Comparative and superlative adverbs

6.30 You may want to say how something happens or is done in relation to how it happens on a different occasion, or how it was done by someone or something else. You can do this by using adverbs in the comparative or superlative.

He began to speak more quickly.

Red-legged partridges are most commonly seen in the eastern counties of England.

Most adverbs of manner (see paragraph 6.36) have comparatives and superlatives.

A few other adverbs also have comparatives and superlatives: some adverbs of time ('early' and 'late', see paragraph 5.70), frequency ('often' and 'frequently', see paragraph 5.114), duration ('briefly', 'permanently', and 'long', see paragraph 5.123), and place ('near', 'close', 'deep', 'high', 'far', and 'low', see paragraphs 6.68 and 6.89).

6.31 The forms and uses of comparative and superlative adverbs are generally similar to those of adjectives. For more information about comparatives and superlatives of adjectives, see paragraphs 2.108 to 2.117.

However, unlike adjectives, the comparative of an adverb is usually formed with 'more' and the superlative with 'most', and not by adding '-er' and '-est'.

The people needed business skills so that they could manage themselves more effectively.

First she might have some useful information. More importantly, a damaging precedent could be set.

...the text which Professor Williams's volume most closely resembles.

For me, Haitink is the conductor who re-writes those maps, most often and most convincingly.

irregular forms 6.32 Some very common adverbs have comparatives and superlatives that are single words and not formed using 'more' and 'most'. Note that adverbs that have irregular comparatives also have irregular superlatives.

'Well' has the comparative 'better' and the superlative 'best'.

She would ask him later, when she knew him better.

I have to find out what I can do best.

'Badly' has the comparative 'worse' and the superlative 'worst'.

'I don't think the crowd helped her,' Gordon admitted. 'She played worse.'

The expedition from Mozambique fared worst.

Note that 'worse' and 'worst' are also the comparative and superlative of 'ill' when it is an adverb or adjective.

6.33 Adverbs which have the same form as adjectives also have the same comparatives and superlatives as the adjectives. For example, 'fast' has 'faster' and 'fastest', and 'hard' has 'harder' and 'hardest'. For a list of common adverbs which have the same form as adjectives, see paragraph 6.24.

This would enable claims to be dealt with faster.

They worked harder, they were more honest.

The winning blow is the one that strikes hardest.

The sugar should be preserving sugar as this dissolves fastest.

The tax burden increased fastest for the poor and for those with children.

6.34 Some adverbs have comparatives and superlatives with 'more' and 'most', but also have single word comparatives and superlatives.

They can be built more quickly.

You probably learn quicker by having lessons.

A child cools off quickest if the parents fade away and go about their business.

The American computer firm will be relying more heavily on its new Scottish plant.

South Africa's diamonds, gold, and uranium weigh heavier in the balance than Guinea's bananas.

The burden fell most heavily on Kanhai.

Illiteracy, like other forms of educational disadvantage, weighs heaviest on the groups who are already disadvantaged in other ways.

35 The structures involving comparatives and superlatives are generally the same for adverbs as for adjectives:

• the use of 'no' and 'any' with comparatives: see paragraph 2.168

He fared no better on the other road.

Omoro didn't want to express it any more strongly.

• the optional use of 'the' with superlatives: see paragraph 2.122

His shoulders hurt the worst.

Old people work hardest.

• the use of submodifiers with comparatives and superlatives: see the section beginning at paragraph 2.162

The situation resolved itself much more easily than I had expect.

There the process progresses even more rapidly.

• the use of 'than' after comparatives: see paragraph 2.111

This class continues to grow more rapidly than any other group.

Prices have been rising faster than incomes.

You might know this better than me.

They managed to keep his circulation going more successfully than we did.

• repeating comparatives to indicate changes in extent: see paragraph 2.166.

It continues to function more and more effectively.