Fill in the correct adverb form (comparative or superlative) of the adjectives in brackets.

1. I speak English more fluently now than last year.

2. She greeted me most politely of all.

3. She smiled more happily than before.

4. This girl dances most gracefully of all.

5. Could you write more clearly ?

6. Planes can fly higher than birds.

7. He had an accident last year. Now, he drives more carefully than before.

8. Jim can run faster than John.

9. Our team played worst of all.

10. He worked harder than ever before.

1 out of 10 answers are correct.

Comparative and Superlative Adjectives

Superlativ
Word Example Comparativ Example
e Examples
Form s e Rule s
Rule
One fine finer finest
syllable
adjectives wise Add "r" wiser Add "st" wisest
ending in
"e" large larger largest
One
syllable Double
big Double the bigger biggest
adjectives the final
final
ending consonant
fat consonant fatter fattest
with one and add
and add the
vowel and the suffix
hot suffix "er" hotter hottest
one "est"
consonant
One tall Add the taller Add the tallest
syllable suffix "er" suffix
adjectives smart smarter "est" smartest
with two
vowels or neat neater neatest
ending
with two loud louder loudest
consonant
s
Change
Two pretty prettier prettiest
Change the the "y" to
syllable
"y" to "i" "i" and
adjectives angry angrier angriest
and add the add the
ending in
suffix "er" suffix
"y" happy happier happiest
"est"
more most
Do not Do not
beautiful beautiful
Adjective beautiful change the change
s with two word the word
more most
or more importan
importan importan
syllables t Add the Add the
t t
not word word
ending in dangerou "more" "most"
more most
"y" s before the before the
dangerou dangerou
adjective adjective
s s
Add the
Adjective suffix
Add the
s with two gentle gentler "est" gentlest
suffix "er"
syllables
ending in hollow hollower (If the hollowest
(If the word
"er", words
ends in "e",
"le", yellow yellower ends in yellowest
just ad "r")
"ow" "e", just
add "st")

Of course there are exceptions to the rules. (Exception means that they do not follow the
rules.)

Here are just a few of the most common adjective exceptions.

Word Comparative form Superlative form

good better best
bad worse worst
far farther farthest
far further furthest
many more most
little less least
old elder eldest

Some two syllable adjectives can follow two rules. Both forms of these words are
grammatically correct.
For example:
Word Comparative forms Superlative forms
friendlier friendliest
friendly
more friendly most friendly
quieter quietest
quiet
more quiet most quiet
simpler simplest
simple
more simple most simple

The elephants are the loudest animals on the boat.

The giraffes are taller than the penguins.
The most gentle animal is the dove.
The elephant is bigger than the monkey.

Comparative and Superlative Adverbs

Some adverbs can have comparative and superlative forms.

They follow most of the same rules as adjectives.

Word Form Examples Comparative Rule Examples Superlative Rule Examples

late later latest

soon sooner soonest

One syllable
Add "r" or "er" Add "st" or "est"
adverbs
hard harder hardest

fast faster fastest

Do not change the Do not change the
more often most often
word word
Adverbs with often
two or more more most
Add the word Add the word
syllables seldom seldom seldom
"more" before the "most" before the
adverb adverb
Some two
Change the "y" to Change the "y"
syllable
early "i" and add the earlier to "i" and add the earliest
adverbs
suffix "er" suffix "est"
ending in "y"
Adverbs that Do not change the more Do not change the most
end in "ly" word wisely word wisely
 wisely

more most
quietly Add the word quietly Add the word quietly
"more" before the "most" before the
adverb more adverb most
sweetly sweetly sweetly

Most comparative and superlative adverbs use "more" and "most" because they end in
"ly". Most adverbs end in "ly".

Here are some more "ly" adverbs that would use "more" and "most":

 easily
 boldly
 bravely
 fearlessly
 kindly
 lightly
 openly
 politely
 properly
 rudely
 safely
 softly
 silently
 tenderly
 weakly

The bird sings more tenderly than the penguin.

The lion roars most boldly of all the animals.

Of course there are exceptions to the rules. Here are just a few of the most common adverb
exceptions.

Word Comparative form Superlative form

badly worse worst
little less least
much more most
well better best
far farther farthest
 far further furthest

Farther vs Further: What is the Difference?

The first bear feels better than the second bear.

The third bear feels the best of all three bears!
The bear in the middle feels the worst.

These were the rules of forming Comparatives and Superlatives. Now that you know them, it
is time to practice! Get our ESL Books!

Did you know that you can visit Really Learn English on Pinterest? Click here: Really Learn
English on Pinterest. You can also use this graphic to pin this page to your favorite board!

Get Vocabulary, Grammar and Teaching Tips, Site

Updates and Special Offers Directly to Your Mailbox
Join now and get a special bonus:

First 2 chapters of the English Short Stories Book and Workbook.

First Name
Email Address
Are you a teacher or a student?

 Teacher

 Student
 Of all the girls at the ball, Priscilla was dressed most beautifully.”
 In the above sentence, most beautifully is an adverb form that describes the verb
dressed. I could have simply stated that Priscilla was beautifully dressed or that she
was dressed more beautifully than Erica. But since I wanted readers to know that her
manner of dress far exceeded any other, I used a special type of adverb called a
superlative adverb.
 What Are Superlative Adverbs?
 A superlative adverb is used to compare three or more people, places, or things. It’s
used to state that the action performed is to the highest degree within a group or of its
kind. They are sometimes preceded by the word “the” but not always.
  Bobby talks the loudest of all the boys.
 Jill danced the best.
 In the opening sentence the superlative form of the adverb beautifully was used to
compare three or more manners of dress. Most beautifully is the highest degree of
dressing beautifully!
 Forming Superlative Adverbs
 The rules for forming superlative adverbs are rather straightforward. If the adverb
has the same form as a one-syllable adjective simply add the suffix –est to the end
of the word.
 For example:
 Barry slept the longest.
 Jack’s bullfrog jumped the highest.
 Naomi finished the quickest.
 Also, just as with forming superlative adjectives, if the adverb ends with a “y” then
change the “y” to “i” and then add –est. Like this:
 Kyle and Lindsey arrived early but Luke arrived the earliest.
 However, sometimes adding an –est isn’t appropriate. The vast majority of adverbs
end in the suffix –ly and to add another suffix isn’t grammatically correct. Plus, it
sounds funny. You wouldn’t say dressed beautifullyest would you? Thankfully, there
is a much easier way to show the superlative form of these adverbs. All you have to
do to form the superlative of adverbs that end in –ly is precede them with most or
least.
 This computer model operates least efficiently.
 Examples of Superlative Adverbs
 It’s often helpful to see adverbs in all their forms in order to get a clear idea of the
degrees of comparison. Here is a list of several common adverbs in the positive,
comparative, and superlative form.

Positive Comparative Superlative

soon sooner soonest
loud louder loudest
quick quicker quickest
fast faster fastest
long longer longest
hard harder hardest
sweetly more sweetly most sweetly
angrily more angrily most angrily
brightly more brightly most brightly
abruptly more abruptly most abruptly
frequently more frequently most frequently
quietly more quietly most quietly
carefully more carefully most carefully
happily more happily most happily
anxiously more anxiously most anxiously
perfect more perfect most perfect
assuredly more assuredly most assuredly
graciously more graciously most graciously
 Sentence examples containing superlative adverbs:
 Next Friday is the soonest we can arrive.
 Josh is the fastest runner on the team.
 Caroline smiles the most sweetly.
 Stars shine most brightly on a clear night.
 Our rotary telephone is the least frequently used device in our house.
 Ben moved most quietly as the boys walked down the darkened ally.
 The last remark was the least clearly stated.
 Karen accepted the award most graciously.
 The accident occurred most abruptly.
 Lisa drives most carefully in heavy traffic.
 I most anxiously await your arrival.
 Kerri most assuredly did not do what you accused her of!
 Irregular Forms
 Some adverbs have irregular forms, which means the superlative can’t be created by
adding the suffix –est or by using most or least. Here are some examples:
 Many – most
 Much – most
 Well – best
 Bad – worst
 Far – farthest/furthest
 Little – least
 Use these rules and examples to help you with your understanding of the superlative
form of adverbs. Just remember that superlatives compare three or more people,
places, or things and they are created with the suffix –est or the use of the words most
or least. Then, once you’ve memorized a few irregular forms, you’ll quickly find
superlative adverbs are a breeze.