A higher degree

Comparative and superlative degree

a) Monosyllabic adverbs and the adverb early form their comparative and superlative degree by adding the suffix –er and –est to the base, respectively:

hard – harder – hardest

early – earlier – earliest

Note that soon is frequently used in the comparative degree: sooner,

but it infrequently occurs in the superlative degree: soonest.

b) Other adverbs form their comparative and superlative degree by adding the

premodifier more and most, respectively:

frequently – more frequently – most frequently

neatly – more neatly – most neatly

c) Often is inflected either as oftener or more often.

e) The following adverbs form the comparative and superlative irregularly:

well better best

badly worse worst

late later last

little less least

much more most

far farther farthest

(further) (furthest)

The expression of a higher degree

To express a higher degree the following constructions are used:

a) Tom speaks English better (more fluently) than I do.

b) Tom speaks English most fluently.

which means “ very fluently ”

B. The same degree

Comparison at the same degree is formed by the folllowing:

Tom speaks English as fluently as I do.

C. A lower degree

A lower degree is marked by such constructions as:

Tom doesn’t speak English so (as) fluently as I do.

Tom speaks English less fluently than I do.

Modification of Comparatives and superlatives

The modification of comparatives and superlatives of adverbs does not differ from the modification of adjectives in the superlative and comparative degree.

The Difference in meaning

a) Adverbs with and without –ly.

Some words ending in – ly are adjectives, and not normally adverbs.

Common ex: costly, cowardly, deadly, friendly, likely, lively, lonely, lovely, silly, ugly.

e.g. She gave me a friendl y smile. (adjective)

He spoke to me in a friendly way. (adverbial phrase)

Her singing was lovely. (Or: She sang beautifully.)

Other words that end in –ly can be both adjectives and adverbs. Examples are daily, weekly, monthly, yearly, early. A daily paper is published daily; we get up earl y to catch an early train.

b) Adjectives and adverbs with the same form; adverbs with two forms

Sometimes, an adjective and an adverb have the same form. For example, a fast car goes fast. In other cases, the adverbs has two forms (for example, late and lately), one like the adjective and the other with –ly. There is usually a difference of meaning or use between the two forms. The most important adverbs in this group are as follows:

Barely

Barely is almost negative in meaning:

I can barely understand it.

Bloody

Bloody, and several other swearwords (‘bad words’) can be used both as adjectives and as adverbs.

‘You bloody fool. You didn’t look where you were going.’ – ‘I bloody did..’

Cheap

Cheap is often used instead of cheaply, especially in casual conversation and with the verbs buy and sell.

Do you like this shirt? I bought it really cheap.

Clean

The adverb clean means ‘completely’. It is used (in an informal style)with the verb forget, the prepositions over and through, and the adverbs away and out.

Sorry I didn’t turn up – I clean forgot.

The ball sailed clean over the roof.

The explosion blew the cooker clean through the wall.

The prisoner got clean away.

I’m afraid I’m clean out of (= have no more ) food.

The adverb cleanly means ‘precisely, without making a mess, not clumsily’. It is often used with the verb cut.

The surgeon cut cleanly through the abdominal wall.

Clear

Clearly has a similar meaning to the adjective clear, in the sense of ‘without confusion’, ‘distinctly’.

I can’t see clearly without my glasses.

It can also mean ‘obviously’:

We clearly need to think again.

The adverb clear is used with of to mean ‘not touching’; clear across means ‘right across’.

Stand clear of the gates!

He threw her clear across the room.

Clear means ‘clearly’ in the expression loud and clear.

Close

The adverb close usually means ‘near’. Before a past participle, closely is used.

Come close; I want to tell you something.

She’s closely related to the Duke of Halifax.

The adverb closely often means ‘carefully, with great attention’.

Study this closely: it’s very important

Dead

The adverb dead is used in certain expressions to mean ‘exactly’ or ‘completely’. Examples are: dead right, dead sure, dead certain, dead tired, dead slow, dead ahead, dead drunk, dead straight.

Note that deadly is an adjective, meaning ‘fatal, causing death’. (For example: a deadly poison.) The adverb for this meaning is fatally.

She was fatally injured in the crash.

Dear

Dear is often used instead of dearly, especially in casual conversation and with the verbs buy and sell.

Deep

The adverb deep means “far down or in.”

We had to dig deep to find water.

deeply means “profoundly, intensely”

She felt her mother’s death deeply.

She is deeply interested in the subject.

Direct

Direct is often used instead of directly in talking about journeys and timetables.

The plane goes direct from London to Houston without stopping.

Easy

Easy is used as an adverb instead of easily in certain expressions. Examples: take it easy (= ‘relax’); go easy (= ‘not too fast’); easier said than done; easy come, easy go.

Fair

Fairly is the normal adverb corresponding to the adjective fair, in the sense of ‘justly, honestly, according to the rules’.

I think I was quite fairly treated by the police.

Fair is used as an adverb in the expressions play fair, fight fair, (to hit something) fair and square.

Fairly is also used, with a quite different meaning, as an adverb of degree, like quite and rather (e.g. fairly good).

Fast

Fast is used to mean both quick and quickly. (A fast car goes fast.) Fast means ‘completely’ in the expression fast asleep, and it means ‘tight’, ‘impossible to remove’ in expressions like hold fast, stick fast, fast colours.

Fine

Fine is used as an adverb, meaning ‘well’, in some conversational expressions, for example That suits me fine; You’re doing fine. Finely is not very common: a finely tuned engine is one that is very carefully adjusted to run as efficiently as possible; if things are finely cut or finely chopped they are cut into very small pieces.

Free

The adverb free (used after a verb) means ‘without payment’; freely means ‘without limit or restriction’. Compare:

You can eat free in my restaurant whenever you like.

You can speak freely in font of George – he knows everything.

Hard

The adverb hard has a similar meaning to the adjective.

Hit it hard. I’m working too hard this year.

Hardly means ‘almost not’.

I’ve hardly got any clean clothes left.

High

The adverb high refers to height; highly expresses an extreme degree (it often means ‘very much’). Compare:

He can jump really high. Throw it as high as you can.

It’s highly amusing. I can highly recommend it.

She’s very highly paid.

Just

Just is a common adverb: it can be used for ‘focusing’, or to mean ‘a moment ago’. Justly means ’in accordance with justice or the law’.

He was justly punished for his crimes.

Late

The adverb late has a similar meaning to the adjective; lately means ‘recently’. Compare:

I hate arriving late.

I haven’t been to the theatre much lately.

Loud

Loud is often used after a verb (especially in informal conversation) instead of loudly. This is common with the verbs talk, speak, shout, laugh, and in the expression loud and clear.

Don’t talk so loud – you’ll wake the whole street.

Low

Low is the normal adverb (bow low, aim low, speak low). Lowly is an unusual adjective meaning ‘humble’.

Most

Most is the superlative of much, and is used to form superlative adjectives and adverbs. In a rather formal style, most can be used to mean ‘very’.

Which part of the concert did you like most?

This is the most extraordinary day of my life.

You’re a most unusual person.

Mostly means ‘mainly’, ‘most often’ or ‘in most cases’.

My friends are mostly teachers

Nearly

Nearly denotes ‘almost’:

I have nearly reached the top of the mountain.

Pretty

The adverb pretty is similar to rather. Prettily means ‘in a pretty way’. Compare:

Isn’t the little girl dressed prettily?

I’m getting pretty fed up.

Quick

In formal conversational English, quick is often used instead of quickly, especially after verbs of movement.

I’ll get back as quick as I can.

Real

In informal conversational English (especially American English), real is often used instead of really before adjectives and adverbs.

That was real nice. You cook real well.

Right

Right is used as an adverb before prepositional phrases, to mean ‘just’, ‘exactly’ or ‘all the way’.

She turned up right after breakfast.

The snowball hit me right on the nose.

Keep right on to the traffic-lights.

Right and rightly can both be used to mean ‘correctly’. Right is more common in informal conversation, and is only used after the verb. Compare:

I rightly assumed that Henry wasn’t coming.

You guessed right(ly). It serves you right.

In the sense of ‘to the right-hand side’, only right is possible.

Turn right at the traffic-lights.