Mastering Comparative Adjectives and Adverbs

Qualifying Comparative Adjectives

Use these words and phrases to refer to big differences:

• Far, a lot, much, considerably, not nearly as ... as.

"Cars are considerably faster and far more comfortable than bicycles."

Use these words and phrases to refer to small differences:

• A bit, a little, slightly.

The weather’s a bit hotter than it was yesterday.

Use these words and phrases to refer to no differences:

• Just, no.

It’s no warmer than it was yesterday.

It’s just as cold today as it was yesterday.

Adverbs

Regular and Irregular Adverbs

A. Regular Adverbs

The majority of comparative and superlative adverbs are formed like this:

• Adverb: slowly | Comparative: more slowly | Superlative: the most slowly

B. Irregular Adverbs

Irregular adverbs are formed like this:

• Adverb: well | Comparative: better | Superlative: the best
• Adverb: badly | Comparative: worse | Superlative: the worst
• Adverb: little | Comparative: less | Superlative: the least
• Adverb: much | Comparative: more | Superlative: the most

C. Adverbs Identical to Adjectives

Adverbs which are the same as adjectives:

• Adverb: fast | Comparative: faster | Superlative: the fastest
• Adverb: hard | Comparative: harder | Superlative: the hardest

Other adverbs of this kind include: far, long, loud, straight.

The + Comparative + The Construction

This construction links two actions or situations—when one thing happens, another thing follows. A comparative expression in the first clause is balanced by a comparative expression in the second clause. Several grammatical patterns are possible here:

• Adjective ... Adjective: The harder a job is, the more rewarding I find it.
• Adverb ... Adverb: The sooner we start, the quicker we’ll finish.
• Adjective ... Adverb, or Adverb ... Adjective: The easier a job is, the more quickly I do it.
• More (+ noun) ... More (+ noun): The more money Jack earned, the more clothes he bought.
• Less (+ clause) ... Less (+ uncountable noun) / Fewer (+ plural countable noun): The less Bob earned, the less food / the fewer holidays he could afford.