-lyで終わる副詞には、 more を足して、比較級を mostを足して最上級を形成します。
| 副詞 | 比較級 | 最上級 |
|---|---|---|
| quietly | more quietly | most quietly |
| slowly | more slowly | most slowly |
| seriously | more seriously | most seriously |
例
- The teacher spoke more slowly to help us to understand.
- Could you sing more quietly please?
-ly で終わらない副詞は、形容詞と同じ方法で比較級と最上級を形成します: 比較級には、 -er をつけ、最上級には-est をつけます。副詞が eで終わる場合は、 まず eを取り除き、 末尾をつけます。
| 副詞 | 比較級 | 最上級 |
|---|---|---|
| hard | harder | hardest |
| fast | faster | fastest |
| late | later | latest |
例
- Jim works harder than his brother.
- Everyone in the race ran fast, but John ran the fastest of all.
規定外の比較級と最上級の形状をもつ副詞もあります。
| 副詞 | 比較級 | 最上級 |
|---|---|---|
| badly | worse | worst |
| far | farther/further | farthest/furthest |
| little | less | least |
| well | better | best |
例
- The little boy ran farther than his friends.
- You're driving worse today than yesterday !
- He played the best of any player.