Comparative and superlative adverbs

Most comparative and superlative adverbs are made with more and most.

• Could you talk more quietly? (not … quietlier)

Adverbs that have the same form as adjectives (see here), and a few others, have comparatives and superlatives with -er and -est. The most common are: fast, early, late, hard, long, near, high, low, soon, well (better, best), badly (worse, worst), and in informal English slow, loud and quick.

• Can’t you drive any faster?
• Can you come earlier?
• Talk louder. (informal)
• We’ve all got terrible voices, but I sing worst of all.

Note also the irregular comparatives and superlatives of far (farther/further, farthest/furthest, (see here), much (more, most, (see here) and (see here), little (less, least, (see here).

note

For the use of comparatives and superlatives, see the following entries.