Comparative adverbs

We can make comparative adjectives (like 'she is taller than her sister') but we can also make

comparative adverbs if we want to compare verbs.

• He is running more quickly than his friend.

We make a comparative adverb by using 'more' with adverbs that end in 'ly'.

• James speaks more quietly than John.

(One exception to this is 'early : earlier'.)

For short adverbs, we can add 'er'.

• You drive faster than I do.

There are some irregular adverbs. 'Badly : worse' and 'well : better'.

• The students did worse in the exam than I thought.

• He plays the piano better than we do.

In informal English, you will often hear people use a comparative adjective rather than a comparative

adverb in this kind of situation.

• He is running quicker than his friend. (With an adverb, it's 'more quickly'.)

That's fine in speech, but it isn't traditionally correct, so in more formal situations, it's better to use a

comparative adverb.

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Let's review! Make sentences with comparative adverbs.

1. We eat dinner / late / than my parents.

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2. They talk / loudly / than the rest of the class.

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3. He held the baby / gently / than anyone.

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4. We met / early / than yesterday.

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5. She plays tennis / well / than I do.

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6. James eats / slowly / than the other children.

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7. He climbed / fast / than we did.

___________________________________________________________________________

8. She dances / beautifully / than anyone else.

___________________________________________________________________________

9. They work / hard / than I do!

___________________________________________________________________________

10. Please carry the glasses / carefully!

___________________________________________________________________________

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May be freely copied for personal or classroom use.
Answers

1. We eat dinner later than my parents.

2. They talk more loudly than the rest of the class.

3. He held the baby more gently than anyone.

4. We met earlier than yesterday.

5. She plays tennis better than I do.

6. James eats more slowly than the other children.

7. He climbed faster than we did.

8. She dances more beautifully than anyone else.

9. They work harder than I do!

10. Please carry the glasses more carefully!

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May be freely copied for personal or classroom use.