In English grammar, adverbs describe how, when, where, or to what extent an action is performed. Just like adjectives, some adverbs show comparison. These are known as degrees of adverbs.
There are three degrees of comparison in adverbs:
1. Positive Degree
The positive degree of an adverb is used when no comparison is being made. It simply tells us how an action is done.
Structure:
Subject + Verb + Adverb (Positive Degree)
Examples:
She runs fast.
He speaks clearly.
They arrived early.
In these examples, the adverbs (fast, clearly, early) describe the action without comparing them to anyone else.
2. Comparative Degree
The comparative degree is used to compare two actions or people. These adverbs often end in -er or are used with more or less.
Structure:
Subject + Verb + Comparative Adverb + than + second subject
Examples:
She runs faster than her brother.
He speaks more clearly than the other teacher.
I arrived earlier than you.
Here, faster, more clearly, and earlier are comparing the actions of two people or things.
We use “more” or “less” with adverbs that are two or more syllables, like more quickly, less carefully, etc.
3. Superlative Degree
The superlative degree is used to compare more than two actions or people, showing the highest or lowest degree of the quality.
Structure:
Subject + Verb + Superlative Adverb + in/of group
Examples:
She runs the fastest in her class.
He speaks the most clearly among all speakers.
I arrived the earliest of all.
In these cases, the superlative adverbs (fastest, most clearly, earliest) show the highest level of the action among a group.
Use “most” or “least” with longer adverbs, like most carefully, least efficiently, etc.
Comparison Table (Using “Fast”)
| Degree | Example Sentence | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Positive | She runs fast. | No comparison |
| Comparative | She runs faster than John. | Comparing two people |
| Superlative | She runs the fastest in school. | Highest degree among three or more |
Some Common Adverbs with Their Degrees:
| Positive | Comparative | Superlative |
|---|---|---|
| fast | faster | fastest |
| early | earlier | earliest |
| late | later | latest |
| hard | harder | hardest |
| soon | sooner | soonest |
| clearly | more clearly | most clearly |
| beautifully | more beautifully | most beautifully |
Important Rules:
Not all adverbs form degrees with -er or -est.
Many need “more” or “most” before them.Example:
beautifully → more beautifully → most beautifully
Some adverbs don’t have all three degrees.
For example, “always”, “never”, “too”, “very” – these are not used for comparison.Spelling Rules Apply
Just like adjectives, if an adverb ends with -y, change -y to -i before adding -er or -est.
Example: early → earlier → earliest
The degrees of adverbs are used to show the level or intensity of an action. They help in making comparisons clearer and more accurate in English. Understanding these degrees will improve your spoken and written grammar as you’ll know how to compare actions and describe them correctly.
Start practicing with adverbs like:
fast, early, clearly, beautifully, loudly, carefully and try using all three degrees in sentences!