Adverbs modify verbs, adjectives, other adverbs, and sometimes entire clauses or sentences. Many adjectives can be made into adverbs by adding the suffix -ly:
We made a conservative estimate of the costs.
We estimated the costs conservatively.
1
The monosyllabic adjectives fast, hard, and long do not change to form adverbs:
He is a fast runner. He runs fast.
She is a hard worker. She works hard.
We waited for a long time. Have you been waiting long?
2
Some adjectives, like close and high, have two adverbial forms: one that is unchanged and one that ends in -ly.
We are close friends. Stay close to me. Look closely at the first chapter.
The platform is high. The bird flew high. The artist was highly praised.
3
It is best to check a dictionary to be confirm the forms used by a specific adverb.
4
Similar rules to those for comparing adjectives apply to adverbs and are shown in the chart below:
Number of Syllables
Unchanged
Comparative
Superlative
1
soon
sooner
soonest
2 or more
early
earlier
earliest
frequent
more frequent
most frequent
comfortably
more comfortably
most comfortably
5
English also has some adverbs with irregular comparative and superlative forms:
Positive
Comparative
Superlative
badly
worse
worst
well
better
best
little
less
least
far
farther, further
farthest, furthest
much
more
most
6
To compare adverbs to a lower degree, use less and least: We rehearsed less often than the other actors. We rehearsed least often of all the actors.
