Comparative
We can use comparative adverbs to show change or make comparisons:
- I forget things more often nowadays.
- She began to speak more quickly.
- They are working harder now.
We often use than with comparative adverbs:
- I forget things more often than I used to.
- Girls usually work harder than boys.
Superlative
A superlative adverb is used to compare three or more people, places, or things. It’s used to state that the action performed is to the highest degree within a group or of its kind. They are sometimes preceded by the word “the” but not always.
- Of all the girls at the ball, Priscilla was dressed most beautifully.
- Bobby talks the loudest of all the boys.
- Jill danced the best.
- Barry slept the longest.
In the opening sentence the superlative adverb form of beautifully was used to compare three or more manners of dress. Most beautifully is the highest degree of dressing beautifully!
All you have to do to form the superlative adverb for adverbs that end in –ly is precede them with most or least.
- This computer model operates least efficiently.