Positive Form

Use the positive form of the adjective if the comparison contains one of the following expressions:

as … as

Example: Jane is as tall as John.

not as … as / not so … as

Example: John is not as tall as Arnie.

Comparative Form and Superlative Form (-er/-est) one-syllable adjectives (clean, new, cheap)

two-syllable adjectives ending in -y or -er (easy, happy, pretty, dirty, clever)

positive

formcomparative form superlative form

clean cleaner (the) cleanest

Exceptions in spelling when adding -er / -est

silent ‘e’ is dropped

Example: late-later-latest

final ‘y’ after a consonant becomes i

Example: easy-easier-easiest

final consonant after short, stressed vowel is doubled

Example: hot-hotter-hottest

Comparative Form and Superlative Form (more/most) adjectives of three or more syllables (and two-syllable adjectives not ending in -y/-er)

positive

formcomparative form superlative form

difficult more difficult most difficult

Comparative Form and Superlative Form (irregular comparisons)

positive form comparative form superlative form

good better best

bad / ill worse worst

little (amount) less least

little (size) smaller smallest

much / many more most

far (place + time) further furthest

far (place) farther farthest

late (time) later latest

late (order) latter last

near (place) nearer nearest

near (order) - next

old (people and things) older oldest

old (people) elder eldest

Adverbs are used to express how something is done (adjectives express how someone or something is).

Example: The dog sleeps quietly. The dog is absolutely quiet.

Form

In general: adjective + -ly

adjective adverb

slow slowly

Exceptions in spelling

exception example

silent e is dropped in true, due, whole true → truly

y becomes i happy → happily

le after a consonant is dropped sensible → sensibly

after ll only add y full → fully

Adjectives ending in -ic: adjective + -ally (exception: public-publicly)

adjective adverb

fantastic fantastically

Adjectives ending in -ly: use ‘in a … way / manner’ or another adverb with similar meaning

adjective adverb

friendly in a friendly wayin a friendly manner

likely probably

Exceptions

adjective adverb (meaning) adverb (meaning)

good well

difficult with difficulty

public publicly

deep deep (place) deeply (feeling)

direct direct directly (=soon)

hard hard hardly (=seldom)

high high (place) highly (figurative)

late late lately (=recently)

most most mostly (=usually)

near near nearly (=almost)

pretty pretty (=rather) prettily

short short shortly (=soon)

The following adjectives are also used as adverbs (without modification):

daily, enough, early, far, fast, hourly, little, long, low, monthly, much, straight, weekly, yearly, …

Exercise on the form of adverbs

Comparison

Comparison (-er/-est)

Comparative ending in -er Superlative ending in

one-syllable adverbs (hard) harder hardest

adverbs with the same form as adjectives (early) earlier earliest

Comparison (more / most)

Comparative formed with more Superlative formed with

adverbs ending in -ly (happily) more happily most happily

Irregular comparisons

positive form comparative superlative

well better best

badly worse worst

ill worse worst

little less least

much more most

far (place + time) further furthest

far (place) farther farthest

late (time) later latest

Adjectives are used to modify nouns:

The dog is loud.

Adverbs are used to modify verbs, adjectives or other adverbs:

The dog barks loudly.

Linking Verbs

Some verbs can only be used with adjectives, others might change their meaning when used with an adverb.

verb used with an adjective used with an adverb

look look good (= appearance) look well (= healthy)

feel feel good (= state of health/mind) feel well (= have a good sense of touch)

smell smell good (= odour) smell well (= have a good sense of smell)

taste taste good (= preference) taste well (= have a good sense of taste)

The following verbs can only be used with adjectives:

be

become

get

grow

keep

remain

seem

sound

stay

turn