Comparative adverbs: faster, more carefully and better

The idea

Short forms include fast → faster, hard → harder and early → earlier. Most adverbs formed with -ly use more: carefully → more carefully. Learn well → better and badly → worse. Use than to state the comparison; omit it when the reference is understood.

Examples

• This printer works faster than the old one.
• Please speak more slowly than before.
• I arrived earlier than the other volunteers.
• She plays the flute better than I do.
• He checked the figures more carefully this time.
• The new machine runs less noisily than the old one.

Watch out

Do not double the comparison: faster, not more faster. Keep an adverb when describing an action: more carefully, not more careful. Less noisily means with less noise, not a lower-quality machine. Choose the quality you actually intend to compare.

Try it yourself

1. Choose the correct option. This printer works ___ than the old one. (faster / more faster)

   Show answer or example answer

   faster

   Faster already expresses a comparison, so adding more would mark it twice.

2. Choose the correct option. He checked the figures ___ this time. (more carefully / carefullier)

   Show answer or example answer

   more carefully

   The -ly adverb carefully normally uses more carefully. It does not form a comparative with -er.

3. Choose the correct option. She plays the flute ___ than I do. (better / gooder)

   Show answer or example answer

   better

   Better is the irregular comparative of the adverb well. Here it compares flute playing, not the people themselves.

Use it today

Compare two ways of doing the same task. Describe a difference in speed, care and skill, using one -er form, one more phrase and better. State what each is compared with.