Real-Life Writing © Scholastic Teaching Resources
6. Using Adverbs in Comparisons
Discuss
You may remember that you can use adjectives to make comparisons. You can use
adverbs to make comparisons, too. Read aloud the examples below. Notice that
-er is added to form the comparative, and -est is added to form the superlative.
Base Form
Comparative Form
Superlative Form
He arrived late.
He arrived later than the teacher.
Of all the students, he arrived
latest.
She arrived early.
She arrived earlier than he did.
Of all the students, she arrived
earliest.
I can run fast.
I can run faster than you can.
Of all our team members,
I run fastest.
Here’s an important rule to keep in mind: For most adverbs that end in -ly, add more
to form the comparative and add most to form the superlative. (You’ll notice that
early, above, is an exception to this rule.) Read aloud these examples:
Base Form
Comparative Form
Superlative Form
quickly
easily
clearly
more quickly
more easily
more clearly
most quickly
most easily
most clearly
Writing Practice
Refer to the boxes above to complete the sentences. Use the directions under the lines to
write the correct form of each adverb.
1. The test results arrived
than we had expected.
comparative form of quickly
when she is part of a choir.
2. She sings
superlative form of clearly
than his sister does.
3. He does his chores
comparative form of easily
than we do.
4. They eat supper
comparative form of early
on Monday.
5. That train arrives
superlative form of late
6. Which of the ten contestants ran
in the race?
superlative form of fast
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Real-Life Writing © Scholastic Teaching Resources
Use what you’ve learned.
Partner Work
1. With your partner, read aloud the sentences
you completed for Writing Practice. Make
any corrections that are needed.
3. With your partner, rewrite each sentence
below to make it correct.
a. His desk looks more neater than mine.
__________________________________________________
2. Discuss the following rules with your partner:
a. Don’t add both more and -er to comparative
b. This story is the most longest I’ve ever written.
__________________________________________________
forms.
Wrong: He arrived more later than I did.
Right: He arrived later than I did.
c. She seems more happier today than she did
yesterday.
__________________________________________________
b. Don’t add both most and -est to superlative
forms.
Wrong: Roz was the most cutest dog in the
d. That movie is the most scariest one I’ve seen
in a long time.
__________________________________________________
dog show.
Right: Roz was the cutest dog in the dog
show.
e. This dress is more prettier than that one.
__________________________________________________
Writing on Your Own
Use each adverb below in a sentence of your own.
1. sooner __________________________________________________________________
5. again __________________________________________
____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________
2. finally ____________________________________________
6. more confidently ________________________________
____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________
3. really __________________________________________
7. hastily __________________________________________
____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________
4. wearily __________________________________________
8. most often ____________________________________
____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________
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Real-Life Writing © Scholastic Teaching Resources
Answer Key
Writing on Your Own
Answers will vary.
pp. 52–53
Writing Practice
1. The test results arrived more quickly
than we had expected.
2. She sings most clearly when she is part
of a choir.
3. He does his chores more easily than his
sister does.
4. They eat supper earlier than we do.
5. That train arrives latest on Monday.
6. Which of the ten contestants ran fastest
in the race?
Partner Work
3. a. His desk looks neater than mine.
b. This story is the longest I’ve ever
written.
c. She seems happier today than she
did yesterday.
d. That movie is the scariest one I’ve
seen in a long time.
e. This dress is prettier than that one.
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