Other properties

Comparatives

Forming comparatives is a property of adjectives which they may pass on to adverbs derived from them. Basically, adverbs have a comparative form if:

1. They are derived from an adjective by the addition of -ly, with no significant change of meaning being involved.
2. They are used in manner function, generally in position O.

Comparatives are thus formed from adjectives. (those that occur in manner but not in sentential function), (those that occur in both manner and sentential function). Similarly is an exception; because of its meaning, this is unlikely to be used in a comparative. Note that there are no comparatives of monomorphemic adverbs (such as rather, quite) nor of forms ending in -ly where there is a significant meaning difference from the corresponding adjective (such as really, slightly).

There are just a few adverbs (ending in -ly) that generally occur only in sentential function, which may form comparatives. The comparative is then used in manner function, generally in position O. This applies to usually, normally, obviously and deliberately, from sets and to permanently: for example, They flirted more obviously on the second occasion. It also applies to the monomorphemic time adverb often: for example, He now arrives late more often (than he did before); and also the idiomatic adverb more often than not. And it applies to soon and later.

We saw how some adjectives form the comparative by adding -er, some by preposing more, and some by either means. However, English does not permit a sequence of -er plus -ly, and as a consequence the regular comparative of adverbs always uses more. Alongside ruder we get more rudely, alongside more careful there is more carefully, and corresponding to both cleverer and more clever there is just more cleverly.

There are just a few exceptions:

. Fast, hard, early and late have the same form for adjective and adverb, and the comparatives faster, harder, earlier and later also function as adjective and as adverb; for example, A faster car goes faster (than a slower one).

. The adjectives quick, slow and long form regular comparatives, quicker, slower and longer. However, there are alternative forms for the corresponding adverbs—quick or quickly, slow or slowly, and long or lengthily. Each of these adverbs has its own comparative— one can say quicker or more quickly, slower or more slowly, and longer or more lengthily.

. And for good and bad we have suppletive forms:

One interesting property of comparatives is the behavior of forms like very (much), terribly (much) and awfully (much). We can recall that their forms and functions are as follows (illustrating here for very (much)):

The form very much is used

—when modifying an NP, as in She is very much a professor

—when in manner function, as in She very much likes it or She likes it very much

Form very is used

—when modifying an adjective, as in I saw a very strange sight

—when modifying an adverb, such as He behaved very strangely

Now when very (much) modifies a comparative adjective or a comparative adverb, both forms—very and very much—can be used, as in:

(63a) Mary is much more beautiful (than Jane)

(63b) Mary is very much more beautiful (than Jane)

(64a) Jane did it much more cleverly (than Mary)

(64b) Jane did it very much more cleverly (than Mary)

Very much (or terribly much, awfully much, etc.) implies a higher degree of the quality than plain much.

With a verb such as like, one can use very much but not much as manner modifier (*She much likes it and *She likes it much are not acceptable). However, with prefer both much and very much are possible, as in:

(65a) I much prefer Bach (to Beethoven)

(65b) I very much prefer Bach (to Beethoven)

This shows that the verb prefer has an inherently comparative meaning.

An adjective which forms a comparative with -er or more forms a superlative by suffixing -est or preposing most. Basically, this carries over into adverbs (employing most), although the superlative of an adverb is not very common. It may be most frequent with adverbs: for example, Most sensibly, she dressed up warmly in the winter cold and It is most appropriately regarded as a nonce form. One can also say She did it best/very cleverely/most cleverly.