Comparative adverbs show how an action happens more or less than another action. They compare two actions or two situations and answer questions like “how?” “how often?” or “to what degree?” In a comparison, the focus is the verb or the whole action, not a noun.

Comparative adverbs compare the manner, frequency, or degree of actions: “run faster,” “work more carefully,” “visit less often.” They often appear in sentences with a comparison frame, such as “than,” “as … as,” or “the … the …,” to show the relationship between two actions.

Many one-syllable adverbs form the comparative with -er. This pattern is common with adverbs that look like adjectives, especially when they do not end in -ly. Spelling may change in the same way as adjectives when adding -er.

Rule	🇨🇳 中文 规则	Example	🇨🇳 中文 例子
Add -er to most one-syllable adverbs	🟦 将 -er 加到大多数单音节副词后面	She ran faster than I did.	🟩 她跑得比我快。
If the adverb ends in -e, add -r	🟦 如果副词以 -e 结尾，添加 -r	Please arrive later than usual.	🟩 请比平常晚到。
If the adverb ends consonant vowel consonant, double the final consonant	🟦 如果副词以辅音元音辅音结尾，则将最后的辅音字母重复	He moved bigger boxes quicker yesterday.	🟩 他昨天把更大的箱子搬得更快。
Use than to introduce the second action or situation	🟦 用 than 引入第二个动作或情境	They spoke louder than before.	🟩 他们说话比以前更响亮。

Most adverbs ending in -ly form the comparative with more or less, not -er. This keeps the adverb easy to read and avoids awkward forms. Use the same structure to compare the actions clearly.

Rule	🇨🇳 中文 规则	Example	🇨🇳 中文 例子
Use more with most -ly adverbs	🟦 对大多数以 -ly 结尾的副词使用 more	He explained it more clearly than last time.	🟩 他比上次更清楚地解释了。
Use less to show a lower degree	🟦 使用 less 来表示较低的程度	She drives less cautiously at night than in the rain.	🟩 她在夜间开车比下雨时不那么小心。
Keep the adverb after the verb or object when it modifies the action	🟦 当副词修饰动作时，将副词放在动词或宾语之后	They finished the task more efficiently this week.	🟩 他们本周完成任务更有效率。

A few common adverbs have irregular comparative forms. These do not use -er or more, so they must be learned as fixed patterns. They are very frequent in everyday English.

Word/Phrase	🇨🇳 中文 单词/短语	Definition	🇨🇳 中文 定义	Example	🇨🇳 中文 例子
well → better	🟦 well → better	in a better way	🟩 用更好的方式	She sings better than her sister.	🟨 她唱得比她妹妹好。
badly → worse	🟦 badly → worse	in a worse way	🟩 以更糟的方式	He performed worse than expected.	🟨 他表现得比预期的糟。
much → more	🟦 much → more	to a greater degree or amount	🟩 在更大程度或数量	I travel more now than before.	🟨 我现在比以前走得多。
little → less	🟦 little → less	to a smaller degree or amount	🟩 在更小的程度或数量	They worry less these days.	🟨 他们这些天不那么担心。
far → farther or further	🟦 far → farther or further	to a greater distance or degree	🟩 在更远的距离或程度	We walked further than we planned.	🟨 我们走得比计划的更远。

Than introduces the second part of the comparison and helps the listener understand what the action is being compared to. The phrase after than can be a clause or a shorter phrase, depending on how much information is needed. In careful writing, the form after than can reflect whether it is a subject or object.

Rule	🇨🇳 中文 规则	Example	🇨🇳 中文 例子
Use than with a full clause when you want to repeat the idea of the verb	🟦 当你想在一个完整从句中重复动词的意思时，使用 than	She works faster than he does.	🟩 她比他做事更快。
Use a shorter phrase after than when the meaning stays clear	🟦 当含义仍清晰时，在 than 之后使用较短的短语	She works faster than him.	🟩 她比他工作得更快。
Place not before the comparative to show the opposite comparison	🟦 在比较级前放置 not 以表示对比的相反情况	He didn’t respond more politely than before.	🟩 他没有比以前更有礼貌地回应。

As … as is used to say two actions are equal in degree: “as quickly as,” “as often as,” “as carefully as.” To show inequality, use not as … as or not so … as. This structure is common in both speaking and writing and often sounds more neutral than a than-comparison.

Rule	🇨🇳 中文 规则	Example	🇨🇳 中文 例子
Use as + adverb + as for equality	🟦 使用 as + 副词 + as 来表示平等	She can type as quickly as I can.	🟩 她打字和我一样快。
Use not as + adverb + as for a weaker action	🟦 使用 not as + 副词 + as 表示较弱的动作	He doesn’t speak as confidently as before.	🟩 他没有像以前那样自信地说话。
Use not so + adverb + as as an alternative, slightly more formal in some contexts	🟦 使用 not so + 副词 + as 作为替代，在某些场景略显正式	They didn’t arrive so early as we did.	🟩 他们没有像我们那样早到。

Degree words make comparative adverbs stronger or weaker. Use them to show how big the difference is, especially in conversation and persuasive writing. Some degree words work best with -er forms, while others commonly pair with more or less.

Rule	🇨🇳 中文 规则	Example	🇨🇳 中文 例子
Use much, far, a lot to intensify many comparatives	🟦 使用 much、far、a lot 来强化许多比较级	She finished much faster than I did.	🟩 她比我快得多地完成了。
Use a little, slightly, a bit to soften a comparison	🟦 使用 a little、slightly、a bit 来软化比较	He spoke a bit more slowly than usual.	🟩 他比平时慢说了一点。
Use even to show a change beyond what was expected	🟦 使用 even 来表示超出预期的变化	They worked even more efficiently after the update.	🟩 升级后他们工作得甚至更有效率。
Avoid very with comparative adverbs in standard use	🟦 在标准用法中避免与比较级副词连用 very	She drove much more carefully than before.	🟩 她比以前更加小心地开车。

Comparative adverbs usually appear in the same positions as regular adverbs: after the main verb, after the object, or at the end of the clause. Choose the position that clearly connects the comparison to the action. Keep the comparative close to the verb it modifies to avoid confusion.

Rule	🇨🇳 中文 规则	Example	🇨🇳 中文 例子
Put the comparative after the verb when there is no object	🟦 当没有宾语时，将比较级放在动词之后	Please speak more quietly.	🟩 请说话更安静些。
Put the comparative after the object when the verb has one	🟦 当动词有宾语时，将比较级放在宾语之后	She completed the form more accurately.	🟩 她更准确地填写了表格。
Put the comparison phrase after the comparative	🟦 将比较词短语放在比较级之后	He reacted more calmly than I expected.	🟩 他反应得比我预期的更平静。
Use sentence-end placement for clarity in longer clauses	🟦 在更长的从句中，为清晰起见，放在句末	They explained the process more clearly during the meeting.	🟩 他们在会议期间更清楚地解释了流程。

The the … the … structure expresses that one change causes or is linked to another: “The harder you work, the more easily you learn.” It often uses comparative adverbs in one or both parts. This structure is useful for general truths, advice, and cause-and-effect explanations.

Rule	🇨🇳 中文 规则	Example	🇨🇳 中文 例子
Use the + comparative to show linked change	🟦 使用 the + 比较级来表示关联变化	The more carefully you listen, the better you understand.	🟩 你越仔细地听，理解得越好。
The clause order can be reversed without changing the meaning	🟦 句子顺序可以颠倒而不改变意思	The better you prepare, the more confidently you speak.	🟩 你准备得越好，说话就越自信。
Use commas when each part is a full clause	🟦 当两部分都是完整从句时使用逗号	The longer you wait, the more impatiently people react.	🟩 你等得越久，别人反应得越不耐烦。

Comparative adverbs modify verbs, while comparative adjectives modify nouns. Some words can be both an adjective and an adverb, so the difference depends on what is being modified. Checking whether the word describes an action or a thing helps you choose the correct form and placement.

Rule	🇨🇳 中文 规则	Example	🇨🇳 中文 例子
Use an adverb to compare actions	🟦 使用副词来比较动作	She drives faster than he does.	🟩 她比他开得快。
Use an adjective to compare nouns	🟦 使用形容词来比较名词	Her car is faster than his car.	🟩 她的车比他的车快。
Some forms look the same in both roles, so use the sentence structure to identify them	🟦 有些形式在两种角色中看起来相同，因此用句子结构来识别它们	He arrived earlier than I did.	🟩 他比我到得更早。