English Grammar Drills

198 Verb Phrases
more/most
George finished quickly.
George finished more quickly than Frank.
George finished the most quickly of all the runners in his age group.
However, as we will see below, the basis for deciding which adverbs use the -er/-est patterns
and which use the more/most pattern is completely different from the basis for deciding between
-er/-est and more/most in adjectives.
Only simple, uncompounded adverbs can use the -er/-est endings. For example:
high
The ball went higher and higher.
John’s kite went the highest of anyone’s.
loud
The bells rang louder as we came nearer.
The old church bell rang the loudest of all.
sharp
I answered sharper than I had intended.
His criticisms stung the sharpest of all.
tight
She smiled tighter and tighter.
She smiled the tightest at Bill’s stupid comments.
Adverbs that are formed from adjectives by the -ly suffix (the vast majority of all adverbs)
must use more and most. For example:
amusingly
He spoke more amusingly than ever.
He spoke the most amusingly of all the presenters.
brightly
The light shone more brightly as it grew darker.
The stars shone the brightest that dark night.
charmingly
They laughed more charmingly than ever.
They laughed the most charmingly about their own mistakes.