Like the comparison of adjectives, adverbs have three degrees of comparison: the Positive, the Comparative, and the Superlative. Most adverbs end in –ly, and they form the Comparative with more and the superlative with most. The following table shows some of the adverbs ending in –ly.
The team played brilliantly against a stronger opponent. (Positive)
The team has to play more passionately to win more matches. (Comparative)
The team needs another striker in order to play most effectively. (Superlative)
| angrily | more angrily | most angrily |
| anxiously | more anxiously | most anxiously |
| beautifully | more beautifully | most beautifully |
| bravely | more bravely | most bravely |
| brightly | more brightly | most brightly |
| busily | more busily | most busily |
| carefully | more carefully | most carefully |
| cheerfully | more cheerfully | most cheerfully |
| clearly | more clearly | most clearly |
| cleverly | more cleverly | most cleverly |
| comfortably | more comfortably | most comfortably |
| cowardly | more cowardly | most cowardly |
| cruelly | more cruelly | most cruelly |
| dearly | more dearly | most dearly |
| dimly | more dimly | most dimly |
| directly | more directly | most directly |
| easily | more easily | most easily |
| famously | more famously | most famously |
| fiercely | more fiercely | most fiercely |
| foolishly | more foolishly | most foolishly |
| freely | more freely | most freely |
| frequently | more frequently | most frequently |
| gladly | more gladly | most gladly |
| happily | more happily | most happily |
| hardly | more hardly | most hardly |
| heavily | more heavily | most heavily |
| horribly | horribly | most horribly |
| justly | more justly | most justly |
| kindly | more kindly | most kindly |
| lazily | more lazily | most lazily |
| lightly | more lightly | most lightly |
| loudly | more loudly | most loudly |
| mentally | more mentally | most mentally |
| merrily | more merrily | most merrily |
| morally | more morally | most morally |
| neatly | more neatly | most neatly |
| noisily | more noisily | most noisily |
| notoriously | more notoriously | most notoriously |
| patiently | more patiently | most patiently |
| pleasantly | more pleasantly | most pleasantly |
| politely | more politely | most politely |
| proudly | more proudly | most proudly |
| quickly | more quickly | most quickly |
| quietly | more quietly | most quietly |
| roughly | more roughly | most roughly |
| sadly | more sadly | most sadly |
| safely | more safely | most safely |
| silently | more silently | most silently |
| skilfully | more skilfully | most skilfully |
| slowly | more slowly | most slowly |
| soundly | more soundly | most soundly |
| strangely | more strangely | most strangely |
| strictly | more strictly | most strictly |
| sweetly | more sweetly | most sweetly |
| swiftly | more swiftly | most swiftly |
| terribly | more terribly | most terribly |
| violently | more violently | most violently |
| wastefully | more wastefully | most wastefully |
| wisely | more wisely | most wisely |
| wonderfully | more wonderfully | most wonderfully |