Comparatives and superlatives of adverbs: “schnell, schneller, am schnellsten”

How do these special adverbs change?

Here you work with four very common adverbs:

• schnell (fast)
• oft (often)
• viel (a lot, much)
• gern (gladly, with pleasure)

They all make comparisons, but not all of them follow the same pattern.

Think: “-er” and “am … -sten” are the normal pattern. “viel” and “gern” are irregular and must simply be memorised.

Step 1 – Comparative or superlative: which do I need?

When you speak, ask yourself this quick question:

1. Am I comparing two things?
   → Use the comparative (+ often “als”).
   Example: Die U-Bahn fährt schneller als der Bus.
2. Am I saying what is the most / my favourite?
   → Use the superlative with am + -sten (or the irregular forms).
   Example: Ich fahre am schnellsten mit der U-Bahn.

Self-check:

• If you use als (than) → you almost always need the comparative.
• If you use am in front of the adverb → you need the superlative.

Step 2 – Forming the comparative correctly

For three of the adverbs here, the comparative is easy:

• schnell → schneller
  U-Bahn: Sie fährt schneller als der Bus.
• oft → öfter
  Museum: Ich gehe jetzt öfter ins Museum.
• viel → mehr (irregular)
  Eis: Im Urlaub esse ich mehr Eis als zu Hause.
• gern → lieber (irregular)
  Getränke: Ich trinke Kaffee, aber ich trinke lieber Tee.

Very important: Do not add mehr to make the comparative if a comparative form already exists.

• mehr schnell → schneller
• mehr gern → lieber
• vieler → mehr

Mini test in your head:

• Can I say it in English with “-er” or “more …”?
  Then in German you probably need the comparative (schneller, öfter, lieber, mehr).

Step 3 – Forming the superlative correctly

For adverbs, you normally use:

am + stem + -sten

• schnell → am schnellsten
  Transport: Ich bin am schnellsten mit dem Fahrrad.
• oft → am häufigsten (usual, more natural than *am öftesten*)
  Reisen: Sie reist am häufigsten nach Deutschland.

Two adverbs are irregular:

• viel → am meisten
  Einkaufen: Meine Frau kauft am meisten Souvenirs.
• gern → am liebsten
  Vorliebe: Ich esse am liebsten Pizza.

Common mistakes to avoid:

• am schneller → am schnellsten
• am mehr → am meisten
• gernster → am liebsten
• liebst (alone) → am liebsten

Form check: if you have am, then the next word must look like a superlative: it ends in -sten or is one of the special forms am meisten / am liebsten.

Step 4 – Meaning: not only “how”, but also “how often” and “how much”

Each adverb answers a slightly different question.

This helps you choose the right adverb:

• Speed → schnell.
• Frequency → oft.
• Quantity → viel.
• Preference → gern.

Step 5 – Word order with these adverbs

These adverbs behave like typical German adverbs in the sentence.

• They usually come after the verb and before the rest of the information.

Examples:

• Ich fahre schneller zur Arbeit als du.
• Ich esse im Urlaub mehr Eis.
• Wir gehen jetzt öfter ins Museum.
• Ich trinke am liebsten Tee.

Note: In spoken German these adverbs are flexible, but at A2 level it is safe to keep them close to the verb.

Step 6 – “gern / lieber / am liebsten”: expressing preferences

English normally uses the verb to prefer. German uses the adverb gern and its comparative forms.

• gern – I like it / I enjoy it
  Ich trinke gern Kaffee.
• lieber – I prefer X (to Y)
  Ich trinke lieber Tee als Kaffee.
• am liebsten – I like X best
  Ich trinke am liebsten Wasser.

Useful pattern:

• Ich mache X, aber ich mache Y lieber.
• Am liebsten + verb + ich + Aktivität.
  → Am liebsten esse ich Pizza.

Typical mistake: do not say ich bevorzuge in everyday A2 conversations; gern / lieber / am liebsten is much more natural and much easier.

Step 7 – Typical mistakes and quick corrections

• Using superlative with “als”
  Ich esse am meisten Eis als zu Hause.
  ✔ Ich esse mehr Eis als zu Hause.
  Reason: “als” = comparison of two situations → comparative.
• Using “am” with a comparative
  am schneller → ✔ am schnellsten
  am lieber → ✔ am liebsten
• Adding “mehr” on top of a comparative
  mehr schneller → ✔ schneller
  mehr lieber → ✔ lieber
• Inventing forms
  gernster, vieler, öftersten
  ✔ am liebsten, mehr, am häufigsten

Self-check question: “Does my sentence compare two things (comparative) or say what is the most / my favourite (superlative)?” Adjust the form if needed.

Step 8 – Quick personal practice

Say or write your own examples for each line (just one short sentence is enough). This helps you fix the patterns.

1. Speed: schnell – schneller – am schnellsten
   → Example with als: ____________________________
   → Example with am: ____________________________
2. Frequency: oft – öfter – am häufigsten
   → Example with als: ____________________________
   → Example with am: ____________________________
3. Quantity: viel – mehr – am meisten
   → Example with als: ____________________________
   → Example with am: ____________________________
4. Preference: gern – lieber – am liebsten
   → Example with als: ____________________________
   → Example with am: ____________________________

If you can produce one correct sentence for each pattern, you are ready to use these forms confidently in conversation.