Understanding Adverbs and Comparative Forms

The question asks us to choose the correct adverb to complete the sentence: "He works ______ quickly than I do." To answer this, we need to understand how adverbs are used, especially in comparative structures.

The sentence contains the word "than," which is a key indicator that we are dealing with a comparison. When comparing two actions or states, we typically use the comparative form of the adjective or adverb describing that action or state.

Analyzing the Sentence Structure: Comparative Adverbs

The adverb in question is "quickly". We need to find the correct form of "quickly" to fit the comparative structure "______ quickly than I do".

Most adverbs ending in "-ly" form their comparative by adding "more" before the adverb. For example:

• Slowly → More slowly
• Carefully → More carefully
• Quickly → More quickly

The structure for comparison using an adverb is often: Subject + Verb + Comparative Adverb + than + Object of Comparison.

In our sentence, "He works ______ quickly than I do," the blank needs a comparative adverb that fits this pattern before "than I do".

Evaluating the Adverb Options

Let's look at the given options and see which one fits the comparative structure with "quickly than I do":

• (A) Much: "Much" is often used to modify comparative adjectives or adverbs to indicate a larger degree (e.g., "much faster", "much more quickly"). However, it doesn't form the comparative form of "quickly" itself. "Much quickly than I do" is not grammatically correct.
• (B) Very: "Very" is used with the positive form of adverbs (e.g., "very quickly"). It is used to intensify the basic form, not to create a comparison with "than". "Very quickly than I do" is grammatically incorrect.
• (C) More: "More" is used to form the comparative of adverbs ending in "-ly". "More quickly" is the correct comparative form of "quickly". The phrase "more quickly than I do" correctly fits the comparative structure.
• (D) Quite: "Quite" is an intensifier used with positive forms (e.g., "quite quickly"). While it can sometimes be used with comparatives, it doesn't fit the structure "quite quickly than I do" in this context to express a direct comparison of speed between "He" and "I".

Determining the Correct Adverb

Based on the analysis of comparative adverbs and the structure of the sentence "He works ______ quickly than I do", the correct comparative form needed is "more quickly". Therefore, the word that fills the blank is "More".

The complete sentence is: "He works more quickly than I do."

Comparing Adverbs for Speed: Quickly

The adverb "quickly" describes the manner in which someone works. To compare the speed of working between two people ("He" and "I"), we use the comparative form. The comparative form of "quickly" is "more quickly".

Revision Table: Understanding Adverb Forms

Additional Information on Comparative Adverbs

Adverbs are words that modify verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs, providing information about manner, place, time, or degree. When comparing two things using adverbs, we use comparative adverbs.

• Some short adverbs (like 'hard', 'fast', 'late') form their comparative by adding '-er'. Example: faster, later.
• Adverbs ending in '-ly' and longer adverbs generally form their comparative using 'more'. Example: more easily, more importantly.
• Some adverbs have irregular comparative forms (like 'well' → 'better', 'badly' → 'worse').

The sentence "He works more quickly than I do" correctly uses the comparative form "more quickly" to compare the speed of working between two individuals, employing the standard comparative structure with "than".