Adverbs are uninflected except for comparison, in which case they use the same affixes as adjectives. Adverbs are compared both in positive and negative forms through the use of suffixes. There are both normal (nonmodal) and formal (polite) forms of comparison.
The formal form of comparison is used when describing someone superior to the speaker or describing something under the direct control of someone superior, e.g. a situation the superior may be involved in or a book the superior may have written. It can be heard in use between equals as a courtesy, though it is generally not used between those who are close or intimate acquaintances. Sometimes, a given social situation may require the use of the polite form to avoid accidental disrespect.
| Example: hrræ (quickly) | Normal | Polite |
|---|---|---|
| positve (normal) quickly |
hrræ | -'re hrræ're |
| negative not quickly |
emæl ... emæl hrræ |
emæl ... -'re emæl hrræ're |
| superlative most quickly, quickest |
-ha hrræeha |
-'nra hrræ'nra |
| negative superlative least quickly |
-im hrræim |
'mri hrræ'mri |
| comparative more quickly, quicker |
-(')e hrræe |
-'ne hrræ'ne |
| negative comparative less quickly |
-il hrræil |
'nil hrræ'nil |
Derivation
Adverbs can be derived from adjectives with the suffix -(')ev. The glottal stop, ('), is used if the root verb ends in e or i.
re'ev - freely (adv.)
ouyyirev - seriously (adv.)