Regular comparative adverbs (-ej)

Comparative Adverbs

To say an action is performed "faster" or "more slowly," use the comparative form of the adverb. Regular comparative adverbs are formed by replacing the basic -o or -e ending with -ej or -iej.

This often softens or changes the preceding consonant:

  • wolno (slowly) → wolniej
  • szybko (fast) → szybciej
  • cicho (quietly) → ciszej (ch changes to sz)
His heart is beating faster now.
Jego serce bije teraz szybciej.
This old machine is running slower today.
Ta stara maszyna działa dzisiaj wolniej.
The new machine runs more quietly.
Nowa maszyna działa ciszej.

Comparing Time

Time-related adverbs follow the same pattern. For example, wcześnie (early) becomes wcześniej, and późno (late) becomes później.

I like that you get up earlier.
Podoba mi się, że wstajesz wcześniej.
He falls asleep later, and she falls asleep earlier.
On zasypia później, a ona zasypia wcześniej.

Emphasizing Comparisons

Add words like znacznie (significantly, much) before the comparative adverb to make the comparison stronger.

The patient is breathing much more slowly now.
Pacjent oddycha teraz znacznie wolniej.

Giving Advice and Instructions

Comparative adverbs are commonly used with verbs like musieć (must) or proszę (please) to tell someone how to adjust their actions.

Please speak more quietly, the child is sleeping.
Proszę mówić ciszej, dziecko śpi.
You must run slower.
Musisz biegać wolniej.