TOEIC Q2

The president applauded Ms. Lawson, the chief of the marketing team, who worked incredibly _____ last month.

A) hard
B) harder
C) hardest
D) hardly

The given answer is A, but I wonder why "comparison" like B or "superlative" liek C can't be used here. We can say that he worked the hardest of his team or he worked harder than others, can't we? Please advise.

LCChang

Liveinjapan wrote:

Hi, I think the comparison needs the 'than...' and the suprelative needs 'the'. As you wrote, both of them need objects to compare, don't they? LiJ

I see, but can they be hidden?

He did a better job (than others).

Or maybe they can, but it just needs a clear context?

LCChang

Lcchang wrote:

The president applauded Ms. Lawson, the chief of the marketing team, who worked incredibly hard last month. A) hard  B) harder  C) hardest  D) hardly

B or C cannot be used.

You say "Ms Lawson worked incredibly hard last month."

It means "Ms Lawson worked very hard last month."

You cannot say "Ms Lawson worked very/incredibly harder/hardest last month."

I hope it is clear enough.