Adverbs in Spanish
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Sign up for freeAn adverb is a word that modifies other elements in a sentence:
- verbs
- adjectives
- adverbs
Unlike Spanish adjectives, adverbs do not change according to the gender or number.
Examples:
- Verb-modifier: Roberto camina lentamente. (Roberto walks slowly.)
- Adjective-modifier: ¡Habla más despacio! (Speak more slowly!)
- Adverb-modifier: Miguel toca muy bien el piano. (Miguel plays the piano very well.)
Lesson outline
HideFormation of adverbs with -mente
Most Spanish adverbs are formed by adding the suffix -mente to the feminine form of adjectives.
| Adjective | Feminine form | Adverb | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| perezoso | perezosa | perezosamente | lazily |
| sincero | sincera | sinceramente | sincerely |
When adjectives end in -e or a consonant, the suffix -mente is added in the singular form.
| Adjective | Adverb | English |
|---|---|---|
| feliz | felizmente | happily |
| inteligente | inteligentemente | intelligently |
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MIGUEL ANGEL H. 
Matias L.
Brenda G.
Berta D. 
Valentina P. 
María R. 
Pablo A.
Gabriele S.
Claudia R. 
Yuritzy Alejandra R. 
MIGUEL ANGEL H.
Matias L.
Brenda G.
Berta D.
Valentina P.
María R.
Pablo A.
Gabriele S.
Types of adverbs
There are four types of adverbs:
- adverbs of frequency and time
- adverbs of place
- adverbs of quantity
- adverbs of manner
1. Adverbs of frequency and time
Adverbs of frequency and time (adverbios de tiempo) give information on time, duration and frequency.
They occur before or after the verb they modify.
Examples:
- Anoche salí con mi novio. (Last night I went out with my boyfriend.)
- Amalia volvió a casa muy tarde. (Amalia went back home very late.)
2. Adverbs of place
Adverbs of place (adverbios de lugar) give information about the location of an action.
They occur after the verb they refer to.
Examples:
- La peluquería está aquí. (The hairdresser is here.)
- Hay un anillo dentro de la caja. (There is a ring inside the box.)
- ¡Vamos afuera! (Let's go outside.)
3. Adverbs of quantity
Adverbs of quantity (adverbios de cantidad) are used to give information on quantity, number and degree.
They are generally placed
- after the verb they refer to
- before the adjective they refer to
- before the adverb they refer to
Examples:
- Giulia no bebe mucho. (Giulia does not drink a lot.)
- Bautista es muy bajo. (Bautista is very short.)
- María camina menos rápido que tú. (María walks less slowly than you.)
4. Adverbs of manner
Adverbs of manner (adverbios de modo) describe how an action is being performed.
They occur after the verb they refer to.
Examples:
- Michael habla muy bien el holandés. (Michael speaks Dutch very well.)
- No hables tan bajo, no se te oye. (Do not speak so quietly, we cannot hear you.)
- El profesor explicó claramente el ejercicio. (The professor explained the exercise clearly.)
Exercises
Spanish adverbs practice quiz
Solution
Please keep in mind that:
1. Forming adverbs with "-mente":
- Adjectives ending in -o are formed by adding "-mente" to the feminine form
- Adjectives end in -e or a consonant, the suffix -mente is added in the singular form
2. Placement
- Adverbs of frequency and time occur before or after the verb they modify
- Adverbs of place occur after the verb they refer to
- Adverbs of quantity can be placed after the verb / before the adjective / before the adverb
Emilio walks quickly.
Emilio camina rápidamente.
The laundry is here.
La lavandería está aquí.
Rosa is very beautiful.
Rosa es muy guapa.
Do not speak loudly; you will wake up the child.
No hables fuerte que vas a despertar al niño.
They are happily in love.
Están felizmente enamorados.
Let's go inside!
¡Vamos adentro!
He plays the drums well.
Toca bien la batería.
He caresses her gently.
Le acarició suavemente.
Michael runs faster than you.
Michael corre más rápido que tú.
Last night three of us went out.
Anoche salimos de fiesta los tres.
Spanish adverbs - Summing-up exercise
Have a look at the given English translations.
1- quedé con mis amigas para cenar en un restaurante japonés. (The day before yesterday I met up with my friends to have dinner in a Japanese restaurant.)
2- Me miró . (He looked at me sadly.)
3- En el avión, simepre pongo mi bolso del asiento. (I always put my bag under the seat on the plane.)
4- Marta es alta. (Marta is very tall.)
5- Paseé por el centro . (I walked along the city centre at dusk.)
6- ¡No hables tan ! (Do not speak so loudly!)
7- Pilar es baja que yo. (Pilar is shorter than I.)
8- La catedral está . (The cathedral is here.)
9- Miguel no estudia . (Miguel does not study enough.)
10- Fernando habla muy portugués. (Fernando speaks Portuguese very well.)
Spanish adverbs - Flashcards
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Exercises
Spanish adverbs practice quiz
Solution
Please keep in mind that:
1. Forming adverbs with "-mente":
- Adjectives ending in -o are formed by adding "-mente" to the feminine form
- Adjectives end in -e or a consonant, the suffix -mente is added in the singular form
2. Placement
- Adverbs of frequency and time occur before or after the verb they modify
- Adverbs of place occur after the verb they refer to
- Adverbs of quantity can be placed after the verb / before the adjective / before the adverb
Emilio walks quickly.
Emilio camina rápidamente.
The laundry is here.
La lavandería está aquí.
Rosa is very beautiful.
Rosa es muy guapa.
Do not speak loudly; you will wake up the child.
No hables fuerte que vas a despertar al niño.
They are happily in love.
Están felizmente enamorados.
Let's go inside!
¡Vamos adentro!
He plays the drums well.
Toca bien la batería.
He caresses her gently.
Le acarició suavemente.
Michael runs faster than you.
Michael corre más rápido que tú.
Last night three of us went out.
Anoche salimos de fiesta los tres.
Spanish adverbs - Summing-up exercise
Have a look at the given English translations.
1- quedé con mis amigas para cenar en un restaurante japonés. (The day before yesterday I met up with my friends to have dinner in a Japanese restaurant.)
2- Me miró . (He looked at me sadly.)
3- En el avión, simepre pongo mi bolso del asiento. (I always put my bag under the seat on the plane.)
4- Marta es alta. (Marta is very tall.)
5- Paseé por el centro . (I walked along the city centre at dusk.)
6- ¡No hables tan ! (Do not speak so loudly!)
7- Pilar es baja que yo. (Pilar is shorter than I.)
8- La catedral está . (The cathedral is here.)
9- Miguel no estudia . (Miguel does not study enough.)
10- Fernando habla muy portugués. (Fernando speaks Portuguese very well.)
Spanish adverbs - Flashcards
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