Language/French/Grammar/Adverbs

Dear French learners,

In this lesson, we we learn how to use adverbs in French.

It is an invariable word that completes or alters the meaning of the verb, the adjective to which it is attached or the sentence in which it is used.

• ⚠ Warning : not to be confused with names ending in "-ment" : appartement (apartment), monument,...

Don't miss the chance to check out these pages as you wrap up this lesson: Possessive determiners, Omission of the article, Use of the definite article with seasons & Easy way of generating the present tense.

"ment"

The adverb which ends with the sound "-men" is formed from a female adjective.

• Lent ➡Lente➡Lentement

But if the masculine adjective ends with "-é" or "-i", the masculine is retained to form the adverb.

• aisé ➡ aisément

• jolie ➡ joliment

Exception

• Gai ➡ gaiement (the "e" on the middle of the word is silent).

"Amment"

The adverb which ends with the sound "-ammen" are written '-amment' if they come from an adjective ending with "-ant".

Example

Abondant ➡ abondamment

• emment if they come from an adjective when "ent".

Example

prudent ➡ prudemment

Other Lessons

• Subject verb agreement — Verb agreement with collective noun subjects
• Emphasizing me, te, se, nous, vous by adding a pronoun + même
• Plural of words in "Al"
• Past participles used as adjectives with the verb être
• The plural of compound nouns
• Confusions English and French direct object
• How to Use Be
• Constructions which do not allow indirect object pronouns
• Ordinal numbers
• Direct object quantifiers and « en »