10.3 Spanish Lesson 10: Adverbs

Vocabulary and grammar rules focusing on Spanish adverbs, their formation, and common adverbial expressions from Lesson 10.

Adverbs

Words that describe how, when, and where actions take place, modifying verbs, adjectives, and even other adverbs.

-mente

A suffix equivalent to the English adverbial suffix "-ly" used to form adverbs in Spanish.

Formation of -mente adverbs

Add -mente to the feminine form of an adjective; if the adjective has no feminine form, add it to the standard form.

Rule for multiple adverbs in sequence

When containing two or more adverbs in sequence, the suffix -mente is dropped from all but the last adverb (e.g., simple y abiertamente).

Position of adverbs modifying verbs

These adverbs generally follow the verb.

Position of adverbs modifying adjectives/adverbs

These adverbs precede the word they modify.

lentamente

slowly

verdaderamente

truly, really

generalmente

generally

simplemente

simply

fabulosamente

fabulously

enormemente

enormously

felizmente

happily

a menudo

often

a tiempo

on time

a veces

sometimes

además (de)

furthermore; besides

apenas

hardly; scarcely

así

like this; so

bastante

enough; quite

casi

almost

con frecuencia

frequently

de vez en cuando

from time to time

menos

less

muchas veces

a lot; many times

poco

little

por lo menos

at least

pronto

soon

rápidamente

quickly