Introduction on how to use Spanish Adverbs
Knowing how to use adverbs is an important part of knowing Spanish. Read this article to get started down the path of knowing everything you need to know about adverbs.
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Adverb Definition
Adverbs are words that describe verbs. And adverbs answer the questions: How?, When?, and Where?
Just as adjectives describe nouns, adverbs are used to describe verbs. And, in addition to modifying verbs, adverbs can also modify adjectives and other adverbs.
Adverb Examples
There are some words in Spanish that function implicitly as adverbs -- these are words such as aquí -(meaning here) which answers the question where.
Aquí esta el libro -- here is the book answers Donde esta el libro -- where is the book Another adverb is ayer which means yesterday. ¿Cuando fuiste a la tienda? -- When did you go to the store? Answers the question: Fui a la tienda ayer -- I went to the store yesterday. Other common adverbs are: abajo, bien, hoy, siempre, nuncaThe Most Common Adverbs
The most common way of forming an adverb in Spanish is to add the ending -mente as a suffix to the end of an adjective. (note - in English the suffix ly is used at the end of and adjective to make it an adverb.
Here are some examples: (just click on the words to hear them.)
| Spanish | -mente suffix | Sp. Adverb | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| rapido |
mente | rapidamente |
quickly |
| claro |
mente | claramente |
clearly |
| solo |
mente | solamente |
only |
| lento |
mente | lentamente |
slowly |
| facil |
mente | facilmente |
easily |
Note: That the adjective ending changes to the feminine form when the suffix -mente is added.
No Adverb Agreement
Adverbs are different from adjectives in an important way. Where adjectives must agree with the noun they describe in number and gender, there is no agreement change for adverbs and the verbs they describe.