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Formation of Adverbs

French: AQA A Level, topic 12.4.1

Forming Adverbs by Adding 'ment'

Adverbs describe the action that is being done, for example 'quickly'. To form most adverbs in French all you need to do is add 'ment' to the adjective.

Rule

Rule

  • All you need to do is add 'ment' to the end of the feminine form of the adjective.

  • Get the feminine form of the adjective:

    • Actuel → actuelle

  • Add 'ment' to the end:

    • Actuelle + 'ment' → actuellement
Some common adverbs

Some common adverbs

  • Actuel → actuelle → actuellement (currently)
  • Certain → certaine → certainement (certainly)
  • Dernier → dernière → dernièrement (lastly)
  • Facile → facile → facilement (easily)
  • Heureux → heureuse → heureusement (happily, fortunately)

Exceptions

Some adverbs are exceptions to the rule of just adding 'ment'.

Adjectives ending in 'ent' or 'ant'

Adjectives ending in 'ent' or 'ant'

  • If an adjective ends in 'ent' or 'ant', then the 'nt' is replaced by 'mment' to form an adverb.
  • Fréquent → fréquemment - frequently
  • Apparent → apparemment - apparently
Adjectives ending in 'e'

Adjectives ending in 'e'

  • If an adjective ends in 'e', we change the 'e' to 'é' when forming the adverb.
  • Uniforme → uniformément - uniformly
  • Immense → immensément - immensely
Masculine adjectives ending in a vowel

Masculine adjectives ending in a vowel

  • For masculine adjectives that end with a vowel, you don't need to take the feminine form - you simply add 'ment':
  • Absolu → absolument (absolutely)
  • Vrai → vraiment (really)
  • Résolu → résolument (resolutely)
Gentil - kind

Gentil - kind

  • 'Gentil' is completely irregular.
  • The adverb for 'gentil' is 'gentiment' (kindly).

Examples of Irregular Adverbs - Good, Badly, Fast

Good, badly and fast all turn into irregular adverbs in French.

Bon - good

Bon - good

  • 'Bon' translates as 'good'
  • 'Bien' translates as 'well'.
  • Il écrit bien.
    • He writes well.
Mauvais - bad

Mauvais - bad

  • 'Mauvais' translates as 'bad'.
  • 'Mal' translates as 'badly'.
  • Ils conduisent mal.
    • They drive badly.
Vite - fast

Vite - fast

  • 'Vite' translates as 'fast'.
  • 'Vite' stays the same when it is an adverb.
  • Vous parlez vite.
    • You talk quickly.

Test yourself on Formation of Adverbs

  • 'Rapide' means quick in French.
    How do you say 'quickly' in French?

  • Which of the following is NOT a correct adverb?

  • 'Énorme' is an adjective in French meaning 'big'. What is it as an adverb in French?

  • 'Absolu' is the French adjective for 'absolute'.
    How do you say 'absolutely' in French?

  • How do you say 'well' in French?

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