Forming an Adverb
French: Cambridge International GCSE, topic 8.7.1
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
All you need to do is add 'ment' to 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
- Actuel → actuelle → actuellement (currently).
- Certain → certaine → certainement (certainly).
- Actuel → actuelle → actuellement (currently).
- Dernier → dernière → dernièrement (lastly).
- Facile → facile → facilement (easily).
- Heureux → heureusement → heureusement (happily, fortunately).
Exceptions
Some adverbs are exceptions to the rule of just adding 'ment'.
Adjective ending in 'ent', 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'
- When and adjective ends in 'e', to form and adverb the 'e' becomes 'é'.
- Uniforme → Uniformément - uniformly.
- Immense → Immensément - Immensly.
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' is completely irregular.
- It becomes 'gentiment' meaning kindly.
Test yourself on Forming an Adverb
'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?