LOS ADVERBIOS (The Adverbs)

The adverb is an invariable word, i.e. it does not distinguish between male or female, and plural or singular. We use them to define or describe the verbs, the adjectives and other adverbs in the phrase. There are simple forms such as “hoy” (today), “mañana” (tomorrow); compound forms like “anteayer” (the day before yesterday); and complex forms such as “de vez en cuando” (from time to time).

Also remember that there can be adverbial phrases to express the different kinds of adverbs. For instance: adverbial phrases of time: la semana próxima (next week), adverbial phrases of place: en la plaza (in the park), and so on.

• If the adverb describes the adjective, it is usually placed before it.

Example

Están sumamente enamorados.

They are extremely in love.     

In this example, "sumamente" (extremely) describes the adjective "felices" (happy).

• An adverb describing a verb:

Example

Ella nada rápido.

She swims fase

In this example, "rápido" (fast) describes the way she swims.

• Sometimes, the adverb can modify a whole phrase.

Example

  El coro comenzó a cantar cuando la novia entró a la iglesia

The choir began to sing when the bride walked into the church.

In this example, "cuando" (when) introduces the phrase “cuando la novia entró a la iglesia” (the bride walked into the church)

• By adding "-mente" to an adjective, we can form many adverbs. They are the equivalent to the English adverbs ending in “-ly”

Example

rápido - rápidamente (quick - quickly)

Escribe rápidamente.

He writes very quickly

• Compound adverbs are formed by two or more words that function as one.

Example

   A lo mejor no le gusta la película

                             Maybe he does not like the film

• There are some expressions formed by the prepositions "con" (with) + noun that are also considered adverbs.

Example

Hice la torta con alegría.                       

I made the cake with happiness

Hice la torta alegremente

I made the cake happily

In this example, we used the noun "alegría" (happiness) from which we can get the adverb “alegremente” (happily)

• Sometimes, two adverbs together modify a noun, an adjective, another adverb or a phrase. In this case, differently from the English language, they will be joined by “y” (and) and only the last adverb will end in “-ly”.

Example

Habló clara y vivamente en la conferencia

He spoke clearly and vivaciously in the conference.

• There are seven main types of adverbs:

Adverbs of Place:

They tell us where the action took place. In order to identify them, we can make a question using the question word: "dónde" (where).

Example:

Se encontraron aquí.

They met here.  

Where did they meet?

Here

This is the adverb of the phrase. It tells us where the action took place.

Some other adverbs of place are: cerca, lejos, aquí, allí, arriba, abajo, fuera, alrededor, allá, ahí

Adverbs of Time:

They tell us when the action took place. To identify them, we can ask “cuándo” (when).

Example:

Viajaron a España ayer.

They left to Spain yesterday.

Other adverbs of time are: Luego, ahora, antes, después, ayer, hoy, mañana, entonces, tarde.

Adverbs of Manner:

They tell us how the action took place. In order to identify them, we can make a question using the question word: “cómo” (how).

Example:

Bailaron felizmente toda la noche.

They danced happily all night long.

Other adverbs of manner: bien, mal, así, despacio, deprisa, aprisa, gratis and tose ending in “-mente”

Adverbs of Quantity:

These adverbs will modify other adverbs or adjectives. In order to identify them, we can make a question using the question word: “cuánto” (how much?). These adverbs can intensify or decrease the meaning of the adverb or adjective they are modifying.

Example:

   Estaba nerviosa y cantó muy mal.

                                    She was nervous and she sang very badly.

Other adverbs of quantity: más, menos, poco, bastante, demasiado, muy, mucho, apenas, casi, medio, algo, nada, todo.

Adverbs of Affirmation:

These adverbs are used to give a positive answer to a question.

Example:

Ciertamente ganará el primer premio

He will certainly win the first prize.

Other adverbs of affirmation: Sí, también, ciertamente, claro, desde luego, en efecto, asimismo

Adverbs of Negation:

These adverbs are used to give a negative answer to a question.

They are used to deny the actionof the phrase.

Example:

Ella nunca me dijo que iba a viajar.

She never told me she was going to travel

Other adverbs of negation: no, jamás, tampoco, nunca

Adverbs of Doubt:

They indicate doubt or hesitation on the action of the phrase

Example:

Quizás estudie medicina.      Maybe I will study Medicine.

Other adverbs of doubt: quizás, tal vez, a lo mejor, acaso, probablemente

• Adverbs, the same as adjectives, can be used in comparisons. They normally follow the same rules. A few of them are irregular when making the comparisons.

Examples:

Es el mejor estudiante de Matemáticas.

He is the best student in Maths.

Este libro es menos interesante que el anterior que leí.

This book is less interesting than the last I read.

Ella duerme mucho

                             She sleeps very much 

Exercises

1) Find the adverb and say to what category they belong:

a)      Caminaban sigilosamente en la casa cuando, de repente, entró la policía y los atrapó con destreza. (sigilosamente, de repente, con destreza: adverbs of manner) They were walking stealthily in the house when, suddenly, the police broke into the house and caught them skillfully.

b)      Corrieron la carrera a la tarde. (a la tarde: adverb of time) They run the race in the afternoon.

c)      Ella los extrañó mucho cuando se fueron de vacaciones a Hungría (mucho: adverb of manner, cuando se fueron de vacaciones: adverbial phrase of place, a Hungría: adverbial phrase of place) She misssed them much when they went on holidays to Hungary.

d)      Lloró un poco durante el espectáculo, pero más lloró después, porque lo recordó cuando comenzó su propia carrera actoral. (un poco: adverb of quantity; durante: adverb of time; más: adverb of quantity; después: adverb of time; porque: adverb of reason) She cried a little during the show, but she cried much more later, because she remembered when she began her own work as an actress).

e)      Probablemente viaje a Londres en un mes porque desea mucho practicar su Inglés. (probablemente: adverb of doubt; a Londres: adverbial phrase of place; en un mes: adverbial phrase of time; porque: adverb of reason). He will probably travel to London in a month because he really wants to practice his English)

2) Form the corresponding adverbs. Follow the example:

1)       De nuevo ------- nuevamente

2)       Rapido  ---------- rápidamente

3)       Con inteligencia ----- inteligentemente

4)       Ilusionada ----------- ilusionadamente

5)       Con éxito ------------exitosamente

6)       Con tranquilidad--------tranquilamente

7)       En silencio -------------silenciosamente

8)       Con tristeza ----------- tristemente

9)       Con habilidad ------------ hábilmente

10)   Con cuidado ------------ cuidadosamente

3) Complete with the correct alternative

a) Erica escribe la carta correctamente (correcta – correctamente) (Erica writes the letter correctly.)

b) Yo nunca (siempre – nunca) viajé en avión. ¿Es lindo?  (I never travelled by plane. Is it nice?)

c) Ella cenó tranquilamente (mañana - tranquilamente) y luego (antes – luego) se fue a dormir (She had dinner quietly and then she went to sleep)

d) El descansará poco. (poco-mucho). Sólo tiene tres horas para dormir. (He will rest a little. He can only sleep three hours)

e) Rosa cocinó alegremente (alegremente – con éxito)  hoy (mañana – hoy) porque mañana será el cumpleaños de su marido (ayer – mañana) (Rosa cooked happily today because tomorrow is her husband’s birthday.)

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