Adverbs are invariable words, meaning that they do not take masculine/feminine or singular/plural forms, which modify verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs. Their main function is to complement the verb as part of an adverbial phrase/clause; complement, quantify, or modify an adjective; or quantify another adverb. Often an adverb answers questions such as “how?”, “where?”, “when?”, and can be classified into different categories such as time, place, manner, quantity, and others depending on the function they express in the sentence.
In this sentence, ‘demasiado’ quantifies another adverb ‘tarde’, and ‘demasiado tarde’ complements the verb ‘llegar’, specifying time.
In this sentence, ‘aquí’ complements the verb ‘estar’, specifying a location.
In this sentence, ‘claramente’ complements the verb ‘hablar’, specifying the way the person should be speaking.
It is important to know the difference between an adverb and an adjective. Unlike adverbs, adjectives have a masculine/feminine and singular/plural form and they mainly modify or complement a noun or noun phrase but in most cases not a verb, adverb or another adjective.
As you can see in the first example, the adjectives modify or complement the noun they precede and change their gender as the noun changes. In the second example, the adverb remains invariable since it is modifying or complementing the verb and not the noun phrase.
Although other derivados are formed by adding the suffix “–mente” to invariable adjectives:
Some other adverbs, which are called simples, are simply morphemes:
| Llegas demasiado tarde. La película ya ha comenzado. You are too late. The movie has already started. |
In this sentence, ‘demasiado’ quantifies another adverb ‘tarde’, and ‘demasiado tarde’ complements the verb ‘llegar’, specifying time.
| Aquí está la oficina donde trabaja Sandra. Here is the office where Sandra works. |
In this sentence, ‘aquí’ complements the verb ‘estar’, specifying a location.
| No entiendo lo que dices. ¡Habla claramente, por favor! I don’t understand what you say. Speak clearly, please! |
In this sentence, ‘claramente’ complements the verb ‘hablar’, specifying the way the person should be speaking.
It is important to know the difference between an adverb and an adjective. Unlike adverbs, adjectives have a masculine/feminine and singular/plural form and they mainly modify or complement a noun or noun phrase but in most cases not a verb, adverb or another adjective.
| Hoy hay muchos coches en la autopista. / Hoy hay muchas personas en la calle. There are many cars in the highway today. / There are many people in the street today. Me gustan mucho los helados de chocolate. / Me gustan mucho las fresas cubiertas de chocolate. I like chocolate ice cream a lot. / I like chocolate covered strawberries a lot. |
As you can see in the first example, the adjectives modify or complement the noun they precede and change their gender as the noun changes. In the second example, the adverb remains invariable since it is modifying or complementing the verb and not the noun phrase.
Formation of adverbs
Some adverbs, which are called derivados, are formed by adding the suffix “–mente” to the femenine form of an adjective (if an adjective has a masculine and feminine form, always use the feminine to form the adverb):Adjective (m.) | Adjective (f.) | Adverb |
| solo | sola | solamente |
| tonto | tonta | tontamente |
| rápido | rápida | rápidamente |
| claro | clara | claramente |
| negativo | negativa | negativamente |
| primero | primera | primeramente |
Although other derivados are formed by adding the suffix “–mente” to invariable adjectives:
Adjective (m./f.) | Adverb | Adjective (m./f.) | Adverb |
| indiferente | indiferentemente | suave | suavemente |
| probable | probablemente | fiel | fielmente |
| responsable | responsablemente | general | generalmente |
| intencional | intencionalmente | cruel | cruelmente |
| fácil | fácilmente | veloz | velozmente |
| difícil | difícilmente | igual | igualmente |
Some other adverbs, which are called simples, are simply morphemes:
- Adverbs of time: pronto, después, luego, siempre, nunca, jamás…
- Adverbs of place: aquí/acá, ahí, allí, allá, cerca, lejos…
- Adverbs of manner: así, bien, mal, mejor, peor…
- Adverbs of quantity: muy, tan, poco, más, menos, casi, demasiado…
- Affirmative/Negative adverbs: sí, no, también, tampoco, exacto…
- Adverbs of doubt: quizá(s), acaso, puede (ser), tal vez…
Ejemplos:
| Probablemente iremos a la playa este fin de semana. We’ll probably go to the beach this weekend. Mis hijos estudian mucho cada día por eso son tan inteligentes. My children study hard every day that’s why they are so smart. Estoy muy cansada porque tú caminas deprisa. I am very tired because you walk fast. Nunca había escuchado esa canción y ahora es mi canción favorita. I had never heard that song and now it’s my favorite song. Tenemos que limpiar la casa porque mis padres llegarán pronto. We have to clean the house because my parents will get here soon. |