French Adverbs

Grammar

Adverbs are words that are used to modify the meaning of verbs, adjectives, and other adverbs.

Many adverbs in the French language are derived from adjectives by adding ment to the end of the feminine form of an adjective. If an adjective ends in i, the masculine form of the adjective is used. If the adjective ends in ant or ent then the nt is dropped and mment is added.

Not all adverbs are formed from adjectives, and some are formed from adjectives in an irregular way. Many of these adverbs are very common and it will be very useful to memorize them.

Adverbs are placed in sentences in a similar manner to English. Adverbs:

• come before the adverb or adjective they modify.
• follow the infinitive that they modify.
• usually directly follow the verb they modify. In a verb phrase, the adverb comes after the first verb.