Adverb Formation
Adverbs in French often come from adjectives, and they typically modify how an action is done. This guide goes through the common ways to turn adjectives into adverbs and notes important exceptions.
Basic Formation
The most common way to form an adverb is to take the feminine adjective and add -ment to it. This adverb will describe manner, time, frequency, or degree when placed after the verb.
| Adjective (feminine) | Adverb (‑ment) | English Adjective | English Adverb |
|---|---|---|---|
| rapide | rapidement | quick | quickly |
| claire | clairement | clear | clearly |
| douce | doucement | gentle | gently |
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Adjectives Ending in -ant / -ent
Adjectives that end in -ant or -ent change to -amment or -emment in the adverb, and you go back to the masculine root before adding the ending.
| Adjective (masculine) | Adverb | English Adjective | English Adverb |
|---|---|---|---|
| constant (f) constante | constamment | constant | constantly |
| récent (f) récente | récemment | recent | recently |
| important (f) importante |
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Adjectives Ending in -iellement and -amment
Some adjectives form adverbs with endings like -ialement or -amment when they come from adjectives ending in -ial or -ant. These adverbs sound more formal and follow a predictable pattern.
| Adjective | Adverb | English Adjective | English Adverb |
|---|---|---|---|
| spécial (f) spéciale | spécialement | special | specially |
| brutal (f) brutale | brutalement | brutal | brutally |
| industriel (f) industrielle | industriellement | industrial | industrially |
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Exceptions
A few common adjectives have irregular adverb forms or use a different root entirely. These must be memorized because they do not follow the standard patterns.
| Adjective (feminine) | Adverb | English Adjective | English Adverb |
|---|---|---|---|
| bon (bonne) | bien | good | well |
| vrai (vraie) | vraiment | true | truly |
| gentil (gentille) | gentiment | kind | kindly |
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Placement
Adverbs that modify manner, time, frequency, or degree usually follow the verb they qualify. Adverbs of time or frequency can sometimes come at the beginning or end of the sentence for emphasis.
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More Examples
| French Example | English Translation |
|---|---|
| 🌅 Le cuisinier prépare la sauce lentement au feu doux. | The cook prepares the sauce slowly over low heat. |
| 🔥 Ils chauffent l’eau rapidement pour gagner du temps. | They heat the water quickly to save time. |
| 🧂 Elle ajoute les épices directement et soigneusement. | She adds the spices directly and carefully. |
| 🍞 La pâte monte doucement près du chaud radiateur. | The dough rises gently near the warm radiator. |
| ⏰ Nous coupons les légumes proprement avant de commencer. | We cut the vegetables neatly before starting. |
Summary
Form adverbs in French by adding -ment to the feminine adjective, watch for adjectives ending in -ant or -ent that change to -amment or -emment, learn key exceptions, and place adverbs typically after the verb.
Last updated: Sun Sep 14, 2025