Adverbs in German often derive from adjectives and signal how, when, where, or why something happens. This guide focuses on turning adjectives into adverbs and highlights common adverbs you’ll use in everyday speech.
Adverbs from Adjectives
When an adjective describes manner, time, place, or degree and modifies a verb, it usually appears in its uninflected base form as an adverb. This means you do not add endings or change gender and number.
Examples
Adjectives vs Adverbs
Adjectives modify nouns and agree in gender, number, and case, while adverbs modify verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs and remain invariable. Recognizing this difference helps you choose the correct form.
He runs very quickly on the street.
Common Adverbs
Adverbs that come from adjectives are joined by examples of typical adverbs used for manner, time, place, and degree. These set phrases and frequent adverbs are useful to memorize. Adverbs that modify an adjective or another adverb often sharpen meaning by indicating degree.
Adverbs that come from adjectives are joined by examples of typical adverbs used for manner, time, place, and degree. These set phrases and frequent adverbs are useful to memorize. Adverbs that modify an adjective or another adverb often sharpen meaning by indicating degree.
Adverbs of Time
Adverbs of time tell when an action occurs and include words for specific moments, frequency, and duration. They help situate events in a timeline and are common in narratives and descriptions.
Adverbs of time tell when an action occurs and include words for specific moments, frequency, and duration. They help situate events in a timeline and are common in narratives and descriptions.
Adverbs of Place
Adverbs of place indicate where an action happens and include words for direction, location, and movement. They often appear near the verb and can be short adverbs or set expressions.
Adverbs of place indicate where an action happens and include words for direction, location, and movement. They often appear near the verb and can be short adverbs or set expressions.
Adverbs of Manner
Adverbs of manner describe how an action is performed and often derive from adjectives. They can end in -erweise for adverbial emphasis and answer questions like wie? Adverbs of manner are useful for detailed descriptions.
Adverbs of manner describe how an action is performed and often derive from adjectives. They can end in -erweise for adverbial emphasis and answer questions like wie? Adverbs of manner are useful for detailed descriptions.
Adverbs of Frequency
Adverbs of frequency show how often something happens and include general and specific adverbs. They guide expectations about repeated actions and typically appear near the verb or at sentence boundaries.
Adverbs of frequency show how often something happens and include general and specific adverbs. They guide expectations about repeated actions and typically appear near the verb or at sentence boundaries.
Adverbs of Degree
Adverbs of degree modify the intensity of an action, quality, or another adverb. They include words for amplification, reduction, and precision. Adverbs of degree help nuance meaning and appear before the element they modify.
Adverbs of degree modify the intensity of an action, quality, or another adverb. They include words for amplification, reduction, and precision. Adverbs of degree help nuance meaning and appear before the element they modify.
Summary
Adverbs in German often come from adjectives in their base form and remain uninflected when modifying verbs. Learn common adverbs for time, place, manner, frequency, and degree to describe actions precisely. Practice distinguishing adjectives from adverbs to use them correctly in sentences.
Adjectives vs Adverbs
Adjectives modify nouns and agree in gender, number, and case, while adverbs modify verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs and remain invariable. Recognizing this difference helps you choose the correct form.
Last updated: Fri Oct 24, 2025