Adverb Formation
Spoken Description
Learn to form adverbs from adjectives: add -ly or -tly, use verbs with -erweise, and compare instances. Practice with exercises and quick rules for key patterns like adjectives and verb-derived adverbs.
Explore adverb formation from adjectives: add -ly/-tly, use -erweise and compare adverb forms. Includes clear rules, examples, and practice exercises to improve your German vocabulary.
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Adverbs modify verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs, telling you how, when, where, or to what extent something happens. This guide covers the main ways to form adverbs in German.
Adverbs from Adjectives
The most common adverbs come from adjectives and keep the adjective’s base form, usually the uninflected stem. You simply use the adjective in its dictionary form without ending for an adverbial meaning.
Der Pferd läuft(quick) über die Wiese.
The horse runs quickly across the meadow.
horse (quick)
Adverbs with -weise
Adding -weise turns an adjective or sometimes a noun into an adverb that expresses manner or attitude, like “in a ... way.” This suffix is very productive for more nuanced adverbs.
Wir handeln(careful) in dieser Situation.
We act carefully (in a careful manner) in this situation.
careful (in a ... way)
Adverbs from Nouns
Adverbs can also come from nouns, often by using a related preposition or turning the noun into an adverbial phrase. Some noun-based adverbs keep a fixed form that must be learned.
Biegen Sie(left) an der nächsten Kreuzung ab.
Turn left at the next intersection.
left (direction)
Time, Place, and Manner
Adverbs of time, place, and manner each have typical forms: time adverbs often come from nouns or set expressions, place adverbs can be formed from place names or directions, and manner adverbs come from adjectives or -weise endings.
Comparisons
Adverbs can be compared using mehr, weniger, or the comparative adjective form when the adverb comes from an adjective. For some set adverbs you use different words to express more or less.
Summary
German adverbs mainly come from adjectives in their base form, with -weise adding “in a ... way” meaning; noun-based adverbs often involve prepositions; and time, place, and manner adverbs follow typical patterns useful to learn.
Usage
Adverbs modify verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs by providing additional details about how, when, where, or to what extent an action or quality occurs. Adverbs generally do not change form for gender, number, or case.
Vocabulary
The most useful adverbs are short words for time, place, manner, and degree that appear frequently in everyday speech and writing. Learning common examples helps with quick comprehension.
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