The formation of adverbs

Adverbs are used to describe actions and in English often end in -ly like depply, loudly, slowly. In a similar way, Spanish adds -mente to the corresponding adjective.

alegre → alegremente(happly)

  triste → tristemente(saddly)

1. The adjective and -mente were originally considered as separate words, so any accent on the basic adjective is retained when it becomes an adverb.

  fácil  → fácilmente(easily)

 2. Adjectives which have a separate feminine form add -mente to this.

lento/ lenta  → lentamente(slowly)

serio/ seria  → seriamente(seriously)

rápido/räpida  → räpidamente(quickly)

When spanish has a string of adverbs, only the final one takes -mente, though feminine singlar adjectives are used in anticipation.

Juan sirve rápida, seria y amablemente.

 → Juan serves quickly,seriously and kindly.

3. A few adverbs are special forms.

bueno(good); bien(well)

malo(bad); mal(badly)

4. Some adverbs are identical to the adjective.

mejor(better); peor(worse); mucho(a lot); poco(a little/little)

tarde(late); temprano(early); más(more); menos(less)

demasiado(too(much)); bastante(enough)

Usted habla demasiado.   You talk too much.

5.

- Más,menos, demasiado  and  bastante  can be used as intensifiers with other adverbs.

Hable menos rápidamente.  → Speak less quickly.

Juan canta bastante bien.  → Juan sings quite well.

- Muy(very) can also be used to modify adverbs.

Luisa habla muy precisamente.   → Luisa speaks very precisely.

- The adjective tanto(so much) becomes tan(so)

España es tan bonita.  →  Spain is so pretty.

- When alto/tuerte and bajo are used figuratively with the meaning loudly and softly, the unchanged adjective form is kept.

Hable alto.  → Speak loudly.