An adverb (avverbio) is a word that modifies a verb, an adjective, or another adverb. In English, adverbs are often formed by adding the suffix -ly to adjectives: slowly, softly, surely. Adverbs often answer the question come? (how?), quando? (when?), or dove? (where?):
Luciano agisce lentamente. (Luciano acts slowly.)
Leonardo viene tardi. (Leonardo comes late.)
Usciamo adesso. (We're leaving now.)
Ci andiamo a giugno. (We are going there in June.)
In Italian, many adverbs are formed by adding the ending -mente to the singular feminine form of the adjective.
FORMING ADVERBS IN ITALIAN
ADJECTIVE (GENERAL OR MASCULINE)
ADJECTIVE (FEMININE SINGULAR)
ADVERB
felice
felice
felicemente (happily)
lento
lenta
lentamente (slowly)
stanco
stanca
stancamente (tiredly)
If an adjective ends in -ale, -ile, or -are, the adverb is formed with the root of the adjective plus the ending -mente.
FORMING ADVERBS FROM ADJECTIVES THAT END IN -ALE, -ILE, OR -ARE
ADJECTIVE (GENERAL OR MASCULINE)
ADJECTIVAL ROOT
ADVERB
esemplare
esemplari-
esemplarmente
gentile
gentil-
gentilmente
speciale
special-
specialmente
Not all adjectives can be formed into adverbs; for example, the words postalmente and malatamente do not exist. On the other hand, not all Italian adverbs are formed from adjectives. When in doubt, check the dictionary.
ADVERBS THAT DON'T DERIVE FROM ADJECTIVES
ancora
still
attorno
around, about
bene
well
contro
against
dentro
in, inside
dietro
behind, at the back of
dopo
then, afterwards
fuori
outside
già
already
inoltre
moreover
insieme
together
male
badly
(non)...mai
never
(non)...più
no longer, not anymore
oltre
beyond
presto
soon, before long
sempre
always
sopra
above, on top
sotto
underneath, below
vicino
nearby, close by
Adverbs always precede the adjective or adverb that they modify, and they generally follow a simple verb form. For example: Beve sempre la birra. (He always drinks beer.) In sentences with compound tenses, most adverbs are placed after the past participle. For example: Sono arrivato tardi al museo. (I arrived late at the museum.) However, certain common adverbs such as già, ancora, sempre, (non)...mai, and (non)...più are inserted between the auxiliary verb and the past participle of the compound form:
Non ci sei più andata. (You don't go there anymore.)
Enzo è sempre venuto in orario. (Enzo always came on time.)
Non ho ancora finito i miei compiti. (I still hadn't finished my homework.)
