adverbs masu or fem?

Question

I just bought a verb learning program. My first verb is habla. The programs example is .....Yo hablo bajito. I dont understand bajito. It is an adverb but doesnt have an adverb ending?

I am a girl....do you say Yo hablo bajita or Yo hablo bajito. And is bajito correct?

Thanks, D

Answer 1

Adverbs do not show concordance as adjectives do. Nouns have gender and adjectives have gender concordance. Bajo would be called a masculine adjective form while baja would be called a feminine adjective form (meaning short). As a adverb it is always bajo. (masculine, singular)

Yo hablo bajo. (if yo is a male or female) (or bajito) being an adverb.

Yo hablo en voz baja (baja being an adjective here..feminine to match voz)

en voz baja=in a soft or low voice

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exception: I shouldn't even mention this as it will probably confuse you:

Adverbs in a series

If you are using a series of adverbs that end in -mente, the -mente typically is retained on only the final adverb in the series:

• • Lo explicó sincera y cariñosamente. He explained it sincerely and lovingly.
• • Puede instalar nuestro software fácil, segura y rápidamente. You can install our software easily, safely and quickly.

Note that in these series, the adjective-as-adverb is in the singular feminine form, as it would be if the -mente were retained.

Answer 2

This link will give you your answer. That's correct, you would say (yo) hablo bajita-I speak quietly. Bajito is one of the adverbs that doesn't have a mente ending. Click here for the reference article on adverbs.