Creating Adverbs by Adding '-mente' to Adjectives; Spanish lesson for beginners/Intermediate.

Question

How to create adverbs

As in English, Spanish adverbs are words that modify or describe a verb, an adjective, or another adverb. Also, as in English, there are countless adverbs that can be created from adjectives, and there are a fairly small number of adverbs that don't follow that pattern. In English, adverbs can be created from many adjectives simply by adding "-ly" at the end. In Spanish, it's almost as easy.

The rule is that the suffix -mente is added to the end of the feminine singular form of the adjective. Generally, the feminine singular form of the adjective is the same as the "basic" dictionary form (masculine singular) unless the adjective ends in an -o, in which case the -o is changed to an -a.

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See the following examples:

Basic adjective: feliz (happy)

Singular feminine form**: feliz

Adverb: felizmente (happily)

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Basic adjective: fácil (easy)

Singular feminine form: fácil

Adverb: fácilmente (easily)

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Basic adjective alegre (joyful)

Singular feminine form: alegre

Adverb: alegremente (joyfully)

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**Basic adjective:*** nuevo (new)*

Singular feminine form: nueva

Adverb: nuevamente (newly) --

**Basic adjective:*** rápido (rapid)*

Singular feminine form: rápida

Adverb: rápidamente (rapidly)

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Note as in two of the examples above, that if an adjective has an accent mark, the corresponding adverb retains the accent mark, even though the spoken emphasis likely will be on the next-to-last syllable.

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Adverbs in a series:

When two or more adverbs are used in a series, the -mente suffix is dropped from all but the last adverb.

Examples:

Habla lenta y claramente. She speaks slowly and clearly.

Anda cuidada, dolorosa y pacientemente. He walks carefully, painfully and patiently.

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Could you provide examples using any one or more of these adverbs

Thanks Ray. - ian-hill, Jan 29, 2015

Ray, I have a question. Do the adverb endings agree with the "subject"? Eg, "Habla lenta..." Is it "lenta" because it is a "she" or is it "lenta" only because you dropped the "mente"? Thank you!! - Winkfish, Jan 30, 2015

Actually, looking at your next example of "anda" it seems that it was "lenta" because the "mente" was dropped. Also, I guess you would not know it was a "she" except from the context. - Winkfish, Jan 30, 2015

Well W F you are working it out OK good on you mate. - ray76, Jan 30, 2015

I'm trying. Thanks! - Winkfish, Jan 30, 2015

thanks - Rozalyn01581, Jan 31, 2015

Where did this come from? - rac1, Dec 1, 2016

Answer 1

Let's see, how about :

I am completely and totally exhausted.

Estoy completamente y totalmente agotado.

Would that we could do that more often , thanks Sandy , beautiful. - ray76, Jan 30, 2015

Awwwwww! :) - Daniela2041, Feb 1, 2015

Answer 2

A veces demasiado lentamente < <<<<<<<Click here to prove me right

Él es un estudiante bueno y cuidadoso, pero aprende lentamente.

He is a good and careful student , but a slow learner.

:) - ian-hill, Jan 29, 2015

Your link goes to my "no flies on you" thread. :) - ian-hill, Jan 29, 2015

Answer 3

Infelizmente, este asiento está ocupado.

Unfortunately, this seat's taken.

Answer 4

Ella esta haciendo su tarea lentamente! she is doing her homework slowly. (Is it right?)

So far as i can see yes mate , but after the spanish that is a new sentence you must start it with a capital , otherwise perfect mate and thanks for trying champ. - ray76, Jan 30, 2015

my thanks - caballer0, Jan 30, 2015

Answer 5

Los miembros aceptan alegremente y te damos gracias, Ray, para este mensaje!

The members joyfully accept and give you thanks, Ray, for this post!

Thank you bandit , it gives one pause sometimes , I wonder is it worth the effort , nobody seams to care about learning , just ask a question and get someone to translate for me , ah well , once a teacher always a teacher eh ? - ray76, Jan 30, 2015

Answer 6

morbidamente obeso

Well mate , I really would not have thought that of myself , but then beauty is in the eye of the beholder , well fed is how i would put it . Thanks for an interesting adverb - ray76, Jan 30, 2015

Answer 7

ella es eternamente bella

she is eternally beautiful

Well so nice of you to think so , thanks. - ray76, Feb 1, 2015

I couldn't find a picture to go with my sentence sorry - Rozalyn01581, Feb 2, 2015