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Published online by Cambridge University Press: 05 June 2012
The role of adverbs
The role of an adverb is to modify the meaning of a word, a phrase or a sentence.
Characteristic of adverbs
Adverbs are invariable in form (but see 480 for tout as adverb of degree).
Types of adverbs
adverbs of manner
adverbs of time
adverbs of place
adverbs of degree
adverbs of affirmation and negation
interrogative adverbs
adverbs as connectors
Formation of adverbs
Only a small sample of examples is given below.
By adding –ment to the masculine form of the adjective –
This category includes those adjectives which do not distinguish masculine from feminine gender and those ending in –é, –i, –u (see 3 below) or –û –
absolu + ment = absolument = absolutely
aisé + ment = aisément = easily
ambigu + ment = ambigument = ambiguously
atroce + ment = atrocement= atrociously
deuxième + ment = deuxièmement = secondly
dû + ment = dûment =duly
gauche + ment = gauchement = awkwardly
modeste + ment = modestement = modestly
poli + ment = poliment = politely
vrai + ment = vraiment = truly
By adding -ment to the feminine form of the adjective
actif > active + ment = activement = actively
dernier > dernière + ment = dernièrement = lastly
fou > folle + ment = follement = madly
grossier > grossière + ment = grossièrement = coarsely
léger > légère = légèrement = lightly
premier > première = premièrement = firstly
public > publique = publiquement = publicly
tel > telle + ment = tellement = so
total > totale + ment = totalement = totally
exception – gentil > gentiment = kindly
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