意大利語副詞

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.)