View source for French adverbs

{{Unreferenced|date=June 2019|bot=noref (GreenC bot)}}
{{Expand French|Adverbe en français|date=January 2020}}

{{French language}}
[[Adverb]]s in [[French language|French]], like in [[English language|English]], are used to modify [[adjective]]s, other [[adverb]]s, and [[verb]]s or [[clause]]s. They do not display any [[inflection]]; that is, their form does not change to reflect their precise role, nor any characteristics of what they modify.

==Formation==
In French, as in English, most [[adverb]]s are derived from [[adjective]]s. In most cases, this is done by adding the suffix {{lang|fr|-ment}} ("-ly") to the adjective's feminine singular form. For example, the feminine singular form of {{lang|fr|lent}} ("slow") is {{lang|fr|lente}}, so the corresponding adverb is {{lang|fr|lentement}} ("slowly"); similarly, {{lang|fr|heureux}} → {{lang|fr|heureusement}} ("happy" → "happily").

As in English, however, the adjective stem is sometimes modified to accommodate the [[suffix]]:

* If the adjective ends in an {{lang|fr|i}}, then {{lang|fr|-ment}} is added to the masculine singular (default) form, rather than to the feminine singular form:
** {{lang|fr|vrai}} → {{lang|fr|vraiment}} ("real" → "really")
** {{lang|fr|poli}} → {{lang|fr|poliment}} ("polite" → "politely")
* If the adjective ends in {{lang|fr|-ant}} or {{lang|fr|-ent}}, then the {{lang|fr|-nt}} is stripped and {{lang|fr|-mment}} is added:
** {{lang|fr|constant}} → {{lang|fr|constamment}} ("constant" → "constantly")
** {{lang|fr|récent}} → {{lang|fr|récemment}} ("recent" → "recently") ({{lang|fr|-emment}} and {{lang|fr|-amment}} have the same pronunciation: {{IPA|fr|amɑ̃|}})
* Some adjectives make other changes:
** {{lang|fr|précis}} → {{lang|fr|précisément}} ("precise" → "precisely")
** {{lang|fr|gentil}} → {{lang|fr|gentiment}} ("nice" → "nicely")

Some adverbs are derived from adjectives in completely irregular fashions, 
not even using the suffix {{lang|fr|-ment}}:
* {{lang|fr|bon}} → {{lang|fr|bien}} ("good" → "well")
* {{lang|fr|mauvais}} → {{lang|fr|mal}} ("bad" → "badly")
* {{lang|fr|meilleur}} → {{lang|fr|mieux}} (the adjective "better" → the adverb "better")
* traditionally, {{lang|fr|pire}} → {{lang|fr|pis}} (the adjective "worse" → the adverb "worse") or more commonly, {{lang|fr|pire}} → {{lang|fr|pire}}

And, as in English, many common adverbs are not derived from adjectives at all:
* {{lang|fr|ainsi}} ("thus" or "this way")
* {{lang|fr|vite}} ("quickly")

==Placement==
The placement of French adverbs is almost the same as the placement of English adverbs.

An adverb that modifies an adjective or adverb comes before that adjective or adverb:
* {{lang|fr|'''complètement''' vrai}} ("'''completely''' true")
* {{lang|fr|'''pas''' possible}} ("'''not''' possible")
* {{lang|fr|'''trop''' bien cuit}} ("'''too''' well cooked" or "overdone")

An adverb that modifies an [[infinitive]] (verbal [[noun]]) generally comes after the infinitive:
* {{lang|fr|marcher '''lentement'''}} ("to walk '''slowly'''")
But [[negative adverb]]s, such as {{lang|fr|pas}} ("not"), {{lang|fr|plus}} ("not any more"), and {{lang|fr|jamais}} ("never"), come before the infinitive:
* {{lang|fr|ne '''pas''' marcher}} ("'''not''' to walk")

An adverb that modifies a main verb or clause comes either after the verb, or before the clause:
* {{lang|fr|'''Lentement''' il commença à marcher}} or {{lang|fr|Il commença '''lentement''' à marcher}} ("'''Slowly''' he began to walk" or "He began '''slowly''' to walk")
Note that, unlike in English, this is true even of negative adverbs:
* {{lang|fr|'''Jamais''' je n'ai fait cela}} or {{lang|fr|Je n'ai '''jamais''' fait cela}} ("'''Never''' have I done that" or "I have '''never''' done that")

==External links==
{{wiktionary|category:French adverbs}}

[[Category:French grammar|Adverbs]]
[[Category:Adverbs by language]]