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FORMATION

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

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

  • If the adjective ends in an ''i'', then ''-ment'' is added to the masculine singular (default) form, rather than to the feminine singular form:

  • --- ''vrai'' → ''vraiment'' ("real" → "really")

  • --- ''poli'' → ''poliment'' ("polite" → "politely")

  • If the adjective ends in ''-ant'' or ''-ent'', then the corresponding adverb ends in ''-amment'' or ''-emment'', respectively:

  • --- ''constant'' → ''constamment'' ("constant" → "constantly")

  • --- ''récent'' → ''récemment'' ("recent" → "recently")

  • Some adjectives make other changes:

  • --- ''précis'' → ''précisément'' ("precise" → "precisely")

  • --- ''gentil'' → ''gentiment'' ("nice" → "nicely")


Some adverbs are derived from adjectives in completely irregular fashions, not even using the suffix ''-ment'':
  • ''bon'' → ''bien'' ("good" → "well")

  • ''mauvais'' → ''mal'' ("bad" → "badly")

  • ''meilleur'' → ''mieux'' ("better"-adjective → "better"-adverb)

  • ''pire'' → ''pis'' ("worse"-adjective → "worse"-adverb)


And, as in English, many common adverbs are not derived from adjectives at all:
  • ''ainsi'' ("thus" or "thusly")

  • ''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:
  • ''complètement vrai'' ("'''completely''' true")

  • ''pas possible'' ("'''not''' possible")

  • ''trop bien cuit'' ("'''too''' well cooked" or "overdone")


An adverb that modifies an Infinitive (verbal Noun ) generally comes after the infinitive:
  • ''marcher lentement'' ("to walk '''slowly'''")

    • But negative adverbs, such as ''pas'' ("not"), ''plus'' ("not any more"), and ''jamais'' come before the infinitive:

  • ''ne pas marcher'' ("'''not''' to walk")


An adverb that modifies a main verb or clause comes either after the verb, or before the clause:
  • ''Lentement il commença à marcher'' or ''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:

  • ''Jamais je n'ai fait cela'' or ''Je n'ai '''jamais''' fait cela'' ("'''Never''' have I done that" or "I've '''never''' done that")