Punto di partenza
Adverbs describe how, when, and where actions take
place. They modify verbs, adjectives, and other adverbs.
Unlike adjectives, adverbs are invariable; they do not vary
in gender or number.
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You’ve already learned some adverbs, such as (non)
ancora, bene, male, già, (non) mai, sempre, and
spesso. Here are other common adverbs.
Ordiniamo subito l’antipasto?
Shall we order the appetizer
right away?
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Caterina non è più a dieta.
Caterina is no longer on a diet.
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Many Italian adverbs can be formed by adding -mente
to the feminine singular form of an adjective. This
ending is equivalent to -ly in English.
feminine
singular
adjective
allegra
frequente
lenta
rara
veloce
vera
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+ -mente
adverb
allegramente
frequentemente
lentamente
cheerfully
frequently
slowly
raramente
rarely
velocemente
veramente
quickly
truly
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I bambini mangiano rapidamente.
The children eat rapidly.
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L’ho vista recentemente.
I saw her recently.
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If an adjective ends in -le or -re, drop the final -e before
adding the -mente ending.
Finalmente arriva l’antipasto.
The appetizer is finally arriving.
Probabilmente prendiamo il dolce.
We’re probably getting dessert.
Mangiano regolarmente
alla mensa?
Do they regularly eat at
the cafeteria?
La zuppa non è particolarmente
saporita.
The soup isn’t particularly tasty.
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There are some exceptions to these rules, such as
leggermente and violentemente, whose forms must
be memorized.
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Some words can act as either adjectives or adverbs.
These include molto (a lot, many; very), poco (little,
few; not much, not very), troppo (too much; too), and
tanto (so much, so many; so). In Lezione 5A, you
learned to use the adjective forms. Note that as
adverbs their forms are invariable.
adjective
adverb
Questo ristorante offre molte bibite.
This restaurant offers many drinks.
Il tè è molto buono.
The tea is very good.
Ci sono troppi dolci!
There are too many desserts!
I dolci sono troppo pesanti.
The desserts are too heavy.
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Adverbs are usually placed immediately after the verb
they modify, or before the adjective or adverb they modify.
Bevo raramente il succo di mela.
I rarely drink apple juice.
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Sono veramente piccanti.
They are really spicy.
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In compound tenses, ancora, già, mai, più,
and sempre always immediately precede the
past participle.
Non hai mai assaggiato il tiramisù?
You have never tasted tiramisu?
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Ho già chiesto il conto.
I have already asked for the check.
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Scrivi l’avverbio che corrisponde all’aggettivo dato.
lentamente
1. lento ___________
7. intelligente ___________
2. allegro ___________
8. intenso ___________
3. finale ___________
9. frequente ___________
4. rapido ___________
10. vero ___________
5. raro ___________
11. probabile ___________
6. recente ___________
12. veloce ___________
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