Adverbs describe how something is being done, and therefore often are placed after the verb. Most adverbs are formed from adjectives, and end with -ment. This is the equivalent of -ly, in English (e.g. slowly > lentement).
The vast majority of adverbs are formed from the feminine adjective form:
| Masculine adjective | Feminine adjective | Adverb | |
|---|---|---|---|
| attentive | attentif | attentive | attentivement |
| cruel | cruel | cruelle | cruellement |
| soft | doux | douce | doucement |
| entire | entier | entière | entièrement |
| false | faux | fausse | faussement |
| frank | franc | franche | franchement |
| serious | serieux | serieuse | serieusement |
| only | seul | seule | seulement |
| slow | lent | lente | lentement |
Exceptions:
- Gentil (nice) > gentille (f) > gentiment
- Bref (brief) > brève (f) > brièvement
Some are formed from the masculine adjective form:
| Masculine adjective | Adverb | |
|---|---|---|
| fast | rapide | rapidement |
| sincere | sincère | sincèrement |
| polite | poli | poliment |
To form adverbs from adjectives ending in -ant /-ent, replace those endings with -amment / -emment:
| Masculine adjective | Adverb | |
|---|---|---|
| current | courant | couramment |
| different | différent | différemment |
| obvious | évident | évidemment |
Some adverbs are simply irregular and need to be memorised:
| Adjective | Adverb | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| in English | in French (masc.) | in English | in French |
| good | bon | well | bien |
| bad | mauvais | badly | mal |
| better | meilleur | better | mieux |
| small | petit | little | peu |