Adverbs ending in -mente
A2Grammar path · Lesson 42 of 86 · Stage A2 · Comparing and key words
Adverbs in -mente are how you say the way something is done: slowly, easily, normally. You need them as soon as you want to describe actions rather than things. To build one, take the feminine singular form of the adjective and add -mente: lenta → lentamente, fácil → fácilmente, and any written accent on the adjective stays. The most common mix-up is with the adjective itself: an adjective describes a noun (un coche rápido), while the -mente adverb describes a verb (conduce rápidamente). If the word answers 'how?' about an action, you want the adverb.
Practise this lesson · 10 sentences
Form
adjetivo femenino en -a + menteadjetivo en -e / consonante + menteadjetivo femenino + y + adjetivo femenino + mente¿verbo + adverbio en -mente?When to use it
How an action is done
The -mente adverb usually follows the verb to say how the action is carried out.
Frequency and time
Some -mente adverbs tell how often or how recently something happens. They can go at the start or the end of the sentence.
Commenting on the whole sentence
Placed at the start and followed by a comma, a -mente adverb shows the speaker's attitude or feeling about what follows.
Spelling rules
Add -mente to the feminine form of the adjective
rápido → rápidamentelento → lentamentetranquilo → tranquilamente
Adjectives with one form: just add -mente
fácil → fácilmentefeliz → felizmenteamable → amablemente
The adjective keeps its written accent
rápida → rápidamentefácil → fácilmentepráctico → prácticamente
Frequently asked questions
How do I make an adverb in -mente from an adjective?
Take the feminine singular form of the adjective and add -mente: rápido → rápidamente. If the adjective has no separate feminine form, just add -mente: feliz → felizmente.
Does a -mente adverb keep the adjective's written accent?
Yes. fácil becomes fácilmente and rápida becomes rápidamente, with the accent kept.
What happens with two adverbs together, like clara y lentamente?
Only the last one takes -mente; the first keeps the feminine adjective form: clara y lentamente, not claramente y lentamente.
What is the difference between rápido and rápidamente?
rápido is an adjective describing a noun (un tren rápido), while rápidamente describes a verb. In everyday speech rápido is also used as an adverb: Habla rápido.
Do I say buenamente for 'well'?
No. The adverb for bueno is bien and for malo it is mal: Cantas muy bien.