B1 French GrammarAdverbs & Adverb Position
Master French adverb formation and placement. Learn to form adverbs from adjectives using -ment, understand irregular adverbs like bien, mal, and vite, and know where to place adverbs in sentences. Proper adverb usage is key to expressing manner, degree, time, and frequency naturally.
1Forming Adverbs with -ment
Most French adverbs are formed by adding -ment to the feminine form of the adjective: lent → lente → lentement (slowly). If the masculine adjective ends in a vowel, add -ment directly: vrai → vraiment (truly). Adjectives ending in -ant/-ent change to -amment/-emment: constant → constamment.
Adverb Formation Patterns
| Pattern | Adjective | Process | Adverb |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular | lent/lente | + ment to fem | lentement |
| Regular | heureux/heureuse | + ment to fem | heureusement |
| Vowel ending | vrai | + ment to masc | vraiment |
| -ant → -amment | constant | -ant → -amment | constamment |
| -ent → -emment | évident | -ent → -emment | évidemment |
Examples
Il parle lentement pour que je comprenne.
He speaks slowly so that I understand.
lente + ment = lentement
Elle a vraiment aimé le film.
She really liked the film.
vrai + ment = vraiment
Il travaille constamment.
He works constantly.
-ant → -amment
Évidemment, tu as raison.
Obviously, you're right.
-ent → -emment
2Irregular and Common Adverbs
Some common adverbs don't follow regular formation rules. Bien (well), mal (badly), vite (quickly) are completely irregular. Très (very), trop (too), assez (enough), peu (little) modify other adverbs or adjectives. These high-frequency adverbs must be memorized.
Irregular Adverbs
| Adjective | Adverb | Meaning | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| bon | bien | well | completely irregular |
| mauvais | mal | badly | completely irregular |
| - | vite | quickly | no adjective form |
| - | très | very | modifies adj/adv |
| - | trop | too (much) | modifies adj/adv |
Examples
Elle chante très bien.
She sings very well.
bien = well (irregular)
Il court vite.
He runs fast/quickly.
vite = quickly (no adj form)
C'est trop difficile.
It's too difficult.
trop modifies adjective
Tu travailles assez dur.
You work hard enough.
assez = enough
3Adverb Placement in Simple Tenses
In simple tenses, short common adverbs (bien, mal, vite, souvent, toujours, déjà ) usually come directly after the verb: Je mange souvent ici. Longer adverbs often come at the end: Elle parle lentement. Adverbs of time and place typically go at the beginning or end: Demain, je pars.
Adverb Position Rules
| Adverb Type | Position | Example | Translation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Short/common | After verb | Je mange souvent ici. | I often eat here. |
| Longer -ment | End of sentence | Elle parle lentement. | She speaks slowly. |
| Time | Start or end | Demain, je pars. | Tomorrow, I'm leaving. |
| Place | End | Il travaille ici. | He works here. |
Examples
Je travaille toujours le samedi.
I always work on Saturdays.
toujours after verb
Elle répond poliment aux questions.
She answers questions politely.
long adverb at end
Hier, nous sommes allés au cinéma.
Yesterday, we went to the cinema.
time adverb at start
Il ne dort jamais assez.
He never sleeps enough.
jamais after ne (negative)
4Adverb Placement in Compound Tenses
In compound tenses (passé composé, plus-que-parfait), short adverbs usually go between the auxiliary and past participle: J'ai bien dormi. Longer adverbs typically go after the participle: Elle a parlé calmement. Déjà , toujours, souvent, and vraiment usually go between auxiliary and participle.
Compound Tense Position
| Adverb | Position | Example | Translation |
|---|---|---|---|
| bien | aux + adv + participle | J'ai bien mangé. | I ate well. |
| déjà | aux + adv + participle | Il a déjà fini. | He has already finished. |
| toujours | aux + adv + participle | Elle a toujours aimé... | She has always liked... |
| lentement | after participle | Il a marché lentement. | He walked slowly. |
Examples
J'ai bien compris la leçon.
I understood the lesson well.
bien between aux and participle
Elle a vraiment aimé son cadeau.
She really liked her gift.
vraiment between aux and participle
Tu as déjà mangé?
Have you already eaten?
déjà between aux and participle
Il a répondu prudemment.
He answered carefully.
long adverb after participle