Adverbs in -ment
Most adverbs add -ment to the feminine adjective. A few are irregular, and the short ones sit in a fixed place.
Examples
- Il parle lentement.He speaks slowly.
- J'ai bien mangé.I ate well.
How it works
How to turn an adjective into an adverb, and where to put it.
The regular form
feminine + ment
lent → lente → lentement. The masculine lent is not an adverb: Il parle lentement, not Il parle lent.
Spelling
An adjective in -ent becomes -emment: évident → évidemment.
An adjective in -ant becomes -amment: constant → constamment, courant → couramment.
So patient (-ent) gives patiemment.
Irregular, learned as words: bon → bien (not bonnement), and vite, fort, which do not take -ment.
Where it goes
After the verb that changes for the person: Il parle lentement.
A short adverb goes before a past form (the participle): J'ai bien mangé.
Common mistakes
Il parle lentIl parle lentement
Il parle bonnementIl parle bien
J'ai mangé bienJ'ai bien mangé
What you'll practise
1. Feminine + -ment
Add -ment to the feminine adjective: lent → lentement. The masculine alone is not the adverb.
- Elle répond lentement.She answers slowly.
2. Spelling and irregulars
-ent → -emment (patient → patiemment), -ant → -amment (courant → couramment). bon → bien, not bonnement. vite and fort take no -ment.
- Il chante bien.He sings well.
3. Where the adverb goes
After the verb that changes for the person. A short one goes before the past form (the participle): bien mangé.
- J'ai bien mangé.I ate well.
Practise it until it sticks
Short drills built on these 3 skills, with instant feedback on every answer. Free to start.