What is an ADVERB?
An adverb is a word that modifies (i.e. describes) a verb, an adjective or another adverb.
e.g. The hero fought well.
· In this sentence, the adverb well modifies the verb fights.
· Translate the sentence into Latin, addressing the English from left to right:
o “The” – no word in Latin for articles “the” and “a(n)”
o “hero” is the noun subject – nominative case, singular
o “fought” is the verb – perfect tense, 3rd person, singular
o “well” is the adverb – learned as vocabulary
· Vir bene pugnāvit.
e.g. The teacher is always good.
· In this sentence, the adverb always modifies the adjective good.
· Translate the sentence into Latin:
o “teacher” is the noun subject – nominative case, singular
o “is” is the (linking) verb – present tense, 3rd person, singular
o “always” is the adverb – learned as vocabulary
o “good” is an adjective and it is the predicate, renaming/defining the subject “teacher” – since it modifies teacher, it must match gender, number and case: masculine, singular, nominative case
· Magister noster est semper bonus.
e.g. The girl calls boys to the farmhouse too often.
· In this sentence, the adverb too modifies another adverb often.
· In addition, the adverb often modifies the verb calls?
· Puella ad villam puerōs saepius vocat.
IN ENGLISH
Adverbs describe verbs, adjectives and other adverbs in a variety of ways. They show the manner, quantity, degree, intensity, time and place of what they describe.
Types of adverbs in English:
· Manner: these answer the question “how?”
o The girl crankily snapped a reply to my question.
o The teacher patiently explained the answers.
· Quantity, Degree or Intensity: these answer the question “how much?” or “how well?” or “how hard?” etc.
o The good student studied purposefully for two hours.
o The bad student studied lazily for ten minutes.
o The highly literate student has been reading widely for many years.
· Time: these answer the question “when?”
o You will prepare for the exam soon.
o I am writing the exam now.
o Tomorrow, you will take the exam.
· Place: these answer the question “where?”
o The dog sniffed the plate and looked around.
o He came up.
o The colorful birds fly overhead.
o Come in.
o N.B. you may that many prepositions can be used adverbially; the difference is that adverbs modify a verb, adjective or adverb while prepositions show relationship between a substantive (i.e. a noun) and another word (either a verb or noun).
IN LATIN
Adverbs are indeclinable, i.e. they do not inflect. You do not have to make adverbs agree with any other word in the sentence.
In Latin, some adverbs can be formed from adjectives. Other adverbs must be learned on their own as separate vocabulary. Examples of the latter are: herī, crās, nunc, ibi, interim, bene, male etc.
Forming Adverbs from Adjectives
To make an adverb from most Latin adjectives, simply follow the steps:
1. Find the base of the adjective
2. Add the appropriate ending:
a. If it’s a first and second declension adjective: add –ē
b. If it’s a third declension adjective: add –iter (or just –ter if the adjective ends in –ēns, e.g. potēns, prūdēns, dīligēns)
E.g. First and second declension adjectives: laetus, laeta, laetum and pulcher, pulchra, pulchrum and liber, libera, liberum
1: Find the base: laet- and pulchr- and liber-
2: Add appropriate ending (-ē): laetē and pulchrē and liberē
E.g. Third declension adjectives: gracilis, gracilis, gracile and audāx
1: Find the base: gracil- and audac-
2: Add ending (-iter or -ter): graciliter and audāc(i)ter
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N.B. In English, some adverbs are identical in form to their corresponding adjectives.
A) The boys were walking fast. B) The fast boys were walking.
· In sentence A), fast (i.e. celeriter) is an adverb describing walking
· In sentence B), fast (i.e. celerēs) is an adjective describing boys
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