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Grammar Lesson 57:

Adverbs: the suffix

In Italian the Latin suffix -mente indicates the quality of an action and is used to form the majority of the qualifying adverbs.

How to use

- You add the suffix -mente directly to the adjectives ending in -e:

Felice (happy) —> felice-mente (happily)

For example:

Sono felicemente sposato con Anna / I am happily married to Anna

- You add the suffix -mente to the feminine singular form of the adjectives ending in -o:

Stanco (superb) —> stanca-mente (superbly)

For example:

Abbiamo mangiato stancamente / We ate tiredly

- You add the suffix -mente directly to the stem of the adjectives ending in -le, -re:

Nobile (noble) —> nobil-mente (nobly)

Celere (quick) —> celer-mente (quickly)

For example:

Abbiamo mangiato celermente / We ate quickly

—> NOTE that you can form adverbs by adding the suffix -mente also to some participles (both past and present). With the past participles, you attach the suffix to the feminine form.

Voluto (desired) —> voluta-mente (intentionally, on purpose)

Sentito (felt) —> sentita-mente (heartily)

Sapiente (wise) —> sapiente-mente (wisely, skilfully)

For example:

- Anna ha saggiamente deciso di non venire / Anna has wisely decided not to come

- Marco è arrivato volutamente in ritardo / Marco was intentionally late

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