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
