Language/French/Grammar/Location-of-adverbs
Location of Adverbs in French Grammar
In French, adverbs are used to modify verbs, adjectives, and other adverbs. In this lesson, we will explore the placement of adverbs in French.
Adverbs that Modify Verbs
Adverbs that modify verbs usually come after the verb in French. For example:
- Elle parle français couramment. (She speaks French fluently.)
- Il mange rapidement. (He eats quickly.)
Note that in compound tenses, the adverb usually comes after the auxiliary verb. For example:
- Il a parlé couramment français. (He spoke French fluently.)
- Elle va courir lentement. (She is going to run slowly.)
Adverbs that Modify Adjectives and Other Adverbs
Adverbs that modify adjectives or other adverbs usually come before the word they modify in French. For example:
- Elle est très intelligente. (She is very intelligent.)
- Il marche extrêmement lentement. (He walks extremely slowly.)
Note that some adverbs, such as "très" and "vraiment," can also be placed after the adjective or adverb they modify. For example:
- Elle est intelligente très. (She is very intelligent.)
- Il marche lentement vraiment. (He walks really slowly.)
Adverbs of Place and Time
Adverbs of place and time usually come at the beginning or end of a sentence in French. For example:
- Hier, nous sommes allés au cinéma. (Yesterday, we went to the cinema.)
- Ici, il y a beaucoup de gens. (Here, there are a lot of people.)
Note that some adverbs of time, such as "toujours" (always) and "jamais" (never), can also come before the verb. For example:
- Toujours, je vais au parc le dimanche. (Always, I go to the park on Sundays.)
- Jamais, il ne mange de viande. (He never eats meat.)
Conclusion
Understanding the placement of adverbs in French is an essential part of mastering the language. By knowing where to place adverbs that modify verbs, adjectives, and other adverbs, and adverbs of place and time, you can improve your French language skills and communicate more effectively with native speakers.