Language/Vietnamese/Grammar/Adverbs
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As a Vietnamese language teacher with 20 years of experience, I believe that understanding adverbs is essential for achieving fluency in Vietnamese. Adverbs describe how actions are performed, and they can greatly enhance communication. In this lesson, we will explore Vietnamese adverbs and their use.
Take some time to dive into these other pages after completing this lesson: Give your Opinion & Modal Verbs.
What Are Adverbs?
Adverbs are words that describe or modify verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs. They can indicate manner, time, frequency, place, degree, or reason. In English, common adverbs include "quickly," "often," and "very."
In Vietnamese, adverbs are often formed by adding "-ly" at the end of adjectives. For example, "nhanh" means "fast," and "nhanh chóng" means "quickly." Other adverbs are formed by combining adjectives with other words, such as "hơi" (slightly) or "cực" (extremely).
In Vietnamese, adverbs typically come after the verb or adjective they modify, but they can also come before or even in between. The use of adverbs is flexible in Vietnamese, allowing speakers to convey precise meaning and express themselves creatively.
Types of Adverbs
Vietnamese adverbs can be divided into several categories based on their functions. Let's explore some of the most important types of adverbs:
Manner Adverbs
Manner adverbs describe how an action is performed. In Vietnamese, manner adverbs are commonly formed by adding "-ly" to adjectives. Here are some commonly used manner adverbs in Vietnamese:
Vietnamese | Pronunciation | English |
---|---|---|
Nhanh chóng | nyahn chohng | Quickly |
Khéo léo | kyeho leh-oh | Skillfully |
Vô tình | voh teeng | Inadvertently |
Time Adverbs
Time adverbs describe when an action is performed. In Vietnamese, time adverbs can be formed by adding "-nay" or "-rồi" to nouns or "-đã" before verbs. Here are some commonly used time adverbs in Vietnamese:
Vietnamese | Pronunciation | English |
---|---|---|
Hôm nay | hohm nye | Today |
Trưa nay | troo-ah nye | This noon |
Mới đây | mwoy zaay | Recently |
Frequency Adverbs
Frequency adverbs describe how often an action is performed. In Vietnamese, frequency adverbs are commonly formed by adding "-lần" to numbers or "-hằng" to nouns. Here are some commonly used frequency adverbs in Vietnamese:
Vietnamese | Pronunciation | English |
---|---|---|
Mỗi ngày | moy ngaay | Every day |
Hai lần | haay lahn | Twice |
Thường xuyên | toong swehn | Regularly |
Degree Adverbs
Degree adverbs describe the intensity or extent of an action. In Vietnamese, degree adverbs are commonly formed by adding "-cực" to adjectives or "-vô cùng" to adjectives and adverbs. Here are some commonly used degree adverbs in Vietnamese:
Vietnamese | Pronunciation | English |
---|---|---|
Rất | raht | Very |
Tuyệt vời | twyeh vo-ee | Wonderful |
Phi thường | fee toong | Extraordinary |
Final Thoughts
Adverbs are an essential part of communication in Vietnamese. By understanding the various types of adverbs and how to use them, you can greatly improve your ability to express yourself clearly and effectively in Vietnamese.
In our next lesson, we will explore another important area of Vietnamese grammar: verbs and verb tenses.
Sources
- Vietnamese Adverbs – YourVietnamese
- (PDF) Final Modals, Adverbs and Antisymmetry in Vietnamese
- Vietnamese basic grammar: sentence structure – YourVietnamese
Videos
365 Vietnamese: Adverbs of Frequency in Vietnamese - YouTube
Other Lessons
- Present Tense Verbs
- Future Tense
- Questions
- Plurals
- Ask Questions
- Nouns
- How to Use Have
- Adjectives
- Give your Opinion
◀️ Adjectives — Previous Lesson | Next Lesson — Modes of Transportation ▶️ |