Language/Slovenian/Grammar/Adverbs
Adverbs in Slovenian
Welcome to our Slovenian grammar lesson about adverbs. In this lesson, you will learn the rules for forming and using adverbs in Slovenian. Adverbs are words that modify verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs, and they provide additional information about time, place, manner, or degree. By the end of this lesson, you will be able to form and use adverbs correctly, and you will understand their role in Slovenian sentences.
Formation of Adverbs
In Slovenian, adverbs can be formed in several ways:
From adjectives
To form an adverb from an adjective, you add the suffix -o to the masculine singular form of the adjective:
| Slovenian | English |
|---|---|
| počasi | slowly |
| hitro | quickly |
| glasno | loudly |
Note that if the masculine singular form of the adjective ends in -i, like velik (big), then the suffix -o replaces the -i:
| Slovenian | English |
|---|---|
| veliko | big, greatly |
| prijazno | kindly |
| nežno | gently |
Here are some more examples:
| Slovenian | English |
|---|---|
| mlačno | tepidly |
| ležerno | lazily |
| zvesto | faithfully |
From nouns
You can also form adverbs from nouns by adding the suffix -e:
| Slovenian | English |
|---|---|
| skupaj | together |
| posebej | separately |
| domov | homeward |
From other adverbs
Finally, you can form adverbs from other adverbs by changing the ending or adding a prefix:
| Slovenian | English |
|---|---|
| vedno | always |
| na hitro | hurriedly |
| dobro | well |
Usage of Adverbs
Modifying verbs
The most common use of adverbs in Slovenian is to modify the meaning of verbs. Adverbs can provide information about time, place, manner or degree.
Here are some examples:
- Ona peče kruh počasi. (She bakes bread slowly.)
- On uči nemško dobro. (He speaks German well.)
- On prihaja zdaj. (He is coming now.)
- Ona pleše tukaj. (She dances here.)
Modifying adjectives and other adverbs
Adverbs can also modify adjectives or other adverbs:
- Ta pes je zelo prijazen. (This dog is very friendly.)
- Moj sosed vozi zelo počasi. (My neighbor drives very slowly.)
- To je precej lahko. (This is quite easy.)
Negation
When negating a verb, the adverb usually follows the negation ne (not):
- On ne hodi noben dan. (He doesn't go any day.)
- Ona ne govori nitelite. (She doesn't speak at all.)
Common Adverbs in Slovenian
Here are some common Slovenian adverbs that you should know:
- hitro - quickly
- počasi - slowly
- lahko - easily
- težko - hardly
- dobro - well
- slabo - badly
- prijetno - pleasantly
- ne lepo - unpleasantly
- nikdar - never
- vedno - always
- morda - maybe
- kakor koli - anyhow
- tukaj - here
- tja - there
- kam - where
- civiliziran - civilized
- divje - wildly
- nemalokrat - often
- prav - really
Exceptions and Irregularities
Like with most rules, there are exceptions and irregularities when it comes to forming and using adverbs in Slovenian. Some adverbs are formed in a different way or have an irregular form, and others change their meaning considerably from their adjectival form. It is important to practice and learn these exceptions to use adverbs correctly in Slovenian.
Some examples of irregular adverbs are:
- Doma - at home
- Nazaj - back
- Gor - up
- Samo - only
- Skrivoma - secretly
Conclusion
Congratulations! You have learned about adverbs in Slovenian, including how to form and use them correctly. Adverbs provide additional information about verbs, adjectives, and other adverbs, and they are crucial for conveying meaning and context in Slovenian sentences. By practicing and learning some of the common adverbs listed above, you will be able to express yourself more fluently and confidently in Slovenian.