Language/French/Grammar/Adverbs-ending-in-—ment-derived-from-the-feminine-form-of-an-adjective
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Adverbs ending in —ment derived from the feminine form of an adjective
Most adverbs ending in -ment are formed from the feminine form of a corresponding adjective:
General rule
Adjective | Feminine | English | Adverb | English |
---|---|---|---|---|
affreux | affreuse | awful | affreusement | awfully |
clair | claire | clear | clairement | clearly |
distinct | distincte | distinct | distinctement | distinctly |
doux | douce | gentle | doucement | gently |
mou | molle | soft | mollement | softly |
naturel | naturelle | natural | naturellement | naturally |
public | publique | public | publiquement | publicly |
professionnel | professionnelle | professional | professionnellement | professionally |
sec | sèche | dry | sèchement | drily |
sûr | sûre | sure | sûrement | surely |
vif | vive | alive | vivement | lively |
Exception:
Adjective | Feminine | English | Adverb | English |
---|---|---|---|---|
gentil | gentille | kind | gentiment | kindly |
Although -ment corresponds broadly to English -ly, French is much less productive than English. Often English -ly adverbs must be translated by phrases.