Adjective + -mente
Many adverbs of manner (how something happens) end in -mente, like English adverbs in “-ly”. Take the feminine form of the adjective and add -mente:
- rápido → rápida → rápidamente (quickly)
- lento → lenta → lentamente (slowly)
- claro → clara → claramente (clearly)
El técnico habló claramente. (The technician spoke clearly.)
How to form them
| Adjective | Feminine | Adverb |
|---|---|---|
| rápido | rápida | rápidamente |
| lento | lenta | lentamente |
| exacto | exacta | exactamente |
| tranquilo | tranquila | tranquilamente |
| fácil | fácil | fácilmente |
| amable | amable | amablemente |
| normal | normal | normalmente |
| feliz | feliz | felizmente |
Adjectives with one form
Adjectives that end in -e, and most that end in a consonant, have one form for both genders. Just add -mente to them, with no extra -a:
- fácil → fácilmente (easily)
- amable → amablemente (kindly)
- real → realmente (really)
- normal → normalmente (usually)
The accent stays
An adjective with a written accent keeps it in the adverb: rápido → rápidamente, fácil → fácilmente. These adverbs are said with two stresses, one on the adjective and one on -men-: RÁ-pi-da-MEN-te, FÁ-cil-MEN-te.
An adjective without an accent gets none: claramente, lentamente, perfectamente.
Two adverbs in a row
When two -mente adverbs are joined with y, o or pero, Spanish normally puts -mente only on the last one; the first keeps the feminine form of the adjective:
- Habla clara y lentamente. (She speaks clearly and slowly.)
- Lo instalé rápida y fácilmente. (I installed it quickly and easily.)
Where they go
An adverb of manner usually goes after the verb: La impresora funciona perfectamente. With an adjective, it goes before the adjective: Es realmente fácil. (It's really easy.)
Some adverbs comment on the whole sentence and go at the start, with a comma:
- Afortunadamente, guardé el archivo. (Fortunately, I saved the file.)
- Desafortunadamente, no funcionó. (Unfortunately, it didn't work.)
Solamente means the same as solo (only): Tengo solamente un cable.
Examples
- Mi abuela escribe mensajes muy lentamente.My grandmother writes messages very slowly.
- La aplicación se instala fácilmente.The app installs easily.
- No sé exactamente dónde está el archivo.I don't know exactly where the file is.
- El profesor explicó todo clara y lentamente.The teacher explained everything clearly and slowly.
- Afortunadamente, la batería estaba llena.Fortunately, the battery was full.
- La cámara funciona perfectamente.The camera works perfectly.
- Tengo solamente cinco minutos.I have only five minutes.
Common mistakes
- Wrong:
Habla rápidomente.Right: ✓ Habla rápidamente.-mente goes on the feminine form: rápida + -mente. - Wrong:
Lo hice fácilamente.Right: ✓ Lo hice fácilmente.Fácil has one form for both genders: just add -mente. - Wrong:
Corre rapidamente.Right: ✓ Corre rápidamente.The adverb keeps the accent of rápido. - Wrong:
Escribe correcto y claramente.Right: ✓ Escribe correcta y claramente.The first of two adverbs keeps the feminine form: correcta, as in correctamente. - Wrong:
Mi hermano canta buenamente.Right: ✓ Mi hermano canta bien.The adverbs of bueno and malo are bien and mal.