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3 March 2009
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El Mensual/Language Focus

Language Focus

Adverbs
Adverbs
Adverbs are words that modify a verb or an adjective. They are used to say how something happened, as lentamente slowly, when and where it happened, as hoy today and aquí here, or to what degree, as muy very, among others. Unlike Spanish adjectives, Spanish adverbs are invariable, i.e. they don't have different endings for feminine, masculine, singular or plural:

  • Él es muy buen cocinero - He is a very good cook.
  • Ella es muy crítica - She is very critical.
  • Ella comió lentamente - She ate slowly.


  • Many Spanish adverbs are formed by adding -mente to the feminine form of the adjective:

  • tranquila calm - tranquilamente calmly
  • sencilla simple - sencillamente simply

  • Practise with a story from below


    Adverb or adjective?
    SRAS: el virus "muta rápidamente"
    Sars virus 'mutating rapidly'

    With quiz
    Select the adverb
    Paraguay: 15 años de transición
    Paraguay long political transition

    With quiz and matching audio
    Complete the sentences
    España: lavar platos por ley
    Spain has passed a law forcing men to do the chores

    With quiz and matching audio


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