Modern Italian Grammar: A Practical Guide, Third Edition (2013)

Part A. Structures

6. Adverbs

6.1 What is an adverb?

The main function of adverbs is to modify the meaning of a verb, in the same way that adjectives qualify a noun. Adverbs are invariable in form.

Certain adverbs such as molto, poco (see 6.3.5), however, can also be used to modify words other than verbs, for example adjectives or other adverbs:

La mia vita è molto tranquilla.

My life is very quiet.

Viviamo molto tranquillamente.

We live very quietly.

6.2 Formation of adverbs

Adverbs can be formed in different ways. Here we look at each in turn.

6.2.1 Adverbs formed with -mente

A large number of Italian adverbs are formed from an adjective, with the addition of the suffix -mente. This is similar to the way English adverbs are formed with the suffix -ly (‘quiet/quietly’, ‘slow/slowly’).

(a)For adjectives in the first group (-o/-a/-i/-e endings, see 1.4.2) the suffix -mente is added to the feminine singular form (ending in -a):

(b)For adjectives in the second group (-e/-i endings, see 1.4.2) -mente is simply added to the singular form:

With adjectives ending in -le and -re, however, the ‘e’ is dropped before adding -mente:

6.2.2 Adverbs formed with -oni

This group of adverbs which refer to movements or positions of the body are formed by adding -oni to the base of a verb form, for example ciondolare ‘to dangle’ (see also 37.4.5). Here are just a few:

La bambina aveva otto mesi e andava (a) carponi.

The toddler was eight months old and was crawling.

6.2.3 Adverbs not formed with -mente or -oni

Some adverbs are not derived from any adjective or noun. They are words used exclusively as adverbs, for example dappertutto (adverb of place), allora (adverb of time), certo (reinforcing adverb), nemmeno (adverb of negation), quando (interrogative adverb), quanto (adverb of quantity).

6.2.4 Adjectives used as adverbs

Adjectives which can be used as adverbs without any change in their form (keeping the masculine singular form) include:

Non ti capisco quando parli veloce. (instead of velocemente)

I don't understand you when you speak fast.

Capisco benissimo quando parli chiaro. (instead of chiaramente)

I understand very well when you speak clearly.

Use of adjectives as adverbs is frequent in advertising slogans:

Mangia sano, mangia Yoppo.

Eat healthily, eat Yoppo.

6.2.5 Adverbial phrases

An alternative to the simple adverb is a phrase consisting of noun and preposition, for example con or senza:

Ha guidato con molta attenzione.

He drove with great care.

Ha lavorato senza impegno.

He worked without any commitment.

Other common adverbial phrases are based on modo or maniera:

Gli studenti devono imparare a lavorare in modo autonomo.

The students have to learn to work independently.

Utilizziamo il nostro tempo nel migliore dei modi.

Let's use our time in the best possible way.

Sfruttiamo il soggiorno in Italia nella maniera migliore.

Let's make the most of our stay in Italy in the best possible way.

Giancarlo si è sempre comportato in maniera esemplare.

Giancarlo has always behaved in an exemplary way.

► See also 37.4.2.

6.2.6 Adverbs with suffix

A few of the most common adverbs can have a suffix (-ino, -uccio, etc.) added to them, which can convey a more limited intensity of meaning or a particular tone, such as affection. This usage is mainly limited to spoken Italian:

Ha solo due anni, ma parla benino.

She's only two years old, but she speaks quite well.

Come ti senti adesso? Maluccio.

How do you feel now? Not too bad.

6.2.7 Adverbs used also as prepositions

Some adverbs of time and place can also be used as prepositions, before a noun or a verb infinitive (see also 4.5, 37.2). When used as a preposition, they sometimes need to be followed by a simple preposition (a, da, di):

Time:

dopo di

prima di

Place:

davanti a

dentro a

dietro a/di

fuori a/da

oltre a

sopra a

sotto a

Siamo arrivati dopo di voi.

We arrived after you.

Mi piace sedermi davanti al caminetto.

I like to sit in front of the fireplace.

Mettetevi la giacca prima di uscire.

Put your jacket on before you go out.

6.3 Functions of adverbs

Adverbs have different functions in the sentence. To help you understand what these are, we have grouped adverbs and adverbial phrases into various categories, according to their function in the sentence, as shown below.

6.3.1 Adverbs of time

These adverbs or adverbial phrases help to indicate the time when an action or event took place or the frequency with which it takes/took place:

Referring to frequency:

6.3.2 Adverbs of place

Adverbs of place include the following:

Unstressed adverbs of place: ci, vi, ne

One very common adverb of place is the unstressed particle ci (see also 3.4.5) or less commonly the form vi used with the meaning of ‘here’/‘there’ in expressions such as:

Ne as an adverb of place has the meaning of ‘from here, from there’ (see also 3.4.4):

Ci and ne are similar to the corresponding unstressed personal pronouns (see 3.4), in form and behaviour; they can also be combined with conjunctive pronouns, as in the examples above (see also 3.4.6), but their meaning and function are clearly those of an adverb.

6.3.3 Interrogative adverbs

The interrogative adverbs below are used in a question or indirect question (see also 15.3.2–15.3.3). Quanto is also used as an interrogative adjective and pronoun, in which case it has varying forms.

Come and quanto can also be used in an exclamation, in which case they are known as ‘avverbi esclamativi’ (exclamative adverbs):

6.3.4 Negative adverbs

Normally the three adverbs below are found in combination with non to form the double negative required in Italian (see also 16.2):

mai

neanche

neppure

(non)

Non vado mai al cinema.

I never go to the cinema.

Non mi ha telefonato neppure sabato sera.

He didn't even call me on Saturday evening.

6.3.5 Adverbs of quantity

The common adverbs expressing quantity are: molto, parecchio, poco, tanto, troppo, tutto (see also 10.4.1, 17.5.2). All of these are also used as adjectives and pronouns (see 3.10). When used as adjectives or pronouns, they agree in gender and number with the noun that they qualify or refer to. When used as adverbs, however, they are invariable and remain identical to the masculine singular form. Other adverbs of quantity include abbastanza, piuttosto.

In un recente sondaggio il 19% degli italiani si dice “molto felice”, il 65% “abbastanza”.

In a recent survey, 19% of Italians say they are ‘very happy’, 65% say ‘quite (happy)’.

La situazione è piuttosto complicata.

The situation is rather complicated.

6.3.6 Adverbs of manner

This is the biggest group of adverbs. It includes all the adverbs ending in -mente (see 6.2.1), all the adverbs ending in -oni (see 6.2.2) and all the adverbs that use the masculine singular adjective form (see 6.2.4). All of these indicate how something is or was done. The group also includes adverbial phrases (see 6.2.5). As well as these groups, there are a few other adverbs of manner:

6.3.7 Adverbs affirming or denying

Known as avverbi di giudizio in Italian, these can have different purposes:

Affirming or backing up a statement:

Adding doubt to a statement:

6.4 Comparative and superlative adverbs

6.4.1 Forms of comparative and superlative

Comparative: più, meno

Adverbs have a comparative and superlative form, formed with più (‘more’) and meno (‘less’), in the same way that adjectives do (see 1.4.6–8). In making a comparison between two elements and the way they act (whether people, objects or other), you can use a comparative adverb to express the concept of ‘more’ or ‘less’:

The comparative form normally applies to adverbs of manner:

Mario guidava molto più velocemente di me.

Mario drove much faster than me.

Gli inglesi cucinano meno bene degli italiani.

The English cook less well than the Italians.

But it can also apply to adverbs of time or frequency such as presto, spesso, tardi:

Io mi alzo molto più presto di te.

I get up much earlier than you.

Noi arriveremo più tardi di voi.

We will arrive later than you.

The same as, as much as: quanto, come

The concept of ‘same as, as much as’ is expressed by using quanto or come to introduce the second element of the comparison. The use of tanto or così before the adverb is optional:

Mario guida (tanto) velocemente quanto suo fratello.

Mario drives just as fast as his brother.

A casa vostra mangiamo (così) bene come al ristorante.

At your house we eat as well as we do at the restaurant.

Superlative: piu velocemente di tutti

The superlative form of adverbs in Italian (e.g. ‘the most elegantly’) is similar to the comparative form, but with the addition of a phrase such as di tutti:

Mario guidava piu velocemente di tutti.

Mario drove faster than everyone.

When no comparison is being made, the concept of ‘extremely’ can be expressed by the -issimo form, but this is more acceptable for the short simple adverbs, and less commonly used for the forms ending in -mente:

6.4.2 Irregular comparative and superlative forms

Some adverbs with ‘special’ comparative/superlative forms are:

Here are some examples of comparative and superlative adverbs in use (see also 17.2, 17.5.6):

Si scrive più velocemente con il computer che a mano.

One can write faster with a computer than by hand.

Ieri sera siamo andati a letto tardissimo.

Yesterday evening we went to bed very late.

È meglio lavorare in gruppo che lavorare da soli.

To work in a team is better than to work alone.

Oggi mi sento benissimo.

Today I feel very well.

Teresa suona il piano peggio di Giovanni.

Teresa plays the piano worse than Giovanni.

Per favore guida un po' più piano.

Please drive a bit slower (a bit more slowly).

Partiamo il più presto possibile.

Let us leave as early as possible.

Controlli il contratto il più attentamente possibile.

Check the contract as carefully as possible.

The superlative adverbs il meglio ‘best’, il peggio ‘worst’ can also have the function of nouns, as in the expressions below:

Do il meglio di me stesso quando posso lavorare in modo autonomo.

I give the best of myself when I can work independently.

Il peggio deve ancora venire.

The worst is still to come.

Meglio is also used in an idiomatic expression:

Ci sistemiamo alla meglio.

We'll settle down as best we can.