Chapter 32: The "Ment" Modifiers

How exactly did you do it? Quickly? Slowly? Happily? Let's add details to your verbs.

The Formula

Take the Feminine Adjective and add -ment.

Lent (Slow) -> Lente (Fem) -> Lentement (Slowly)
Heureux (Happy) -> Heureuse (Fem) -> Heureusement (Happily)

Frequency & Intensity

Toujours

Always

Souvent

Often

Parfois

Sometimes

Jamais

Never

Vite

Fast / Quickly

Bien

Well

Mal

Badly

Très

Very

Dialogue: Le Cours de Cuisine

Chef Henri teaches an apprentice.

H
Henri

Mélangez la sauce doucement. Pas trop vite !

(Mix the sauce gently. Not too fast!)

Comme ça ? Je le fais bien ?

(Like this? Am I doing it well?)
A
Apprenti
H
Henri

Oui, c'est parfait. Tu apprends rapidement.

(Yes, that's perfect. You learn quickly.)

Le Coin Culturel: The Silent "E"

When forming adverbs like Heureusement (Happily), you hear the "E" in "Heur-EU-sement". But for Vraiment (Truly), the "E" disappears in pronunciation even if it's there in spelling (Vraie -> Vraiment). French loves flow!

Modify the Meaning

Select an adverb to change the sentence: "Je parle français." (I speak French)

Je parle français.


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