Adverbs

Adverbs can act as modifiers of a verb, an adjective, another adverb or a whole sentence.

Adverbs are invariable: that is, they do not vary according to the gender, number or person of the word they are modifying.

Adverbs in -mente

In Portuguese, many adverbs are formed by adding the suffix -mente (‘-ly’) to the adjective.

But adjectives ending in -o in the masculine singular change to the feminine singular before the suffix -mente is added:

lento > lenta lentamente = slow slowly

Adverbs in -mente have no accents, even if the adjective from which they are formed does:

fácil, facilmente = easy, easily

When two or more adverbs are used in the same sentence, only the last one takes the suffix -mente:

Position

Usually adverbs are placed before the adjective or after the verb they modify

Ela chorou desesperadamente. She cried desperately.

Adverbs of time and place can either precede or follow the verb they modify

Ele chegou hoje. He arrived today.

Adverbs of negation always precede the verb

Ela nunca tinha feito isso. She had never done that.