Summary
The adverb is an invariable word (it does not change gender or number) that modifies a verb, an adjective or another adverb, to express circumstances: llegó tarde, muy alto, bastante bien. It answers questions like how, when, where or how much.
They are classified by what they express: place (aquí, cerca), time (ayer, siempre), manner (bien, deprisa), quantity (mucho, poco), affirmation (sí, también), negation (no, nunca) and doubt (quizás). Many manner adverbs are formed by adding -mente to an adjective: rápida → rápidamente.
Key points
- The adverb is invariable: it has no gender or number.
- It modifies a verb, an adjective or another adverb.
- It answers how, when, where and how much.
- Place (aquí), time (ayer), manner (bien).
- Quantity (mucho), affirmation (sí), negation (no), doubt (quizás).
- Many manner ones are formed with -mente (lentamente).
- They add circumstances to the action.