Adverbs


Regular Adverbs

Adverbs modify verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs.

In Portuguese, most adverbs are formed from adjectives by adding -mente to the end of the feminine form.
rápido → rápida → rapidamente – quickly

Adverbs typically follow the verb.
correu rapidamente - he ran quickly

The adverb precedes the adjective or adverb which it modifies.
chegou muito tarde - he arrived very late

Common Adverbs

An adverb usually answers the questions when, how, where, or why. Here are some of the most common:

Time


Adverb
 Translation
hoje
 today
ontem
 yesterday
amanhã
 tomorrow
agora
 now
depois
 after
dantes
 before
já
 in this moment
logo
 soon
nunca
 never
sempre
 always

Manner & Degree


Adverb
 Translation
bem
 well
mal
 badly
assim
 like so, in this way
quase
 almost
devagar
 slowly
depressa
 fast
tão
 so, like this
aliás
 otherwise
como
 like
demais
 too much

 


Place


Adverb
 Translation
aqui
 here
cá
 hither
aí
 there (near you)
ali
 there (yonder)
lá
 over there
acolá
 there yonder
abaixo
 below
acima
 above
fora
 outside
dentro
 inside

 


Interrogation Adverbs

Question words are also adverbs:

Adverb
 Translation
como?
 how?
onde?
 where
quando?
 when?
quanto?
 how much?
por que?
 why?



Comparatives

Adverbs are compared just like adjectives.

Comparison
 Translation
 Example
mais ... que
 more ... than
 mais cedo que - earlier than
menos ... que
 less ... than
 menos tarde que - less late than
tão ... como
 as ... as
 tão caro como - as dear as



Superlatives

Adverbial superlatives are similar to adjective superlative forms. Some examples:

  • If the adverb ends in -mente, replace the -a at the end of the adjective base with -issima.
    rapidamente → rapidissimamente - very quickly
  • Use muito before the adverb.
    muito rapidamente - very quickly
  • Use relative superlative words like o maisbefore the adverb.
    o mais rapidamente - the most quickly