Adverbs ending in -ment in French
French Grammar tips with Frantastique.
Learn French online
and test Frantastique for free.
Free with no obligation to buy.
Adverbs ending in -ment
Adverbs ending in -ment are formed using the adjective as a base:
• the feminine adjective ♀ + -ment (when the adjective ends in e or a consonant).
• the feminine adjective ♀ + -ment (when the adjective ends in e or a consonant).
adjective
feminine adjective + -ment
adverb of manner
général (general)
générale + ment
généralement (generally)
difficile (difficult)
difficile + ment
difficilement (with difficulty)
Elle est rapide. She’s quick. → Elle mange rapidement. She eats quickly.
Elle est lente. She’s slow. → Il berce lentement le bébé. He’s slowly rocking the baby.
• the masculine adjective ♂ + -ment (when the adjective ends in i, u or é).
vrai true → vraiment truely, really
poli polite → poliment politely
exagéré exagerated, excessive → exagérement excessively, overly
absolu absolute → absolument absolutely, totally
poli polite → poliment politely
exagéré exagerated, excessive → exagérement excessively, overly
absolu absolute → absolument absolutely, totally
• adjectives ending in -ent and -ant become emment and amment.
violent violent → violemment violently
méchant nasty, spiteful → méchamment spitefully, badly
patient patient → patiemment patiently
méchant nasty, spiteful → méchamment spitefully, badly
patient patient → patiemment patiently
Note: -emment and -amment are pronounced in the same way:
patiemment
patiently
fréquemment frequently
fréquemment frequently
Special cases: There are exceptions to the rule, as ever! Here are the most common ones:
gentil kind, nice → gentiment gently, kindly
bref briefly → brièvement briefly
impuni unpunished → impunément with impunity, recklessly
précipité hasty, rash → précipitamment hastily, hurriedly
bref briefly → brièvement briefly
impuni unpunished → impunément with impunity, recklessly
précipité hasty, rash → précipitamment hastily, hurriedly
Learn more about French grammar with us. Still having difficulties with 'Adverbs ending in -ment'? Want to improve your French? Test our online French lessons and receive a free level assessment!
What our users say:
Looking to improve French for beginners? Frantastique provides effective and fun training!
Tips for learning 'Adverbs ending in -ment'? Share them with us!