Adverbs are words used to modify verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs.
Il marche lentement.
(He is walking slowly.)
Adverbs are invariable: they never change their form.
A great many French adjectives can be turned into adverbs by adding -ment to the masculine form of the adjective:
poli, poliment (polite,
politely)
utile, utilement (useful, usefully)
Adverbial Expressions
Adverbial expressions are formed by combining prepositions with other words such as:
Preposition + noun or phrase:
à droite (to the right), d'avance (in advance/early), par hasard (by chance), etc.
Preposition + adjective
en général (generally), par conséquent (consequently), d'ordinaire (ordinarily), etc.
Preposition + adverb
au moins (at least), d'ailleurs (nevertheless), du moins (at least), etc.
Preposition + adjective + noun
de bon appétit (heartily), à tout prix (at any cost), de bon coeur (willingly), etc.
Some common expressions are formed with two or more words:
et ainsi de suite (and so on and so forth), tant bien que mal (rather badly, so-so), etc.
See Also: