French Grammar in Context

biAdjectives which end in a vowel other than mute -eneed particular care. Add -mentto the

MASCULINE, not the feminine form:

e.g. absolument; poliment; résolument

Note particularly the very common vraiment, and avoid the error of writing *vraiement.

iiA few adjectives ending in -utake a circumflex accent before -ment,

e.g. assidûment; continûment

c A few adjectives ending in a consonant take an acute accent on the feminine form before

• mentis added:
  e.g. confusément; précisément; profondément
  d There is one notable exception to the rule that adjectives ending in -ant, -entform their
  adverbs in -amment, -emment. It is lentement.
  e Note the following irregular adverbs, listed with the corresponding adjective in brackets: bien
  (bon); mal(mauvais); brièvement (bref ); gentiment (gentil).
  f Note particularly that vite(quickly; soon) is an adverb; it does not have a corresponding
  adjective and there is no such form as *vitement.
  g There are a few adjectives for which no corresponding adverb in -mentexists. Examples
  include content, fâché, possible. Adverbial phrases (see Usage, 1d, above) and impersonal
  expressions (see Usage, 1g, above) are used in these cases.

3 WORD ORDER

a Adverbs of place follow the past participle when the verb is in a compound tense:

e.g. Ils ont fouillé partout. Elle est allée ailleurs

The adverbs of time tôt, tard, aussitôt, aujourd’hui, demainand hierbehave likewise:

e.g. Ils sont arrivés hier. Elle est partie tôt

b These same adverbs also follow an infinitive:

e.g. J’ai dû chercher partout. Ils ont dû rentrer tard

c Other short adverbs usually precede the past participle or infinitive:

e.g. Il a trop bu. Ils se sont déjà endormis

J’ai lu l’article pour mieux comprendre ses théories

Vous risquez de mal juger son caractère

d Be careful with dictionary items listed in the infinitive, e.g. mal comprendre(to

misunderstand). Remember that when this is conjugated, the adverb will follow the verb in a

simple tense:

e.g. L’enfant comprend mal le jeu

and come between the auxiliary and past participle in a compound tense:

e.g. L’enfant a mal compris le jeu

e Adverbs of time and place may be positioned at the beginning of the clause or sentence for

extra emphasis, and/or to link with what has gone before.

e.g. Aujourd’hui nous faisons face à un véritable dilemme

112 French Grammar in Context