Derived adverbs, as the name suggests, are adverbs formed from other words. To form these adverbs, the suffixes -mente or -oni are added to an adjective or a noun. The majority of derived adverbs have -mente as their suffix.
Adverbs with the suffix -oni
The suffix -oni is used with a limited number of nouns and verbs. When combined with these nouns or verbs, it creates an adverb that usually indicates a physical position, attitude, or outlook.
- Adverbs with the suffix -mente
- To make an adjective ending in -o or -a into an adverb with the suffix -mente, the final vowel is dropped and an a is added. For example:
- certo→ cert + a + mente = certamente
Certamente non avrò finito entro le 15.
I certainly won’t have finished by three. - ultimo → ultim + a + mente = ultimamente
Ultimamente ci sono poche cose buone da comprare al mercato.
Lately there are few good things to buy at the market.
- certo→ cert + a + mente = certamente
- To make an adjective ending in -e an adverb with the suffix -mente, simply add the suffix to the word.
- veloce → velocemente
Abbiamo velocemente preparato la cena prima di uscire.
We quickly prepared dinner before going out.
- veloce → velocemente
- For adjectives ending in the final syllable -le, -lo, -re, or -ro, the final vowel is dropped before adding the suffix -mente.
- facile → facilmente
Lo troverai facilmente.
You’ll find it easily. - leggero → leggermente
È un piatto leggermente piccante.
It is a slightly spicy dish. - particolare → particolarmente
Il partito era particolarmente forte nelle aree urbane.
The party was especially strong in urban areas. - ridicolo → ridicolmente
Ridicolmente la banca vuole le firme di tutti i membri della famiglia.
Ridiculously, the bank wants the signatures of all the members of the family.
- facile → facilmente
- There are a few adjectives that do not follow the above rules when they are made into adverbs.
- altro → altrimenti
Non potevamo fare altrimenti.
We couldn’t do otherwise.
pari → parimenti - altro → altrimenti
I giudici hanno parimenti dedicato attenzione all'originalità delle proposte.
The judges have likewise devoted attention to the originality of the proposals. - To make an adjective ending in -o or -a into an adverb with the suffix -mente, the final vowel is dropped and an a is added. For example:
- violento → violentemente
Ha piovuto violentemente per tre giorni.
It rained violently for three days.
The suffix -oni is used with a limited number of nouns and verbs. When combined with these nouns or verbs, it creates an adverb that usually indicates a physical position, attitude, or outlook.
- bocca → bocconi (face down, prone)
A me piace dormire bocconi.
I like to sleep face down. - tastare → tastoni (groping around)
Non potevamo vedere niente al buio, e così andavamo avanti a tastoni.
We couldn’t see anything in the dark and so we went ahead groping our way forward. - ginocchio → ginocchioni (on one’s knees)
La signora è caduta ginocchioni quando ha visto suo figlio.
The lady fell to her knees when she saw her son. - carpare (Latin form of cogliere, which means to pick) → carponi (on hands and knees, on all fours)
Ho passato un'ora a cercare l’orecchino a carponi, ma non l’ho trovato.
I spent an hour looking for the earring on all fours, but I didn’t find it. - tentare → tentoni (groping around)
Ho cercato le chiavi a tentoni.
I groped around for the keys.