Adverbs modify verbs. They give extra information about the manner, time, frequency of performing a certain action. Typically, adverbs in Arabic end in (تنوين الفتح), e.g.جداً ، كثيراً ، قليلاً ، دائماً etc.
أدرس كثيراً قبل الامتحان.
“I study a lot before exams.”
لا نأكل كثيراً في الإفطار.
“We do not eat a lot at breakfast.”
تحبين الشيكولاتة جداً.
“You like chocolate a lot.”
There are words that serve mainly as adverbs, e.g.
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Very
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جداً
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Always
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دائماً
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Usually
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عادة
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Never
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أبداً
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Sometimes
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أحياناً
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Adverbs can be derived from adjectives by adding (تنوين الفتح), e.g. كثيراًis derived from كثير“much”, قليلاًis derived from قليل“little”, سريعاًis derived from سريع“fast”, etc.
أمشي سريعاً لأنني متأخرة.
“I walk fast because I am late.”
أدرس كثيراً وأنام قليلاً بسبب الامتحانات.
“I study a lot and sleep a little because of the exams.”
Adverbs can be derived from nouns, especially those denoting time, e.g. ليلاًis derived from ليل“night”, يومياً“daily” is derived from يوم“day”, أسبوعياً“weekly” is derived from أسبوع“week”, etc.
الخفاش ينام نهاراً ويصحو ليلاً.
“A bat sleeps in the day and wakes at night.”
تصدر المجلة أسبوعياً.
“The magazine appears weekly.”
Adverbs can be expressed in other ways that will be discussed in future posts.
