Forming Adverbs with -ment
Learn Forming Adverbs with -ment for GCSE French with this free worksheet and full mark scheme — Foundation and Higher exam-style practice with worked answers for AQA GCSE French (8652). Adverbs are formed by adding -ment to the feminine form of an adjective.
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Topic overview
Most French adverbs are formed by adding -ment to the feminine form of the adjective, in the same way English adds -ly.
Take the adjective, make it feminine, then add -ment. Lent becomes lente becomes lentement. Heureux becomes heureuse becomes heureusement. Doux becomes douce becomes doucement.
If the masculine adjective already ends in a vowel, -ment is added directly with no feminine step: vrai gives vraiment, poli gives poliment. Adjectives ending in -ant and -ent change to -amment and -emment: constant gives constamment, évident gives évidemment. Both these endings are pronounced identically despite the different spelling.
Revision notes
The basic rule
Make the adjective feminine, then add -ment.
Lent becomes lente becomes lentement. Heureux becomes heureuse becomes heureusement. Doux becomes douce becomes doucement. Seul becomes seule becomes seulement.
Adjectives ending in a vowel
Add -ment directly to the masculine form with no feminine step.
Vrai gives vraiment. Poli gives poliment. Absolu gives absolument. The feminine form is skipped entirely.
-ant and -ent adjectives
-ant becomes -amment: constant gives constamment.
-ent becomes -emment: évident gives évidemment. Both endings are pronounced identically, so the spelling must be learned from the adjective.
Key points
- Most adverbs add -ment.
- Use the feminine form of the adjective first.
- Lent becomes lentement.
- Adjectives ending in a vowel add -ment directly.
- -ant becomes -amment.
- -ent becomes -emment.
Worked examples
Example 1
Form the adverb from the adjective lent. [2 marks]
Working
Example 2
Form the adverb from vrai. [2 marks]
Working
Example 3
Form the adverb from évident. [2 marks]
Working
Common mistakes
Adding -ment to the masculine form.
The feminine form is needed first, unless it ends in a vowel.
Writing -ament instead of -amment.
The doubled m is required.
Confusing -amment and -emment.
They sound alike; the adjective ending decides.
Forming an adverb where French uses a phrase.
Not every English -ly word has a French -ment equivalent.
Exam tips
- Make the adjective feminine first.
- Skip that step if it ends in a vowel.
- Learn -amment and -emment as a pair.
- Check the adjective ending before choosing.
Key terms
- Adverb
- A word describing a verb, formed with -ment.
- -ment
- The ending equivalent to English -ly.
- -amment
- The adverb ending from -ant adjectives.
- -emment
- The adverb ending from -ent adjectives.
Related topics
Written and reviewed against the current AQA specification. Spotted an error? Let us know.