Adverbs From Adjectives

Level 2Sounds Like narečiâ ot prilagatelni

To say how something is done, use the neuter adjective form: бърз → бързо, тих → тихо. But добър (good) becomes добре (well).

How It Works

1. The regular pattern. Take the neuter form of the adjective (see adjective agreement):

  • бърз → бързо (quickly)
  • бавен → бавно (slowly)
  • тих → тихо (quietly)
  • лесен → лесно (easily)
  • хубав → хубаво (nicely)
  • силен → силно (strongly, hard)

2. Добре and зле. The adverb of добър is добре: Говориш добре български. (You speak Bulgarian well.) The usual opposite is зле (badly): Спах зле. (I slept badly.) Лошо is also used: Чувствам се лошо. (I feel bad.) To say you are fine, use Добре съм.

3. One word, two jobs. Хубаво can be an adjective or an adverb: Времето е хубаво. (The weather is nice: an adjective agreeing with neuter време.) Тя пее хубаво. (She sings nicely: an adverb.) The adverb form also appears in short sentences about conditions: Студено е. (It's cold.) See feeling cold.

4. Adjectives in -ски. These give adverbs that end in -ски: Той се държа приятелски. (He behaved in a friendly way.)

5. Comparing. Adverbs compare like adjectives: по-бързо (faster), най-добре (best). See comparatives and superlatives.

Examples (6)

  1. Говориш много добре български.

    You speak Bulgarian very well.

    Добър gives the adverb добре.

  2. Моля, говорете по-бавно.

    Please speak more slowly.

    Бавно is the neuter form of бавен; по- makes it comparative.

  3. Децата спят, затова говори тихо.

    The children are asleep, so speak quietly.

  4. Той кара много бързо.

    He drives very fast.

    The adverb бързо does not change, whoever is driving.

  5. Тя пее хубаво.

    She sings nicely.

    Хубаво describes how she sings, so it is an adverb here.

  6. Снощи спах зле.

    I slept badly last night.

Common Mistakes

  • Using the masculine adjective instead of the adverb.

    Той кара бърз.
    Той кара бързо.

    To describe how someone does something, use the adverb бързо, not the adjective бърз.

  • Using добро to say you are fine.

    Добро съм.
    Добре съм.

    Добро is the neuter adjective (a good thing). To say "I am fine", use the adverb добре.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

Adverbs From AdjectivesLevel 2

Learn This First

Adverbs from adjectives need adjective forms.

Words in This Pattern

добредобър